To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 Matamoros Street in Laredo, Texas, as the "Laredo Veterans Post Office".

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2325) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 Matamoros Street in Laredo, Texas, as the ``Laredo Veterans Post Office''.

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

I now yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present for consideration H.R. 2325, which is legislation to designate the United States postal facility located at 1300 Matamoros Street in Laredo, Texas, as the Laredo Veterans Post Office. Introduced by my colleague Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas on May 7, 2009, and reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on June 4, 2009, H.R. 2325 enjoys the support of the entire Texas House congressional delegation. As evidenced by the short title of the bill, the legislation before us seeks to pay tribute to all the brave men and women from the city of Laredo, Texas, as well as the State of Texas and across the United States who have served our Nation in the United States military both at home and abroad. Over 23 million American military veterans are currently living in the United States, including nearly 2 million veterans living in the State of Texas alone. These fine Americans as well as those that are no longer with us have devoted their lives to the defense and security of our Nation, notwithstanding the great personal risk and sacrifice they must endure. We are eternally in their debt and forever grateful for their noble and selfless dedication to our Nation and the preservation of its founding principles.

Madam Speaker, I again want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr.

Cuellar) for being the lead sponsor of this legislation and offering such a thoughtful and considerate measure in honor of his constituents. With that, let us also pay tribute to the distinguished service of our veterans from the city of Laredo, from the State of Texas and across the Nation by designating the Laredo Post Office in their honor. I urge my colleagues to join me and Representative Cuellar in supporting H.R. 2325.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 5 minutes to the lead sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

Madam Speaker, I just urge our colleagues to join with Congressman Cuellar in naming this post office in memory and in honor of our United States and Texas veterans.

With that, I yield back the balance of our time.

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

Thank you, Mr. Lynch. I appreciate the leadership that you've shown not only on this bill but on the committee also. We thank you for the work that you've done. Mr. Bilbray, thank you also for the work that you've done; and thank you, again, for serving in a bipartisan way on the Oversight Committee.

I rise in support of H.R. 2325 to name the post office at 1300 Matamoros Street in Laredo, Texas, as the Laredo Veterans Post Office. When you look at the history of Texas, the State of Texas, the city of Laredo, you will see that in that history, the veterans have played a very important role.

The veterans of Laredo, Texas, have served in a very distinguished way in many of the wars we have had. Many of them have sacrificed in World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War and Korea, and in other conflicts we have had, up to the latest war we have.

I think it is only appropriate that we name the post office, which is in front of a plaza where it is also recognized as a way that we have recognized the veterans. It is placed in an appropriate place.

Madam Speaker, I would ask Members to please join me in support of H.R. 2325, where we name the post office at 1300 Matamoros Street after the brave men and women that we have in Laredo, to be named as the Laredo Veterans Post Office.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately Monday night, June 15, 2009, I was unable to cast my votes on H. Res. 430, H.R. 2325, H.R. 729 and H. Res. 540.

Had I been present for rollcall No. 336, on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 430, Expressing condolences to the citizens of Italy and support for the Government of Italy in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck the Abruzzo region of central Italy, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 337, on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 2325, the Laredo Veterans Post Office, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 338, on suspending the rules and passing H.R. 729, Phylicia's Law, I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present for rollcall No. 339, on suspending the rules and passing H. Res. 540, Expressing condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the catastrophic explosion at the ConAgra Foods plant in Garner, North Carolina, I would have voted ``aye.''

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

Today I urge passage of the bill designating the facility of the United States Postal Service in Laredo, Texas, as the Laredo Veterans Post Office.

Madam Speaker, the deeds, accomplishments and the many services of the individuals of Texas who have served our Armed Forces are written in the archives of American history. Their deeds and these military personnel occupy an important role in our own history; and in this regard, the citizens of Texas and the city of Laredo set a high standard for courage and for service for those of us in this country. Today I ask that we honor these brave Texans for their service and commitment and heroism in defense of America, thus designating the United States post office in Laredo in their honor.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, yesterday my flight was delayed and I missed the four suspension votes.

On rollcall No. 336--H. Res. 430--Expressing condolences to the citizens of Italy and support for the Government of Italy in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck the Abruzzo region of central Italy, I would have voted ``Aye.''

On rollcall No. 337--H.R. 2325--To designate the ``Laredo Veterans'' Post Office in Laredo, Texas, I would have voted ``Aye.''

On rollcall No. 338--H.R. 729--Phylicia's Law, I would have voted ``No.''

On rollcall No. 339--H.Res. 540--Expressing condolences to families affected by ConAgra Foods Plant Explosion in Gamer, North Carolina, I would have voted ``Aye.''