To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 701 East Copeland Drive in Lebanon, Missouri, as the "Steve W. Allee Carrier Annex".

Madam Speaker, during the week of February 25-29, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rollcall votes 69-87.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 69, H. Res. 978, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 70, H. Res. 930, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 71, H. Res. 944, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 74, H. Res. 974, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 75, H.R. 3521 the Sires of New Jersey Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 76, H.R. 3521 the Meek of Florida Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 81, H. Res. 1001, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 83, H.R. 5351 on Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 84, H.R. 5351, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 85, S. 2272, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 86, H.R. 4454, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 87, H.R. 4454.

Madam Speaker, during the week of March 3-7, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rollcall votes 88-106.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 88, H.R. 1143, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 89, H.R. 1311, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 90, H.R. 816, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 91, H.R. 4191, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 92, H. Con. Res. 278, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 93, H. Res. 951, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 96, H. Res. 1014, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 97, H.R. 4774, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 98, H. Con. Res. 286, ``nay'' on rolicall vote 100, H.R. 1424 the Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 101, H.R. 1424, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 102, H.R. 5400, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 104, H. Res. 1015, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 105, H.R. 2857 the Flake of Arizona Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 106, H.R. 2857 the Inslee of Washington Amendment.

Madam Speaker, during the week of March 10-14, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rollcall votes 108-145.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 108, H. Res. 537, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 109, H.R. 3196, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 110, H.R. 4166, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 115, H. Res. 924, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 116, Motion, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 117, H.R. 2082, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 118, H. Res. 948, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 119, H. Res. 493, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 122, H. Res. 1031, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 130, H. Res. 1036, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 131, H.R. 5563, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 132, H. Con. Res. 316, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 133, H. Res. 936, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 134, S. 2733, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 137, H. Con. Res. 312 Kilpatrick of Michigan Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 138, H. Con. Res. 312 Lee of California Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 140, H. Con. Res. 312 Ryan of Wisconsin Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 141, H. Con. Res. 312, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 142, H. Res. 991, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 143, H. Res. 1041 On Ordering the Previous Question, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 144, H. Res. 1041 On Agreeing to the Resolution, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 145, H.R. 3773.

Madam Speaker, during the week of March 31-April 4, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rolicall votes 147-160.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 147, H.R. 3352, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 148, H.R. 2675, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 149, H. Con. Res. 302, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 150, H. Con. Res. 310, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 151, H. Res. 1005, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 152, H. Res. 1021, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 154, H. Res. 1065 On Ordering the Previous Question, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 155, H. Res. 1065 On Agreeing to the Resolution, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 156, H.R. 5501 Carson of Indiana Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 157, H.R. 5501 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 158, H.R. 5501 On Passage, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 159, H.R. 4847 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 160, H.R. 4847 On Passage.

Madam Speaker, during the week of April 7-11, 2008, I was unavoidably absent from rollcall votes 161-182.

Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote 161, H.J. Res. 70, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 162, H.R. 2464, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 163, S. 793, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 164, H. Res. 1084 On Ordering the Previous Question, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 165, H. Res.

1084 On Agreeing to the Resolution, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 166, H. Res. 1077, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 167, H.R. 2016 the Grijalva of Arizona Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 168, H.R. 2016 the Bishop of Utah Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 169, H.R. 2016 the Bishop of Utah Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 170, H.R. 2016 the Bishop of Utah Amendment, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 171, H.R. 2016 the Altmire of Pennsylvania Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 172, H.R. 2016 the Pearce of New Mexico Amendment, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 173, H.R. 2016 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 174, H.R. 2016 On Passage, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 175, H.R. 2419, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 176, H.R. 5489, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 177, H.R. 5472, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 179, H. Res. 1083, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 180, H. Res. 1038, ``yea'' on rollcall vote 181, H. Res. 1092, ``nay'' on rollcall vote 182, H.R. 2537 the Flake of Arizona Amendment.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4166) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 701 East Copeland Drive in Lebanon, Missouri, as the ``Steve W. Allee Carrier Annex''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the honorable gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the author of this bill.

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

Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues from the great State of Missouri in the consideration of H.R. 4166, which names the postal facility in Lebanon, Missouri, after Steve W. Allee, a dedicated and long-serving United States postal worker.

