To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16555 Springs Street in White Springs, Florida, as the "Clyde L. Hillhouse Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3667) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16555 Springs Street in White Springs, Florida, as the ``Clyde L. Hillhouse Post Office Building''.

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

Mr. Speaker, I now 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 pleased to present H.R. 3667 for consideration. This measure will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16555 Springs Street in White Springs, Florida, as the ``Clyde L. Hillhouse Post Office Building.''

H.R. 3667 was introduced by my friend and colleague Representative Ander Crenshaw of Florida on September 29, 2009, and was favorably reported out of the House Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009. In addition, H.R. 3667 enjoys the support of the entire Florida House delegation.

A native of the town of White Springs, Florida, Clyde L. Hillhouse dedicated his life to public service as a distinguished member of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and, later in his life, as postmaster of his beloved White Springs community.

Shortly after joining the United States military in 1940, Mr. Hillhouse was deployed to the Pacific theater of operations during World War II. Notably, Mr. Hillhouse participated in the heroic defense of Corregidor Island by the American and Filipino military forces against Japanese forces seeking to advance on Manila Bay.

Despite the valiant efforts of the American and Filipino soldiers, the island fell to Japanese forces in mid-1942 and Mr. Hillhouse subsequently became one of approximately 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war taken in the Bataan Peninsula. During his over-3 years in captivity, Mr. Hillhouse bravely survived the infamous Bataan death march, as well as periods of slave labor in the Philippines and on the Japanese mainland.

In recognition of wounds that he received during action in the Philippines, Mr. Hillhouse was awarded the Purple Heart in 1984, also received the Bronze Star for his distinguished military service.

Following the end of World War II and his return to White Springs, Mr. Hillhouse continued his commitment to public service as a dedicated employee of the United States Postal Service for nearly 30 years. Specifically, Mr. Hillhouse served as postmaster of White Springs from July 14, 1947, until his retirement on January 19, 1973.

In addition to his service as postmaster, Mr. Hillhouse was active in the White Springs community as a longtime volunteer fire chief and as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Service Organization.

Regrettably, Mr. Hillhouse passed away in his home in White Springs on April 26, 1998, at the age of 84.

Mr. Speaker, Clyde Hillhouse's life stands as a testament to the bravery and dedication exhibited by the men and women of the United States military, and it is my hope that we can honor this exceptional soldier and public servant through the passage of this legislation to designate the White Springs Post Office in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in supporting H.R. 3667, along with Mr. Crenshaw, the lead sponsor.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask Members on both sides of the aisle to support Mr. Crenshaw and his bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3667. As has been pointed out, it is a bill to honor Clyde L. Hillhouse by designating the post office at 16555 Springs Street, White Springs, Florida, after this World War II hero who devoted his life to public service.

Clyde Leroy Hillhouse was born on February 11, 1914, in Hamilton County, Florida, a small county halfway between Jacksonville and Tallahassee. On October 10, 1940, when he was only 25 years old, he answered the call to serve his Nation in patriotic service. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps.

Mr. Hillhouse was assigned to the 27th Bomb Group and departed with his unit for duty in the Philippines in November of that year. Mr. Hillhouse and his fellow airmen from the 27th Bomb Group were trained as infantry soldiers and fought in defense of Bataan and Corregidor Island from the invading Japanese forces. After the eventual fall of Corregidor Island, Mr. Hillhouse was captured and held as a POW by the Japanese forces and survived the infamous Bataan death march where it is estimated that 30 percent of all of the prisoners were brutally killed by their captors.

For over 2 years, Mr. Hillhouse was assigned to slave labor unloading ships in Manila. In July 1944, he was sent to Japan on a freighter where he was kept as a prisoner until his release at the end of the war.

Like so many people in his generation, Mr. Hillhouse returned to his life and family after the war in White Springs with little discussion about the torture and the atrocities that he had endured and witnessed as a prisoner of war for 3\1/2\ years. In fact, Mr. Hillhouse continued his public service and became an employee of the United States Postal Service.

Both he and his wife, Sarah, worked at the White Springs Post Office from July 14, 1947, until his retirement on January 19, 1973.

Mr. Speaker, I believe as elected Members of Congress we have an obligation and duty to honor and protect the veterans of our Nation. Those who put their lives on the line so we as Americans can have the security and freedom that we enjoy in this great country deserve the utmost recognition, and I believe the designation of this post office is a fitting tribute to a man who valiantly served in the armed services, survived slave labor and POW camps, and continued to serve his Nation as postmaster. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, due to the death of a family member, I was absent from the House for the week of November 30 and thus not recorded for any votes that week. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following way on bills considered by the House:

On rollcall vote No. 911, on H.R. 3029, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 912, on H.R. 727, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 913, on H.R. 3667, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 914, on H. Res. 494, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 915, on H. Con. Res. 129, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 916, on H. Res. 861, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 917, on H. Res. 897, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 918, on H.R. 3634, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 919, on H.R. 515, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 920, on H. Con. Res. 197, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 921, on H.R. 1242, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 922, on H.R. 3980, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 923, on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule for H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 924, on H. Res. 941, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 925, on approving the Journal, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 926, on H. Res. 28, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 927, on the Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 928, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``nay'';

On rollcall vote No. 929, on H.R. 4154, I would have voted ``yea'';

On rollcall vote No. 930, on H.R. 3570, I would have voted ``yea''.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 and Wednesday, December 2, 2009.

For Tuesday, December 1, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 911, on motion to suspend the

rules and agree to H.R. 3029; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 912, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 727; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 913, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3667.

For Wednesday, December 2, 2009, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 914, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 494; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 915, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 129; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 916, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 861; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 917, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 897; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 918, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3634; ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 919, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 515; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 920, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Con. Res. 197; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 921, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 1242; ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 922, on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 3980.

Mr. Speaker, I regret missing floor votes on Tuesday, December 1, 2009. If I was present, I would have voted:

``Yea'' on rollcall 911, agreeing to H.R. 3029--To establish a research, development, and technology demonstration program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines used in combined cycle power generation systems.

``Yea'' on rollcall 912, agreeing to H. Res. 727--Expressing support for greater awareness of ovarian cancer.

``Aye'' on rollcall 913, agreeing to H.R. 3667--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16555 Springs Street in White Springs, Florida, as the ``Clyde L. Hillhouse Post Office Building.''