A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 East Thompson Street in Thomaston, Georgia, as the "Sergeant First Class Robert Lee 'Bobby' Hollar, Jr. Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately as the result of a death in the family and my need to return to Illinois by Saturday morning for the funeral services, I was unable to cast my votes on the following pieces of legislation. I request that the Record state my intentions on these votes had I been present to vote.

I would have voted ``aye'' for H. Res. 1100, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 6406, to modify temporarily certain rates of duty and make other technical amendments to the trade laws, to extend certain trade preference programs, and for other purposes.

I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 5948, the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006. Passage of the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act supports Belarus as an emerging democracy with U.S. assistance by strengthening democratic institutions and processes within the country. Our country has a long history of promoting democracy worldwide and this bill will assist the people of Belarus with foreign aid and the risk of U.S. sanctions should the recent political upheavals and the repression of democratic groups in the country continue.

I would have voted ``present'' in response to the Call of the House. I am sorry to have missed Speaker J. Dennis Hastert's farewell speech. I respect and admire him, and am proud to serve with him in the Illinois congressional delegation. His long tenure as the Speaker of the House is historic, and he will be celebrated as an esteemed statesman.

I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 6406, to modify temporarily certain rates of duty and make other technical amendments to the trade laws, to extend certain trade preference programs, and for other purposes. This package contains trade provisions I have supported in the past and will continue to do so in the future. These provisions will help expand the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and exporters within the global marketplace.

I would have voted ``aye'' on the Conference Report on H.R. 5682, the Henry J. Hyde U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act of 2006. India has been a longtime and important ally to the U.S. and U.S. assistance in the development of a civilian nuclear energy program will only cement the strategic partnership between our two countries. With the passage of the cooperation agreement with India the U.S. can be assured the peaceful sharing of nuclear energy technologies under international safeguards while preventing the spread of nuclear weapon information to rogue countries, such as North Korea and Iran.

I would have voted ``aye'' on H.J. Res. 102, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2007. While I am disappointed that we were not able to pass the remaining appropriations bills under regular order, I feel that it is important that we continue to fund our government program at adequate levels until we can address the appropriations bills in the next session of Congress.

Finally, I would have voted ``aye'' on the following bills, considered under suspension of the rules:

1. H.R. 6407--Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act

2. H. Res. 1104--Providing for a severance payment for employees of leadership offices and committees of the House of Representatives who are separated from employment solely and directly as a result of a change in the party holding the majority of the membership in the House

3. H.R. 6060--Department of State Authorities Act of 2006

4. S. 4050--Sergeant First Class Robert Lee `Bobby' Hollar, Jr. Post Office Building Designation Act

5. S. 4093--A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to extend a suspension of limitation on the period for which certain borrowers are eligible for guaranteed assistance

6. H.R. 5304--Preventing Harassment through Outbound Number Enforcement Act

7. S. 3821--COMPETE Act of 2006

8. S. 4042--A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit disruptions of funerals of members or former members of the Armed Forces

9. H.R. 6427--To increase the amount in certain funding agreements relating to patents and nonprofit organizations to be used for scientific research, development, and education, and for other purposes

10. H.R. 6428--To authorize the Secretary of the Army to carry out certain elements of the project for hurricane and storm damage reduction, Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana

11. S. 2735--Dam Safety Act of 2006

12. S. Con. Res. 123--A concurrent resolution providing for correction to the enrollment of the bill H.R. 5946

13. H.R. 5946--Stevens-Inouye International Fisheries Monitoring and Compliance Legacy Act of 2006

14. H.R. 4075--Marine Mammal Protection Act Amendments of 2006

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Davis and his staff, and to Mr. Davis and the Republican leadership for allowing this bill to come to the floor. I also want to thank Senator Isakson for handling this bill in the Senate and having it passed.

Sergeant First Class Robert ``Bobby'' Lee Hollar, Jr., was a loving husband, father of two, son, and friend. He was a respected and loved brother in arms to his brother soldiers in E Troop 108th Calvary of the 48th Brigade of the Georgia National Guard and was mobilized and deployed as part of the U.S. Army Force Command in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sergeant First Class Hollar arrived in Kuwait in May of 2005, and only 10 days later went into Baghdad with his fellow troops. His unit moved down to assist with missions in the Triangle of Death, and he patrolled out of his Forward Operating Base Michael south of Baghdad in mid-June 2005. His unit faced tough, hostile conditions in the Triangle of Death.

On September 1, 2005, while on patrol, Sergeant First Class Hollar's vehicle was struck by a powerful improvised explosive device. Although he survived at the scene and was evacuated to the field hospital for emergency surgery and treatment, his injuries were too severe for him to survive. He died later that day, leaving his wife Amanda, his 2- year-old son Wesley, and another son by a previous marriage.

Sergeant First Class Hollar was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was awarded various service and achievement awards as well.

Sergeant First Class Hollar was assigned to the Jonesboro, Georgia, Postal Facility and had taken up residence in Thomaston, Georgia. Sergeant First Class Hollar had become a pen pal for students at Crescent Middle School in Griffin, Georgia. In May of 2005, Sergeant Hollar visited the middle school and was accompanied by his then 1- year-old son, Wesley.

Sergeant Hollar touched the lives of the fourth and fifth grade classes with whom he was a pen pal. These children became very attached to Sergeant Hollar as he continued to write them from Iraq.

