A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 122 South Bill Street in Francesville, Indiana, as the Malcolm Melville "Mac" Lawrence Post Office.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank both of my colleagues for the remarks that they have made, and share with them I wish they had an opportunity to meet this man, a remarkable human being, who was very humble, like many of his generation.

Mac Lawrence, if you were to ask Mac what was it like when you hit the beach at Omaha, and the only thing to protect you was the Red Cross on your sleeve, because he had no weapon and his only concern was to take care of his comrades, and there were many to take care of on that day.

When I asked Mac, Tell me, what was it like? I asked him that question because I was asked to give the radio address to the Nation on the 50th anniversary of Normandy, so I wanted to talk to some soldiers that actually had been on the beach that day and fought at Normandy. As he described that day to me, he wept. He said, Steve, I am one of the lucky ones. Many of the survivors of that battle, that is how they considered themselves, very lucky and very fortunate.

Mac came from humble beginnings in rural Indiana. He was morally centered. He was steeped in values, and received a pretty strong heritage from those who had come before him.

Some say that the measure of a man is the depth of the footprint that he leaves behind. I would say that Mac Lawrence left a deep footprint in the community of Francesville, not only as a war hero, but also as a community leader and as a teacher.

When you think of someone who just came out of the experience of freeing Europe from tyranny, he returns home, and what does he do, he wants to give back to his community and to serve his community in other manners. That is exactly what he did.

So yes, he was admired by his students; but he was also a very strict disciplinarian. One thing that his students remember is that principles mattered to this man. When I think about Mac, this is an individual of ordinary beginnings who, like many of his generation, were called upon to do extraordinary acts. They make the extraordinary very common.

This is a remarkable individual. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Chocola. Francesville is in Mr. Chocola's congressional district, and I want to thank him for joining me in this legislation. I appreciate Senator Lugar also taking up this cause in the United States Senate.

Here in the House, we do this often, to name a post office on behalf of someone who makes a difference and can be exemplary as a leader, so when some young lady or young man or boy visit the post office might say, who was Mac Lawrence, and we have an opportunity to then describe who Mac Lawrence is and to set the principles for them on how to lead their life. That is what Mac did for those who knew him in Francesville, Indiana. I thank both gentlemen for bringing this bill to the floor and ask Members to support it.

Special thanks to the chairman, Tom Davis, and the ranking member, Henry Waxman, for reporting this legislation from the Government Reform Committee by unanimous consent on the first of February. Congressman Chocola and I introduced H.R. 4346 in November of last year to honor Malcolm Lawrence with the naming of a post office in Francesville, IN. Today we consider S. 2064, companion legislation to our bill, which was introduced in the Senate by Senator Richard Lugar.

Like many Post Office naming bills, we have the opportunity to honor a local hero by placing his name on an important community meeting place. Mac left an impression on not only his own community but on a country.

Some say the measure of a man is the depth of the footprint he leaves behind. Malcolm Melville Lawrence, known as ``Mac,'' left a deep footprint on the community of Francesville as a war hero, community leader, and a teacher.

Born on a farm in Wheatfield, IN, Mac attended Purdue University on scholarship where he pursued a degree in Vocational Agriculture, Education, and Science. Despite being denied acceptance into the ROTC program at Purdue, Mac was drafted 5 months after graduating from college and immediately called to Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis to serve his country.

It may be insufficient to say Mac simply did his duty. He landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, with so many other young men from the greatest generation, with nothing to protect him but the red cross on his sleeve. He worked tirelessly to save the lives of his comrades at great risk to his own life. Mac served as a medic alongside the 1st Battalion, 18th Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division and was awarded the Silver Star for valor, two Purple Hearts, and two Bronze Stars during five campaigns in World War II.

After the war, Mac and his wife Phyllis moved to Francesville, IN, where he began teaching at Francesville High School in 1946. Mac was beloved by his students for his patience, remembered for his discipline and dedication to his craft, teaching everything from vocational agriculture to industrial arts. He finished as an administrator after more than 30 years in education.

Mac was the kind of person every community needs. Whether it was his service to his country or community, Mac asked nothing in return. He served on the library board, was active in Future Farmers of America, and participated in 4-H for 25 years. He was an exemplary citizen of the Francesville community and deserves this honor bestowed to him. Though he left this world on July 8, 2004, his legacy lives on.

I welcome the opportunity to further honor Mac Lawrence with the naming of the Francesville Post Office, the Malcolm Melville ``Mac'' Lawrence Post Office. Leading by quiet example while he was living, Mac deserves resounding recognition after death. I strongly urge the adoption of this legislation.

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 move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2064) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 122 South Bill Street in Francesville, Indiana, as the Malcolm Melville ``Mac'' Lawrence Post Office.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, Senate 2064 introduced by the distinguished gentleman from Indiana, Senator Lugar, would designate the Post Office in Francesville, Indiana, as the Malcolm Melville ``Mac'' Lawrence Post Office.

Mac Lawrence was a true leader in every sense of the word. After graduating from Purdue University in 1943, Mac was drafted into the Army and, with the First Medical Battalion, he participated in the D- Day landing at Normandy. For his heroics as an Army medic in World War II, Mac was awarded the Silver Star for valor, two Purple Hearts, and two Bronze Stars.

After the war, Mac and his wife moved to Francesville, Indiana, where they were again teaching at the Francesville High School in 1946. He taught vocational agriculture and industrial arts and was greatly admired by his students for his dedication to his craft and for his encouraging and optimistic nature. After 30 years of service, he retired as administrator of the high school, whose students he spent a large part of his life educating.

In addition, his service to his community did not go unnoticed. He served on the Francesville library board, was active in the Future Farmers of America, and participated in 4-H for 25 years. Mac's service to his country, State, and community were unparalleled, and I ask that all Members come together and honor this pillar of the Francesville, Indiana, community and pass Senate 2064.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members support Senate 2064, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, Mr. Issa, in consideration of S. 2064, which designates the Postal facility in Francesville, Indiana, after Malcolm Melville ``Mac'' Lawrence. Senate 2064, sponsored by Senators Lugar and Bayh, unanimously passed the Senate on March 3, 2006. An identical measure, H.R. 4346, sponsored by Representative Buyer, was unanimously passed by the Government Reform Committee on February 1, 2006.

A native of Indiana, Malcolm Lawrence was drafted into the U.S. Army after graduating from Purdue University. An Army medic serving in the 1st Medical Battalion, 18th Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, Mac participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy and attended to injured soldiers in numerous battles. In 1944, he was injured in a mortar attack. Before his discharge in 1945 and subsequent return home to Indiana, Mac had been awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze and Silver Star, and a host of other medals and badges.

Mac moved to Francesville and became a teacher at the local high school. He completed his teaching career as an administrator after 30 years of teaching.

A local hero, community leader and friend, Malcolm Lawrence was a beloved neighbor. Sadly, he passed away on July 8, 2004, leaving behind his family and a host of friends.

I commend my colleagues for seeking to recognize the many contributions of Malcolm Melville ``Mac'' Lawrence and urge swift passage of this bill.

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