H.R. 4166, which was introduced by Representative Ike Skelton of Missouri on November 13, 2007, was considered and reported from the Oversight Committee on February 26, 2008, by a voice vote. The measure has the support of the entire congressional delegation from Missouri and provides us with yet another opportunity to pay tribute to an American citizen whose life was taken while simply performing his professional duties of delivering the mail.

The story of Mr. Allee's tragic death begins on Monday, August 20, 2007, where, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol report, at 2 p.m. in Laclede County, 10 miles east of Lebanon, Missouri, a 2003 Chevy Blazer driven by Steve Allee, 51, of Stoutland, Missouri, came upon a flooded roadway and was swept away as a result of flooding on the Missouri River.

Allee, who was on duty during the accident, was found 2 miles downstream and pronounced dead at the scene.

At the urging of Representative Skelton, passage of H.R. 4166 will allow Congress to make in order a small tribute to this big-hearted individual, a United States postal carrier himself. Mr. Allee had been delivering mail since 1989, when he succumbed to his death as a result of the Missouri River overrunning its banks last fall.

Let us also remember and express our gratitude for the life of this dedicated postal worker, who was tragically taken from us by a force of nature while performing his vocation of delivering the mail, by passing

Madam Speaker, I certainly thank the gentleman for yielding and giving me this opportunity.

It goes without saying that the United States Postal Service has an historic reputation for excellence and unyielding dedication to the people of our Nation. ``Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these carriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds'' are the words engraved on the outside of the James A. Farley Post Office Building in New York City. Every day, thousands of postal employees proudly wear the uniform of the United States Postal Service with the understanding of the enormity of this commitment.

Today, Madam Speaker, I stand before the House in support of H.R. 4166, a bill I introduced to pay tribute to the life of one of those public servants, Mr. Steven W. Allee of Stoutland, Missouri, and a rural mail carrier for the citizens of Lebanon, Missouri.

Since 1989, Mr. Steve Allee held a full-time position as a rural carrier at the Lebanon, Missouri, Post Office. He was a dedicated employee, a loving family man to his wife Debbie, his children and his grandchildren, a member of the Buffalo Prairie Baptist Church, and a friend to many.

Tragically, Madam Speaker, on August 20, 2007, Mr. Allee was killed in the line of duty when his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in rural Lebanon. This flash flood was unprecedented in its magnitude. As Mr. Allee completed his route, he approached a country bridge under which a typically dry creekbed usually lies. However, on this day, the rapidly falling rainwater had overtaken the bridge. When Mr. Allee attempted to cross, his vehicle was swept away.

Today, I urge the House of Representatives to honor this man for his public service and his commitment to his community. Let us pay our respects to his personal and postal family by designating the facility, the United States Postal Service located at 701 East Copeland Drive in Lebanon, Missouri, as the Steve W. Allee Carrier Annex.

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

In his hometown of Lebanon, Missouri, Steve Allee was known not just as a rural postal carrier at the Lebanon Post Office, but also as a dear friend and loving family man. He came from a family of letter carriers. His father was a highway contract driver, and his cousin is the postmaster in Stoutland, Missouri.

Mr. Allee was a dedicated post office employee for over 15 years until the tragic loss of his life while on the job on August 20, 2007. On that tragic day, Mr. Allee was going about his daily routine of delivering mail until a torrential rainstorm began. He was attempting to cross a bridge over what is normally a dry creekbed, but due to the rainfall, the creek had become flooded. Mr. Allee perished as his vehicle was washed away in the rush of water. This serves as an example of how public servants in the course of their everyday duties are sometimes thrust into dangerous and, in this case, deadly circumstances.

We acknowledge Mr. Allee's service and his sacrifice. He will be deeply missed by all the people's lives that he touched.

With this, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this fitting tribute to a dedicated postal employee who lost his life in the line of duty.

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

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

Madam Speaker, due to official business in the 13th Congressional District of Michigan, I was unable to attend several votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on final passage of H. Res. 537, Expressing support for the designation and goals of ``National 9-1-1 Education Month,'' ``yea'' on final passage of H.R. 3196, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 Sussex Street in Port Jervis, New York, as the ``E. Arthur Gray Post Office Building,'' and ``yea'' on final passage of H.R. 4166, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 701 East Copeland Drive in Lebanon, Missouri, as the ``Steve W. Allee Carrier Annex.''