On September 2, 2005, their teacher, Katie Cobb, was unfortunately faced with the tough task of sharing the horrible news that their friend, Sergeant Hollar, had died from an explosive device that hit his vehicle.

That fourth grade class had the chance to know a true American hero. Sadly, when the class heard of Sergeant Hollar's death, they learned a tragic but important lesson about the high cost of defending freedom.

According to Ms. Cobb, the students all started crying and were very upset about Sergeant Hollar's death. Ms. Cobb stated that she was proud that her students became even more appreciative of their freedom from knowing Sergeant Hollar. After his death, the students proceeded to write their government officials asking that his memory be carried on by having the Thomaston Post Office named in his honor.

It is a rare occasion when a post office can be named for such a wonderful individual who was an active postal employee and Active Duty servicemember who died while serving his country as an American hero.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members would support S. 4050 in honor of this great man.

Mr. President, it is my honor and privilege today to pay tribute to Sergeant First Class Robert Lee ``Bobby'' Hollar, Jr. Sergeant Hollar served his country as a civilian and soldier and ultimately gave his life to protect our Nation. Sergeant Hollar served in E Troop, 108th Cavalry, 48th Brigade of the Georgia National Guard, and was deployed to Iraq in May 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On September 1, 2005, an improvised explosive device struck Sergeant Hollar's vehicle while he was on patrol outside of Baghdad, and he died of severe injuries later that day. Sergeant Hollar is survived by his wife Amanda and two sons.

Throughout Sergeant Hollar's 10 years of courageous service in the U.S. Air Force, and during his service in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, he was awarded numerous service and achievement medals. Also, Sergeant Hollar was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Sergeant Hollar's duties in Iraq went beyond the daily routine of a soldier. Sergeant Hollar was a pen pal with the fourth grade class at Crescent Middle School in Griffin, GA. To these students, Sergeant Hollar was a real-life ``G.I. Joe,'' and his letters and visits with them have forever touched their lives.

When Sergeant Hollar wasn't on active duty, he lived with his family in Thomaston, GA, and was employed by the United States Postal Service as a postal carrier.

Sergeant Hollar made his community and Nation better through selfless dedication to his career in public service with the Georgia National Guard and the U.S. Post Office. I have been contacted by many members of his community, and I am proud to join in as part of their campaign to name the Thomaston Post Office in his honor, and to be an original cosponsor of S. 4050, a bill to designate the facility of the Postal Service located at 103 East Thompson Street in Thomaston, GA, as the ``Sergeant First Class Robert Lee `Bobby' Hollar, Jr. Post Office Building''.

I believe this is a simple yet lasting, way to recognize Sergeant Hollar's service and sacrifice to our country.

(The remarks of Mr. Chambliss pertaining to the submission of S. Res. 615 are printed in today's Record under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

(The remarks of Mr. Chambliss pertaining to the submission of S. Res. 617 are located in today's Record under ``Submission of Concurrent and Senate Resolutions.'')

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 4050) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 East Thompson Street in Thomaston, Georgia, as the ``Sergeant First Class Robert Lee `Bobby' Hollar, Jr., 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, I rise in support of S. 4050, offered by the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Westmoreland. This bill would name a post office in Thomaston, Ga. to honor Sgt. First Class Bobby Lee Hollar, who was killed in action while serving our nation in Iraq.

Sergeant Hollar was the kind of man who makes it possible for Americans to live in freedom and his service to his country was nothing short of remarkable. He was a Tank Commander in the U.S. Army National Guard before joining the 108th Calvary Division in Griffin, Georgia. For seven years following that, he worked within the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg and Colorado Springs. He believed passionately in what he did, and at the young age of 35, he died entirely too young.

I would also like to note here that naming this post office in honor of Sergeant Hollar is quite befitting, as he dedicated several years of his life to the Postal Service before returning to the military and deploying to Iraq. Friends and family from every part of his life remember his kindness, his spirit, and the way he put his heart and soul into everything he did. We are so fortunate for the bravery and allegiance of people like Sergeant Hollar, and it is with gratitude for his dedication and service that I support this resolution.

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

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

Mr. President, today I pay tribute to SFC Robert Lee ``Bobby'' Hollar, Jr. Sergeant First Class Hollar was an exemplary soldier, respected U.S. Postal employee, and a loving family man.

Before deploying for Iraq, Sergeant First Class Hollar dropped by Crescent Elementary School in Griffin, GA, to visit a class of students. In the classroom, Sergeant First Class Hollar fielded questions about where he was headed, what he would be doing there, and when he would be coming home. He encouraged the students to write and promised he would do the same.

On September 1, 2005, on a road south of Baghdad, an IED ended the life of Sergeant First Class Hollar. As word of his death reached the classroom where he had stood just months before, the children began to cry. You see, Sergeant First Class Hollar taught them something else: he taught them that our freedom is not free.

This week, the Senate passed S. 4050, a bill naming the post office in Thomaston, GA, as the Sergeant First Class Robert Lee ``Bobby'' Hollar, Jr. Post Office Building. For the children at Crescent Elementary School, this building will serve as a lasting memory of their pen pal and hero. For the rest of us, this building will serve as a reminder that our freedom is not free.

In closing, I would like to thank the numerous people in Georgia who helped to make this possible as well as the U.S. Postal Service and my fellow Senators.