To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, as the "Staff Sergeant Marvin "Rex" Young Post Office Building".

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on August 1, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., to mark up S. 1677, the Currency Reform and Financial Markets Access Act of 2007; S. 1518, the Community Partnership to End Homelessness Act of 2007; an original bill entitled the FHA Modernization Act of 2007; an original bill entitled the Housing Assistance Authorization Act of 2007; an original bill entitled the Private Student Loan Transparency and Improvement Act of 2007; and an original bill entitled the Commission on National Catastrophe Risk Management and Insurance Act of 2007.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 2:30 p.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

The U.S. Department of Commerce and its component bureaus are responsible for the stewardship, protection, and scientific understanding of our ocean environment and its resources, effective use and growth of the Nation's technological resources, and promoting U.S. trade and tourism. The oversight hearing will examine the Department's effectiveness in implementing these goals.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on recent advances in clean coal technology, including the prospects for deploying these technologies at a commercial scale in the near future.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. to hold a hearing on Africa.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet in executive session during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at 10 a.m. in the LBJ Room, S-211, of the Capitol building. We will be considering the following:

1. S. 625, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

2. S. 1183, Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act

3. S. 579, Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2007

4. S. 898, Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act of 2007

5. S. 1858, Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007

6. The Following Nominations: Diane Auer Jones, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, Department of Education; David C. Geary, of Missouri, to be a member of the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences; Miguel Campaneria, of Puerto Rico, to be a member of the National Council on the Arts; and any nominations ready for action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 10 a.m. in order to conduct business meeting to consider pending committee business.

Agenda

Nominations: The Honorable James A. Nussle to be Director, Office of Management and Budget; Dennis R. Schrader to be Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Legislation: S. 680, Accountability in Government Contracting Act of 2007; H.R. 1254, Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007; S. __, an original bill to provide for the flexibility of certain disaster relief funds, and for improved evacuation and sheltering during disasters and catastrophes; S. 1000, Telework Enhancement Act of 2007; S. 1446, National Capital Transportation Amendments Act of 2007; S. 547, Effective Homeland Security Management Act of 2007; S. 1245, a bill to reform mutual aid agreements for the National Capital Region; S. 597, a bill to extend the special postage stamp for breast cancer research for 2 years.

Post Office Naming Bills: H.R. 2570/S. 1732, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 301 Boardwalk Drive in Fort Collins, Colorado, as the ``Dr. Karl E. Carson Post Office Building''; S. 1772, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 127 South Elm Street in Gardner, Kansas, as the ``Private First Class Shane R. Austin Post Office''; S. 1781, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 118 Minner Avenue in Bakersfield, California, as the ``Buck Owens Post Office''; H.R. 2127, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 408 West 6th Street in Chelsea, Oklahoma, as the ``Clem Rogers McSpadden Post Office Building''; H.R. 2563/S. 1539, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 309 East Linn Street in Marshalltown, Iowa, as the ``Major Scott Nisely Post Office''; S. 1596, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 103 South Getty Street in Uvalde, Texas, as the ``Dolph S. Briscoe, Jr., Post Office Building''; H.R. 1722, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 601 Banyan Trail in Boca Raton, Florida, as the ``Leonard W. Herman Post Office''; H.R. 1425, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Staff Sergeant Marvin `Rex' Young Post Office Building''; H.R. 2078, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14536 State Route 136 in Cherry Fork, Ohio, as the ``Staff Sergeant Omer `O.T.' Hawkins Post Office''; H.R. 2077, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20805 State Route 125 in Blue Creek, Ohio, as the ``George B. Lewis Post Office Building''; H.R. 1617, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal service located at 561 Kingsland Avenue in University City, Missouri, as the ``Harriet F. Woods Post Office Building''; H.R. 2025, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal service located at 11033 South State Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the ``Willye B. White Post Office Building''; H.R. 1335, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal service located at 508 East Main Street in Seneca, South Carolina, as the ``S/Sgt Lewis G. Watkins Post Office Building''; H.R. 1260, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal service located at 6301 Highway 58 in Harrison, Tennessee, as the ``Claude Ramsey Post Office''; H.R. 1434, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 896 Pittsburgh Street in Springdale, Pennsylvania, as the ``Rachel Carson Post Office Building.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to conduct a roundtable entitled ``Reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research Programs: National Academies' Findings and Recommendations,'' on August 1, 2007, at 10 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on August 1, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. to hold an open hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia be authorized to meet on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. in order to conduct a hearing entitled Building a Stronger American Diplomatic.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and Power of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 1054 and H.R. 122, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Inland Empire regional recycling project and in the Cucamonga Valley Water District recycling project; S. 1472, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to create a Bureau of Reclamation partnership with the North Bay Water Reuse Authority and other regional partners to achieve objectives relating to water supply, water quality, and environmental restoration; S. 1475 and H.R. 1526, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program, and for other purposes; H.R. 30, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water

