To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9727 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the "Congresswoman Jan Meyers Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to rise in support of bipartisan legislation which I introduced with my colleagues in the Kansas congressional delegation, H.R. 4095, designating the post office located at 9727 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the ``Congresswoman Jan Meyers Post Office Building.''

Jan Meyers was elected to represent the Third Congressional District of Kansas in 1984 and reelected in five subsequent elections. In 1995, she became the first Republican woman to chair a standing House committee, the Small Business Committee, in more than 40 years. That milestone capped Jan's long tenure as a public servant that began with 5 years of service on the Overland Park City Council and included 12 years in the State senate. As Congressional Quarterly described her, Jan was ``a mild mannered social moderate known for her willingness to compromise . . . Meyers' middle ground instincts make her a case swing vote.''

Janice Lenore Crilly, Jan, was born on July 20, 1928, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the daughter of Howard M. Crilly, a newspaper publisher, and Lenore N. Crilly. Jan and her brother Donn were raised in Superior, Nebraska. In 1948, she graduated with an associate fine arts degree from William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri, and with a B.A. in communications from the University of Nebraska in 1951. Following graduation, she worked in advertising and public relations.

Jan Crilly married Louis ``Dutch'' Meyers who eventually became a Kansas City television station executive, and they raised a daughter and son, Valerie and Philip. Jan's career in Kansas GOP politics began in 1966 when she served as Overland Park chairwoman for Larry Winn, Jr.'s campaign for the Third Congressional District U.S. House seat. Two years later, she was the district co-Chair for the first of Senator Robert Dole's string of five successful Senate races. In 1974, Jan chaired Republican Bob Bennett's gubernatorial campaign in Johnson County.

From 1967 to 1972, she served as a member of the Overland Park City Council, presiding for 2 years. In 1972, Jan won election of the Kansas State Senate and served there for the next 12 years, rising to chair the Public Health and Welfare Committee as well as the Local Government Committee. When Representative Winn retired in 1984, Jan entered the GOP primary to succeed him. By that point, the district was a narrow north/south sliver, nestled in the northeast corner of Kansas across the river from the metropolis of Kansas City, Missouri. In a five-way race, she won the party nomination; and in the general election, she faced a formidable opponent in the Democratic candidate, Kansas City Mayor Jack Reardon.

Jan emphasized her long experience in State politics and campaigned around the district. When Congresswoman Meyers arrived in the House after winning that race, she was appointed to the Committee on Science and Technology, the Committee on Small Business, and the Select Committee on Aging. In the 100th Congress, she transferred from Science and Technology to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Jan was most active on the Small Business Committee where she introduced a number of legislative measures to protect small business interests and to ensure they had fair representation in government. She worked to bring permanent tax cuts for small business. When Republicans took control of the House in the 1994 elections, Jan Meyers was promoted to chair the Small Business Committee. It marked the first time that a Republican woman had chaired the House committee since Edith Nourse Rogers headed Veterans' Affairs in the 83rd Congress from 1953 to 1955.

``Leadership positions come as a result of seniority,'' Jan said. And later she said, ``I sincerely hope that women

continue to run and continue to get elected, and I think that will ultimately result in more women being elected to leadership positions.'' Jan declined to run for reelection in 1996, noting that she wanted to spend more time with her family. ``There are other things in life I want to do, and being a Member of Congress, if you take the job seriously, simply does not leave time,'' Jan told the press. She also said she believed that Members of Congress should serve no more than 10 to 14 years.

Jan returned to Overland Park, Kansas, where she joined foundation boards for a local library and a community college.

Mr. Speaker, Jan Meyers was a valued and important Member of Congress during her tenure in this body, and it is fitting that we vote today to name on her behalf a post office in the city she served as a commissioner. This is bipartisan. I ask for the support of my colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased today to rise in support of bipartisan legislation I introduced with my colleagues in the Kansas congressional delegation, H.R. 4095, designating the post office located at 9727 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the ``Congresswoman Jan Meyers Post Office Building''.

