To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 76 Brookside Avenue in Chester, New York, as the "1st Lieutenant Louis Allen Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2877) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 76 Brookside Avenue in Chester, New York, as the ``1st Lieutenant Louis Allen Post Office''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am proud to present H.R. 2877 for consideration.

This bill, if adopted, will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 76 Brookside Avenue in Chester, New York, as the ``1st Lieutenant Louis Allen Post Office.''

H.R. 2877 was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative John Hall of New York, on June 15, 2009, and favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on July 10, 2009. Notably, this legislation enjoys the strong support of the entire New York sitting House delegation.

Since this is principally sponsored by my friend, Mr. Hall of New York, I'm going to yield 5 minutes to my colleague so that he may make those remarks.

Mr. Speaker, a resident of Milford, Pennsylvania, First Lieutenant Louis E. Allen bravely served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of the Army National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 42nd Infantry Division, out of Troy, New York.

Regrettably, as has been noted here by my friend, Mr. Hall, First Lieutenant Allen and fellow unit member Captain Phillip T. Esposito were killed in Tikrit, Iraq, on June 8, 2005, of injuries sustained when a mine explosion occurred near their location. First Lieutenant Allen was 34 years old at the time of his death.

As noted by his fellow Rainbow Division soldiers, who held a ceremony in honor of their two fallen comrades at Forward Operating Base Danger in Tikrit on June 15, 2005, First Lieutenant Allen was highly regarded as a skilled platoon leader who always took care of his troops.

``He was always running around, getting stuff for his guys--food, safety equipment, and billeting--and never forgot where he came from,'' recalled Colonel Mario Costagliola, the division's assistant chief of staff for operations.

In addition to his distinguished service to his unit and his country, First Lieutenant Allen is equally remembered as a dedicated husband to his beloved wife, Barbara, whom he made sure to call every day throughout his deployment, and as a loving father to their four boys, Trevor, Colin, Sean and Jeremy, whose pictures he always carried in his wallet and would display to anyone who would bother to take a look, according to Captain Steven Raiser, a division legal assistance officer who trained with First Lieutenant Allen.

Moreover, as a high school science teacher at George Baker High School in Tuxedo, New York, First Lieutenant Allen evidenced the same commitment, dedication and generosity to his students as he did to his fellow soldiers and his family. ``He loved kids. He had a real passion for our students,'' recalled Valley Central School District Superintendent Joseph P. Zanetti.

And as noted by all of those who were fortunate enough to know him, First Lieutenant Allen had a unique gift for making everyone around him feel more positive and happier. A family statement issued following his death perhaps best characterizes First Lieutenant Allen's effect on his loved ones: ``Everybody loved Lou for his Lou-ness.''

Mr. Speaker, the life and legacy of First Lieutenant Louis E. Allen stands as a testament to the brave servicemen and -women who have also dedicated their lives to serving our Nation in the United States military. It is my hope that we can honor this young soldier through the passage of H.R. 2877 and by designating the Chester Post Office in his honor.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join with Mr. Hall, the principal sponsor of this resolution, in honoring First Lieutenant Louis Allen through the passage of H.R. 2877.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great American, First Lieutenant Lou Allen. My bill, H.R. 2877, would designate the post office in Chester, New York, as the ``1st Lieutenant Louis Allen Post Office.'' First Lieutenant Allen was killed in Iraq over 4 years ago by a mine explosion for which another member of the Armed Forces was charged and shockingly acquitted. First Lieutenant Allen was 34 years old.

A pillar of his community, a model National Guardsman, Lou joined the New York National Guard in the year 2000. But when he was not serving in uniform, he served his community as a science teacher at George F. Baker High School in Tuxedo. He was deployed to New York City with the National Guard to respond to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Lou's service to his community and country made him a great American whom we are all proud of. Lou is survived by his loving wife, Barbara; and their four young sons, Trevor, Colin, Sean and Jeremy; his parents, Bob and Vivian; and his siblings and other friends and family who are all so proud of him. Renaming this post office in his honor will be a tangible reminder of the joy he brought to them and the contributions he made to our Nation, the Hudson Valley community, and the lives of those who knew him.

I cannot imagine how difficult the last few years have been in Lou's family, and their grace in dealing with this tragedy is an inspiration to us all. I have had the honor of meeting them at Bob and Vivian's house when I introduced this bill. And I am honored to represent them in Congress and to be able to come here to Washington and help redesignate the U.S. Post Office at 76 Brookside Avenue in Chester, New York, as the ``1st Lieutenant Louis Allen Post Office.''

Renaming this post office is not about mourning Lou's death, but about celebrating his life. I am glad that we have the support of the entire New York State congressional delegation, who are all signed on to the bill as original cosponsors.

I urge my colleagues to honor First Lieutenant Allen and support this bill so that he and his family will finally receive the tribute to his sacrifice that they deserve.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the passage of H.R. 2877, a bill designed to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 76 Brookside Avenue in Chester, New York, as the ``1st Lieutenant Louis Allen Post Office'' in honor of the late Louis E. Allen, a 34-year-old Army National Guardsman killed by an explosion in Tikrit, Iraq, on June 8, 2005.

A native of Goshen, New York, and a West Point graduate, First Lieutenant Allen was not only a model soldier but also a model citizen who had a true passion for helping others.

A loving husband and father of four sons, he drove more than 1 hour each way to George Baker High School in Tuxedo, New York, a school where he taught science. The school superintendent remembers him as loving kids and having a ``real passion for our students.'' He was also known by his family as being fun-loving, gracious and caring as he took care of everyone around him. A longtime friend of Allen's once said that ``if my son grows up to be half the man Lou is, I'll be the happiest father in the world.''

First Lieutenant Allen is a shining example of an individual who continually and selflessly served those around him, both through his work for his community and country. His spirit lives on through the work of his family and friends as they continue to promote the sacrifice of First Lieutenant Allen through the First Lieutenant Louis Allen Scholarship and Community Foundation.

It is with gratitude for his bravery and sacrifice for his country that I ask all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 2877 in First Lieutenant Allen's honor.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, so I yield back my time.