System Pressurization and Expansion Project; H.R. 609, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Central Texas Recycling and Reuse Project, and for other purposes; and H.R. 1175, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to increase the ceiling on the Federal share of the costs of phase I of the Orange County, California, Regional Water Reclamation Project.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's yielding.

Next Monday, our Nation will pay tribute to all the young men and women who fought and died so bravely and honorably for our Nation. On Memorial Day, we will celebrate with parades and speeches and flag waving and fireworks, as we should. From the Revolutionary War to the war we are fighting today, we celebrate and remember the fallen as a group. For those of us who have lost a loved one in a war or through the service of this country, Memorial Day has a deep meaning.

For the family and friends of the men who served with Marvin ``Rex'' Young, the last Monday of May is much more than just symbolic. On this day, Rex's family and friends and fellow soldiers remember and honor his brave actions on behalf of his country.

On August 21, 1968, while in battle in Vietnam, Rex sacrificed his life to save the lives of his friends and comrades. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to honor the life and memory and heroism of Staff Sergeant ``Rex'' Young.

Rex was born in Alpine, Texas, on May 11, 1947, the third and youngest child to Marilyn and Roy Young. Rex's mother has provided this picture of Rex serving in Vietnam back in 1967 and 1968.

The family moved to Odessa when Rex was a child. I met Rex when we were both attending Odessa Permian High School. Rex was a year ahead of me and graduated in 1965. He was a gifted athlete, played both football and baseball while at Permian. His mother said Rex was more interested in just being on the team and contributing, but he was much more than that. He was a star player. Childhood friends remember Rex as an exceptional athlete who could have written his own ticket in baseball. And they remember him as a very unselfish guy, so they were not surprised when he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in battle.

After graduation, Rex attended Odessa College and Kentfield Junior College in California and then joined the United States Army on September 15, 1966. He completed basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and advanced infantry training at Fort Lewis, Washington, and then departed for Vietnam on October 20, 1967. He was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry of the 25th Infantry Division, known as the ``Bobcats.'' Rex earned his first Purple Heart from a shrapnel wound on December 7, 1967; and he earned his second Purple Heart on February 1, 1968, during the TET Offensive.

On August 21, 1968, Rex was killed by enemy fire as he provided protective fire to shelter elements of his platoon as they were withdrawn to safety. It was in these final selfless acts that Rex saved so many of his friends' lives.

Jesus said in John 15:13, ``Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.''

I would like to read from the citation that describes Rex's final moments on this Earth:

``Staff Sergeant Young distinguished himself at the cost of his life while serving as a squad leader with Company C. While conducting a reconnaissance mission, Company C was suddenly engaged by an estimated regimental-size force of the North Vietnamese Army. During the initial volley of fire, the point element of the 1st Platoon was pinned down, sustaining several casualties, and the active platoon leader was killed. Sergeant Young unhesitatingly assumed command of the platoon and immediately began to organize and deploy his men into a defensive position in order to repel the attacking force. As a human wave attack advanced on Sergeant Young's platoon, he moved from position to position, encouraging and directing fire on the hostile insurgents while exposing himself to the hail of enemy bullets.

``After receiving orders to withdraw to a better defensive position, he remained behind to provide covering fire for the withdrawal. Observing that a small element of the point squad was unable to extract itself from its position, and completely disregarding his personal safety, Sergeant Young began moving toward their position, firing as he maneuvered.

``When halfway to their position, he sustained a critical head injury, yet he continued his mission and ordered the element to withdraw.

``Remaining with the squad as it fought its way to the rear, he was twice seriously wounded, once in the arm and once in the leg. Although his leg was badly shattered, Sergeant Young refused assistance that would have slowed down the retreat of his comrades, and he ordered them to continue their withdrawal while he provided protective covering fire. With indomitable courage and heroic self-sacrifice, he continued his self-assigned mission until the enemy engulfed his position. By his gallantry, at the cost of his life, and which is in the highest tradition of military service, Staff Sergeant Young has reflected great credit on himself, his unit and the United States Army.''

