To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 105 NW Railroad Avenue in Hammond, Louisiana, as the 'John J. Hainkel, Jr. Post Office Building'.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Thursday, December 15, 2005, at 10 a.m. on pending committee business.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, December 15, 2005, at 10 a.m., for a hearing titled, ``Hurricane Katrina: Who's In Charge of the New Orleans Levees?''.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affaris be authorized to hold an off-the-floor markup during the session on Thursday, December 15, 2005, to consider the nominations of George W. Foresman to be Under Secretary for Preparedness, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Mary M. Rose to be Member, Merit Systems Protection Board.

Agenda

Nominations

(1) George W. Foresman to be Under Secretary for Preparedness, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

(2) Mary M. Rose to be Member, Merit Systems Protection Board.

Post Office Naming Bills

(1) S. 1445, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 520 Colorado Avenue in Arriba, CO, as the ``William H. Emery Post Office.''

(2) S. 1792/H.R. 3770, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 205 West Washington Street in Knox, IN, as the ``Grant W. Green Post Office Building.''

(3) S. 1820, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 6110 East 51st Place in Tulsa, OK, as the ``Dewey F. Bartlett Post Office.''

(4) S. 2036, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 320 High Street in Clinton, MA, as the ``Raymond J. Salmon Post Office.''

(5) S. 2064, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 122 South Bill Street in Francesville, IN, as the ``Malcolm Melville `Mac' Lawrence Post Office.''

(6) S. 2089, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 1271 North King Street in Honolulu, Oahu, HA, as the ``Hiram L. Fong Post Office Building.''

(7) H.R. 2113, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 2000 McDonough Street in Joliet, IL, as the ``John F. Whiteside Joliet Post Office Building.''

(8) H.R. 2346, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 105 NW Railroad Avenue in Hammond, LA, as the ``John J. Hainkel, Jr. Post Office Building.''

(9) H.R. 2413, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 1202 1st Street in Humble, TX, as the ``Lillian McKay Post Office Building.''

(10) H.R. 2630, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 1927 Sangamon Avenue in Springfield, IL, as the ``J.M. Dietrich Northeast Annex.''

(11) H.R. 2894, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 102 South Walters Avenue in Hodgenville, KY, as the ``Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Post Office Building.''

(12) H.R. 3256, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 3038 West Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, PA, as the ``Congressman James Grove Fulton Memorial Post Office Building.''

(13) H.R. 3368, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 6483 Lincoln Street in Gagetown, MI, as the ``Gagetown Veterans Memorial Post Office.''

(14) H.R. 3439, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 201 North 3rd Street in Smithfield, NC, as the ``Ava Gardner Post Office.''

(15) H.R. 3548, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located on Franklin Avenue in Pearl River, NY, as the ``Heinz Ahlmeyer, Jr. Post Office Building.''

(16) H.R. 3703, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 8501 Philatelic Drive in Spring Hill, FL, as the ``Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer Post Office.''

(17) H.R. 3825, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 770 Trumbull Drive in Pittsburgh, PA, the ``Clayton J. Smith Memorial Post Office.''

(18) H.R. 3830, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 130 East Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda, FL, as the ``U.S. Cleveland Post Office Building.''

(19) H.R. 4053, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 545 North Rimsdale Avenue in Covina, CA, as the ``Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent at the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 15, 2005, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a closed meeting.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise both with a grateful and also a heavy heart. I rise with a grateful heart and I want to thank my colleagues for their speedy consideration of this resolution. I rise with a heavy heart because of the untimely passing of not only a colleague, but a friend.

I first met John Hainkel well over a decade ago, and at that point he had already been involved in elected politics for well over three decades. Senator Hainkel, as you already heard, accomplished many significant things in his public career. Indeed, he was the only person in Louisiana's history to be elected both speaker of the house and president of our senate.

His broad-based appeal, however, extended beyond party lines. He was elected as speaker of the house, serving as a Democrat, with the active support of Louisiana's first Republican Governor elected in modern times. He then went on to serve, when I first met him, as chairman of the senate budget committee as a Republican, even though two-thirds of the senate at that time was comprised of Democrats. Indeed, when he served as president of the senate as a Republican, two-thirds of the senate in Louisiana at the time was comprised of Democratic members. I think that fact alone shows his bipartisan support, his broad appeal to many senators and representatives.

The reason he commanded such respect was the fact that he brought integrity, the fact he brought humor, wit, the fact that he brought fashion to the daily legislative tasks.

