To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1213 East Houston Street in Cleveland, Texas, as the "Lance Corporal Robert A. Martinez Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this very important bill. I appreciate my friend from Georgia and friend from Illinois for helping sponsor this bill.

Mr. Speaker, we name buildings and monuments and libraries and roads after Presidents and generals, statesmen. But, today, I hope that we name a post office after a young 20-year-old who wore the American military uniform.

Mr. Speaker, the great General Douglas MacArthur during World War II once commented, ``I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer organization in the world'' than the Marine Corps.

Lance Corporal Robert ``Robbie'' Alexander Martinez was a member of this fine fighting organization; and, as mentioned, he was killed in December, 2005, while fighting and serving our Nation in Iraq. He volunteered to join the Marines, and he volunteered to go to Iraq.

He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, the 1st Marine Division, based at the Marine Air Corps Ground and Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California.

Lance Corporal Martinez was 20 years of age when he died. He was on his second tour of Iraq, and he had spent 7 months on the Syrian border. He went to Iraq and Fallujah after 2004, and then he and nine other Marines were killed last December when a roadside bomb exploded next to them.

Lance Corporal Martinez was scheduled to come home to Texas within a week of his death, but at the last minute his tour was extended for over a month and a half.

Mr. Speaker, one out of 10 people wearing the United States military uniform are from the State of Texas, and enlistments and volunteers among those with Hispanic surname is extremely high.

Just before his death, Robert Martinez had called his mother and asked her to buy him a diamond ring because he was going to propose to his girlfriend, Taylor Wilkenson, as soon as he got back. He called her his ``love at first sight.''

He went to a little, small high school, Cleveland High School in Cleveland, Texas, and he graduated there in 2003. While in high school, he was known as the peacemaker. By the time he started his senior year, he had already signed up for the Marine Corps, but they would not take him until he was old enough. His pre-enlistment at the age of 17 would be activated as soon as he graduated from high school.

He was an outstanding baseball pitcher at Cleveland High School and dreamed of getting a degree in education and being a high school baseball coach, but he put all those dreams on hold so he could join the United States Marine Corps. He went to basic training 2 days after his high school graduation.

Lance Corporal Martinez's stepfather, Jeremy Hunt, called Robbie his ``diamond in the rough'' and one of the greatest things that ever came into the life of his family. He loved being in the United States Marine Corps, and he was proud telling folks he was just a Marine. He knew there was a reason for resolving the situation in Iraq, and he looked forward to coming back to Texas.

While overseas, he requested bags and bags of candy and care packages, but this candy was not for him because he would split it up and give it out to little kids in Iraq.

Robbie's mother, Kelly Hunt, said their 14-year-old son Mikie wanted to be in the Marine Corps just like his brother Robbie.

President Ronald Reagan once said, ``Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem.'' Fine words from our former President.

Lance Corporal Martinez was working to make a difference in the world when he gave his life, and his bravery and dedication, his patriotism will not ever be forgotten by his friends, certainly not by his family, and all freedom-loving people throughout this world.

His Nation made the call, and he responded without hesitation, and he served his country with honor and distinction. He wanted to be in the Marines since he was 12 years of age.

So, Mr. Speaker, I ask for the adoption of this bill to name this small post office in Cleveland, Texas, after one of the sons of America.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5108) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1213 East Houston Street in Cleveland, Texas, as the ``Lance Corporal Robert A. Martinez Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 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, a native Texan, Robert Martinez, known as Robbie, was a young Marine with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was based at the Marine Corps Air Ground and Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.

Lance Corporal Martinez was a dedicated soldier who wanted nothing more than to serve his country and make a difference in the world. Upon commencement of his senior year of high school, he had already signed up for the

Marines. Two days after his high school graduation, in 2003, he left for basic training.

Before his second deployment, Lance Corporal Martinez was stationed for 7 months in Iraq on the border of Syria. It was late in his second deployment to Iraq in the city of Fallujah when he and nine fellow Marines were killed by an improvised explosive device. The date of this attack was December 1, 2005; and, tragically, he was only weeks from returning home to his family and friends.

In honor of this soldier's great courage and patriotism, which will not be forgotten, I ask all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 5108.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my good friend and distinguished judge from the sovereign State of Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers, and I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 5108. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5108, introduced by Representative Ted Poe, designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1213 East Houston Street in Cleveland, Texas, as the Lance Corporal Robert A. Martinez Post Office Building.

This measure was unanimously reported by the Government Reform Committee on September 21, 2006.

A native of Texas, Robert Martinez was a young Marine serving his second deployment to Iraq where he was killed by an improvised explosive device on December 1, 2005, while conducting combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, here is another instance where a young person who had completed one tour of duty, engaged in his second tour, gave the very best and the most that one could possibly give, and that is his life, for the benefit of creating, hopefully, a different and a better world. I can think of no better way to remember him than to have people in his community and in his hometown know of his diligence, of his exploits and of his courage than to name a post office in his honor.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate en bloc consideration of the following postal naming bills: