To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 120 Commercial Street in Brockton, Massachusetts, as the "Rocky Marciano Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5528) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 120 Commercial Street in Brockton, Massachusetts, as the ``Rocky Marciano Post Office Building''.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman who introduced this legislation, Representative Lynch from Massachusetts.

(Mr. LYNCH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present for consideration H.R. 5528, which seeks to commemorate the life of Rocky Marciano, the undefeated boxer from Brockton, Massachusetts, by naming a United States Post Office in his honor.

Rocky Marciano's story serves as a testament to the American Dream and the endless possibilities that line every street in our great country. His accomplishments remind us of the fact that the United States of America is a place where a poor and disadvantaged young man growing up in the rough neighborhoods of Brockton, Massachusetts, can aspire and achieve greatness.

H.R. 5528 was introduced by Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts on March 4, 2008, and was considered by and reported from the Oversight Committee on March 13, 2008, by voice vote. The measure has the support of the nine members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation and upon passage will pay tribute to a man who demonstrated the limitless potential that lies within each human being. The obstacles Rocky Marciano had to overcome in life, whether they were physical, financial, or spiritual, provide inspiration to us all.

Rocco Francis Marchegiano was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1923. Weighing 12 pounds and sporting a robust frame, it was obvious, even as a newborn, that Rocky Marciano was not a pushover. Yet his luck was not as healthy as his physique. At 18 months Rocky contracted pneumonia and would have perished were it not for his remarkably strong constitution. Thus starting from a tender age, Rocky learned how to fight back to overcome daunting odds.

His first introduction to boxing came when he and some friends set up a stuffed mail sack in Marchegiano's backyard to serve as a boxing bag. Now, as chairman of the Federal Workforce, D.C., and Postal Service Subcommittee, I wouldn't normally approve of using mail sacks in such an abusive way. But in Rocky's case, I must say that his resourcefulness is quite admirable.

At age 20 Rocky was drafted into the U.S. Army to fight overseas in the European theater. After only 8 months, he was flown back to the States where he awaited transfer to the Pacific in Fort Lewis, Washington. While stationed at Fort Lewis, he volunteered to represent his unit in a ring of amateur fights and eventually won the boxing tournament in 1946. From that point onward, sports history would be forever changed and Rocky Marciano would begin his long career as world champion until he announced retirement in April of 1956.

On the eve of his 46th birthday in 1969, Marciano was aboard a small private plane that went down on its way to Des Moines, Iowa. In memory of Rocky Marciano and in honor of his accomplishment, I urge swift passage of H.R. 5528.

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

Thank you, Chairman Davis, for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5528 will designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 120 Commercial Street in the city of Brockton, Massachusetts, as the ``Rocky Marciano Post Office Building.''

At the outset, I would like to thank the members of the Marciano family and the public officials and the residents in the city of Brockton for their dedication in honoring Rocky Marciano, who was a remarkable champion and citizen, through the naming of this Commercial Street post office.

In particular, I would like to note the contributions made by Rocky Marciano's younger brother, Peter Marciano, Sr., also Brockton Mayor Jim Harrington, my good friend, his staff assistant, Donna Daily, Senator Bob Creedon, Representative Tom Kennedy, Chris Canavan and Gerry Creedon, as well as the city council, led by City Councilman Mike Brady.

In addition, I would like to note the support of the Brockton High School's legendary football coach, Armond Columbo; Brockton resident Mark Casieri, who owns Rocky Marciano's boyhood home on Dover Street; Goody Petronelli, the iconic fight trainer and owner of downtown Brockton's renowned Petronelli Brothers Gym; and last but not least, Charlie Tartaglia, who is the owner of the historic George's Cafe on Belmont Street and whose walls and whose institution there serves as a pictorial shrine to the sport of boxing and also to the life of Rocky Marciano and the city of Brockton.

Mr. Speaker, Rocco Francis Marchegiano, better known as Rocky Marciano, was born and raised in a working class family in the city of Brockton, Massachusetts. He attended Brockton High School, and from his induction in 1943 to his discharge in 1946, he served this country proudly as a United States Army private with the 150th Combat Engineers. It was during his Army service that Rocky Marciano first discovered his love for boxing.

And as noted in Mr. Marciano's official biography, ``There were those who didn't think much would become of the 190 pound heavyweight from Brockton in the early days.'' Nevertheless, during his subsequent professional heavyweight boxing career, Rocky Marciano, nicknamed the ``Brockton Blockbuster,'' amassed a professional record of 49 wins, no draws, and no losses, with 43 knockouts. Rocky Marciano held boxing's heavyweight title from 1952 until 1956, and, notably, he remains the only heavyweight champion in boxing history to retire undefeated.

However, Rocky Marciano's legacy extends beyond the boxing ring. His achievements, his skill, and relentless work ethic and determination made Rocky Marciano the personification of what is best and proudest in the city of Brockton and in this country.

As noted by sportswriter Ed Fitzgerald in a January, 1953, SPORT magazine article, ``All Brockton came to love him and always will . . . He put the city on the map; he gave its citizens a new interest in life.''

In his honor Brockton is commonly referred to as the ``City of Champions,'' and in his footsteps, the city has borne other great champions, including former boxing middleweight champion Marvin Hagler and also the celebrated Brockton High School Boxers football team, who won back-to-back State championships in 2004 and 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Davis and his subcommittee staff, as well as Denise Wilson of the full committee, for their assistance with this bill.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5528.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 841, S. 3015; Calendar No. 842, S. 3082; Calendar No. 843, H.R. 3721; Calendar No. 844, H.R. 4185; Calendar No. 845, H.R. 5168; Calendar No. 846, H.R. 5395; Calendar No. 847, H.R. 5479; Calendar No. 848, H.R. 5517; and Calendar No. 849, H.R. 5528.

I further ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements relating to the measures be printed in the Record.