In the heavy fighting that day, Company C suffered 17 men killed, 21 wounded. And no one knows how many other men would have died that day had Rex not stepped in to save his friends.

For his gallantry and self-sacrifice, Sergeant Young was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant. Rex earned his country's highest award for bravery, the Medal of Honor. In addition to the medal, Staff Sergeant Young was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star with ``V'' Device, Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Rex was buried with full military honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Odessa, Texas. Near him lie many other Odessans who perished in the Vietnam War. Fifty feet north rests another Medal of Honor recipient, Alfred ``Mac'' Wilson, Corporal, United States Marine Corps.

Rex's sister Margaret now lies next to him. His brother Charles Ray and his father are also deceased. His mother lived in Odessa for many years. She has recently moved to McKinney to be close to her friends.

Rex's last day on Earth was almost 39 years ago. Because he and I are close to the same age, I think often of all the experiences that I have had that he willingly gave up that hot, fateful day halfway around the world.

I am loved by a wonderful woman, and together we have raised four children. I have watched them grow into responsible adults. I have watched the boys play football and basketball, baseball and golf. I watched my daughters lead cheers as a cheerleader and a team mascot. I have watched our sons take beautiful young women to be their wives. I walked one of my daughters down the aisle so that her mother and I could give her in marriage to a starry-eyed young man. I have held our seven grandchildren in my arms and looked into the eyes of America's future. And I buried a wife and a father. These are life experiences that Rex should have had. All of these experiences that I know Rex must have looked forward to, the good and the bad, were sacrificed on freedom's altar in his heroic acts that day so long ago.

Mr. Speaker, next Monday our Nation celebrates Memorial Day, a day set aside each year to honor all of the Rex Youngs our country has produced and who have made that same supreme sacrifice that Rex made. This includes, of course, the brave men and women who for the past 5- plus years have stood between us and some very bad, soulless people that want to destroy our way of life.

I would like to challenge each of us that in addition to honoring these men and women as a group, that we think about them on an individual basis. By that I mean that each of us should have a specific person that we think about, honor and celebrate each and every time sacrifices are mentioned. It could be somebody in our family, it could be a friend or somebody that you know through a history lesson, but my challenge to you is this: That every time you are reminded of all the lives that have been given in defense of this country, that you think about a specific life given. For me, Mr. Speaker, that life is Rex Young.

With that, Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and gratitude that I ask this House to honor SSG Marvin ``Rex'' Young by naming the post office at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, after him. By doing so, his memory will live on not just in the hearts of those of us who knew him, but also by everyone that uses or drives by that post office and sees his name.

His Nation honored him with its highest honor for bravery. I now ask that his Nation honor his memory by taking one more official act. I ask each of you to vote in favor of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, between May 16, 2007, and May 22, 2007, I traveled to the Middle East to attend the World Economic Forum and to visit with troops from my district now serving in Iraq. As a result, I missed a number of votes. I take my voting responsibility very seriously; had I been present, I would have voted the following:

No on the Andrews Amendment to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 364)

No on the DeFazio Amendment to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 365)

No on the Woolsey Amendment to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 366)

Aye on the Tierney Amendment to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 367)

No on the Franks Amendment to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 368)

No on the King Amendment to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 369)

Aye on the Moran Amendment to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 370)

Aye on the Holt Amendment to H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 371)

Aye on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 372)

Aye on final passage of H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Roll Call 373)

Yea on H. Res. 404, providing for consideration of the H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 374)

Yea on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 409, providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 21) setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government (Roll Call 375)

Aye on H. Res. 409, providing for consideration of the conference report to accompany the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 21) setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government (Roll Call 376)

Yea on agreeing to the conference report S. Con. Res. 21 (Roll Call 377)

No on Bachus Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 378)

No on Hensarling Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 379)

No on the McHenry Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 380)

Aye on the Kanjorski Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 381)

No on the Roskam Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 382)

No on the Garrett Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 383)

Yea on H.R. 698, the Industrial Bank Holding Company Act (Roll Call 384)

Yea on H.R. 1425, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Staff Sergeant Marvin `Rex' Young Post Office Building'' (Roll Call 385)

No on the Feeney Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 386)

No on the Price Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 387)