But John was more than just a senator, he was more than just a legislator. Indeed, he was very accomplished in those arenas. Senator Hainkel not only worked with Pat Taylor to bring about Louisiana's TOPS bill, which provides access for students to higher education, but he championed many budget reforms, helping to turn deficits into surpluses, helping to reform our State's health care system and helping to revive our State's economy.

But his accomplishments outside the legislature were almost as noteworthy as his accomplishments inside the legislature. John was also not only a dedicated senator, a dedicated representative, he was also a dedicated Tulane fan. I know that he watched from above as his Green Wave served him well in Omaha and went on to do so well in the College World Series. I know that he will still be watching them season after season, just with slightly better seats than he had before.

Indeed, Senator Hainkel was known for his friendship and was known for reaching out to new members of the bodies in which he served, to new members of the administration. He truly brought a passion and an attitude of public servant leadership that too often is missing from our elected halls. He brought a spirit of bipartisanship, a spirit of love for his home State of Louisiana.

Several things have been said about Senator Hainkel and the years of service he offered my State. I also want to note that he is survived by his son, John J. Hainkel, III, his daughter, Juliet Hainkel Holton, his other daughter, Alida Hainkel Furr, and by five grandchildren. I know his family brought him much joy. I know they, like I, am very saddened by his untimely and his early departure.

It is hard, it would be really impossible, to overstate the amount of affection and respect that Senator Hainkel engendered not only in his home district, but the home State of Louisiana. Whether you were with him or against him on a particular legislation, and I was in both places, whether you were with him or against him in a particular election, and I was in both places, he was always a worthy friend and a worthy opponent.

I can certainly think of nothing that would be more appropriate than naming, at least as a small tribute to him, this post office in Hammond, Louisiana, that was within the district he represented in the senate. Indeed, there is a spirited election to replace him now. Two very distinguished women are seeking that post. Though either one of them will serve well, neither of them will be truly able to succeed and replace the giant that was John Hainkel.

I want to thank my colleagues again for their support.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2346) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 105 NW Railroad Avenue in Hammond, Louisiana, as the ``John J. Hainkel Post Office Building,'' as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation salutes the life of an extraordinary member of the Louisiana legislature, the late John Hainkel, Jr. John Hainkel served 20 years in the Louisiana State house and another 25 years in the State senate until he passed away on April 15 this year. I know he was a tremendous representative of his many constituents and supporters.

The State of Louisiana has mourned the loss of Senator Hainkel for several weeks, but I appreciate the House leadership's selecting this bill for consideration so the entire Nation can acknowledge the life of this highly respected man. I also want to especially thank the distinguished gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) for his work on this bill and his commitment to recognizing Senator Hainkel.

Prior to his passing, Senator Hainkel had served in Baton Rouge since 1968, when he was first elected to the State house. He clearly earned the great respect of his colleagues because he became speaker of the house in 1980, and he held that post through 1984. In 1988, New Orleans voters elected him to be their State senator. He ultimately became president of the senate from 2000 through last year. He remained in the senate until his passing in April.

Mr. Speaker, I support this post office designation on behalf of John J. Hainkel, Jr. and urge all Members to do the same. It seems clear his contributions to the State of Louisiana will be long lasting. I look forward to the words of the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal), sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal), the author of H.R. 2346.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I simply urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 2436.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with my colleague in consideration of H.R. 2346, legislation naming a postal facility in Hammond, Louisiana, after the late John J. Hainkel, Jr. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jindal) on May 12, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on June 16, 2005, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Louisiana delegation.

John Hainkel was first elected to the Louisiana legislature in 1968. He held that position for 20 years, also serving as speaker of the house from 1980 to 1984.

The voters in uptown New Orleans elected him in 1988 to the State senate, where he served until his death representing the Sixth District. While serving in the senate, his colleagues elected him president of the senate in the Year 2000, a position he held until 2004. He is the only legislator in Louisiana history to hold the leadership position in both houses.

Senator Hainkel supported the arts, was pro-business, worked hard to clean up Lake Pontchartrain, and loved to hold legislative meetings over the barbecue pit. He loved his district and State and served 38 years in politics working to improve the lives of his constituents. Sadly, John Hainkel passed away this past April.

Mr. Speaker, designating the post office in Hammond, Louisiana, is an excellent way to honor the memory of

one of Louisiana's political legends, John Hainkel, Jr. I commend my colleague for sponsoring this measure and urge swift passage.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.