No on the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 388)

No on the Brady Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 389)

No on the Price Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 390)

No on the Doolittle Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 391)

No on the Hensarling Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 392)

No on the Neugebauer Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 393)

Aye on the Neugebauer Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 394)

No on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 395)

Aye on final passage of H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act (Roll Call 396)

Yea on S. 214, the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act (Roll Call 397)

Yea on H.R. 2264, to amend the Sherman Act to make oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal (Roll Call 398)

Yea on S. 1104, a bill to increase the number of Iraqi and Afghani translators and interpreters who may be admitted to the United States as special immigrants (Roll Call 399)

Yea on H.R. 2399, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to combat the crime of alien smuggling and related activities (Roll Call 400)

Yea on H.R. 1722, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 601 Banyan Trail in Boca Raton, Florida, as the ``Leonard W. Herman Post Office'' (Roll Call 401)

Aye on Democratic Motion to Table Resolution Raising a Question of Privileges of the House (Roll Call 402)

Madam Speaker, on May 17 through May 22 I missed votes due to my being out of the country to conduct oversight of our operations in Iraq.

Had I been present for rollcall 378, the Bachus Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 379, the Hensarling Amendment No. 29 to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 380, the McHenry Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 381, the Kanjorski Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 382, the Roskam Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 383, the Garrett Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 384, H.R. 698, the Industrial Bank Holding Company Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 385, H.R. 1425, the Staff Sergeant Marvin Rex Young Post Office Building, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 386, the Feeney Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 387, the Price (GA) Amendment No. 8 to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 388, the Sessions Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 389, the Brady Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 390, the Price (GA) Amendment No. 9 to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 391, the Doolittle Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 392, the Hensarling Amendment No. 30 to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 393, the Neugebauer Amendment to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 394, the Neugebauer Amendment No. 4 to H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 395, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``no.''

Had I been present for rollcall 396, on final passage of H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 397, S. 214, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 398, H.R. 2264, the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 399, S. 1104, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 400, H.R. 2399, the Alien Smuggling and Terrorism Prevention Act, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 401, H.R. 1722, the Leonard W. Herman Post Office, I would have voted ``yes.''

Had I been present for rollcall 402, a motion to table H. Res. 428, I would have voted ``no.''

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

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to speak on the floor today to name a post office in Odessa, Texas, for a truly great American.

Marvin ``Rex'' Young was a genuine war hero at the young age of 21. He grew up in Odessa, Texas, and was quite athletic during high school, playing both football and baseball. A smart student, he also enjoyed art and spent time painting. His plans were to attend Texas Tech University after graduating from high school, but, unfortunately, he never got the chance.

Rex Young joined the U.S. Army in September of 1966 and was deployed to Vietnam in 1967. He served with Company C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division as a staff sergeant. He was wounded twice during the war, once in December, 1967, and again in February, 1968. But it was on August 21, 1968, in a true act of heroism that he would provide the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

He was acting as a squad leader on a reconnaissance mission in South Vietnam. His unit was attacked by the enemy and received a barrage of incoming fire. The forward platoon lost its commander, so Rex Young instinctively took command and organized his men into a defensive position, all the while under heavy enemy fire.

In attempting to withdraw, he allowed his men to retreat while he stayed behind providing covering fire. It was during this action that he was critically injured. Heroically, he still managed to help the other members of his unit to retreat while continuing to cover for them. As more infantrymen pulled back, he remained behind to ensure their safe withdrawal. While the group fought its way back, he was hit again in the leg and in the arm. Fearing that seeking medical aid would slow down his team, he refused it. It was there that he sacrificed himself for the safety of his comrades.

It was this act of selfless bravery, courageous leadership, and heroism that earned him the country's highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor. The medal was posthumously awarded to his family by President Nixon on April 17, 1970. It is for those same reasons that we name this post office for Marvin ``Rex'' Young in his hometown.

I ask all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 1425

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Texas and the person who introduced this resolution (Mr. Conaway).

Mr. Speaker, I think it is very appropriate that this week, just before Memorial Day, we are honoring these several people who have sacrificed their lives so that the rest of us can be here and be free. I particularly want to thank Mr. Conaway for his comments about not just recognizing in a collective way the people who have given their lives and who have served, but who have done it in a personal way. This morning I had the honor to recognize Mr. Larry Bauguess, who has recently lost his life in Afghanistan on behalf of our country.

I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 1425.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.