Jan Meyers was elected to represent the Third Congressional District of Kansas in 1984, and re-elected in five subsequent elections. In 1995, she became the first Republican woman to chair a standing House committee, the Small Business Committee, in more than 40 years. That milestone capped Jan's long tenure as a public servant that began with 5 years of service on the Overland Park City Council and included twelve years in the state senate. As Congressional Quarterly described her, Jan was ``a mild mannered social moderate known for her willingness to compromise. . . . Meyers' middle ground instincts make her a key swing vote.''

Janice Lenore Crilly (Jan) was born on July 20, 1928, in Lincoln, Nebraska, the daughter of Howard M. Crilly, a newspaper publisher, and Lenore N. (Hazel) Crilly. Janice Crilly and her brother, Donn, were raised in Superior, Nebraska. In 1948, she graduated with an Associate Fine Arts degree from William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri, and with a B.A. in communications from the University of Nebraska in 1951. Following graduation, she worked in advertising and public relations. Jan Crilly married Louis ``Dutch'' Meyers, who eventually became a Kansas City television station executive, and they raised a daughter and son, Valerie and Philip.

Jan Meyers's career in Kansas GOP politics began in 1966, when she served as Overland Park chairwoman for Larry Winn, Jr.'s campaign for the Third District U.S. House seat. Two years later, she was district co-chair for the first of Senator Robert Dole's string of five successful Senate races. In 1974, Jan chaired Republican Bob Bennett's gubernatorial campaign in Johnson County. From 1967 to 1972, she served as a member of the Overland Park City Council, presiding for two years. In 1972, Meyers won election to the Kansas state senate and served there for the next 12 years, rising to chair the public health and welfare committee as well as the local government committee.

When Representative Winn retired in 1984, Jan entered the GOP primary to succeed him. By that point, the district was a narrow north-south sliver nestled in the northeast corner of Kansas across the river from the metropolis of Kansas City, Missouri. In a five-way race she won the party nomination. In the general election she faced a formidable opponent in the Democratic candidate, Kansas City Mayor Jack Reardon. Jan emphasized her long experience in state politics and plastered the district with ``Jan Can'' posters. Benefiting from being on a ticket that featured President Reagan and the popular Senator Nancy Kassebaum (who received more votes than Reagan in the November elections), Jan won.

When Congresswoman Meyers arrived in the House, she was appointed to the Committee on Science and Technology, the Committee on Small Business, and the Select Committee on Aging. In the 100th Congress (1987-1989), she transferred from Science and Technology to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Jan was most active on the Small Business Committee. She introduced a number of legislative measures to protect small business interests and to ensure that they had fair representation in government. She worked to bring permanent tax cuts for small businesses.

When Republicans took control of the House in the 1994 elections, Jan Meyers was promoted to chair of the Small Business Committee. It marked the first time that a Republican woman had chaired a House committee since Edith Nourse Rogers headed Veterans' Affairs in the 83rd Congress (1953-1955). ``Leadership positions come as a result of seniority,'' Jan said later. ``I sincerely hope that women continue to run and continue to get elected, and I think that will ultimately result in more women being elected to leadership positions.''

Jan declined to run for re-election in 1996, noting that she wanted to spend more time with her family. ``There are other things in life I want to do, and being a Member of Congress, if you take the job seriously, simply does not leave time,'' Jan told the press. She also said she believed that Members of Congress should serve no more than 10 to 14 years. Meyers returned to Overland Park, Kansas, where she joined foundation boards for a local library and a community college.

Mr. Speaker, Jan Meyers was a valued and important member of Congress during her tenure in this body and it is fitting that we vote today to name on her behalf a post office in the city she served as a commissioner.

I appreciate the gentleman from Illinois for recognizing me today.

I am here today to honor former Kansas Congresswoman Jan Meyers, a fiscal conservative and a true public servant. Jan served in the House of Representatives from 1985 to 1997, representing the communities around Kansas City. In 1995, she became the first woman chairman of a House committee since 1976.

Before her election to Congress, she served on the Overland Park City Council and as a senator in the Kansas State Legislature. While serving Kansans in the House of Representatives, Jan was a consistent advocate for fiscal responsibility, an example that many in Washington today could follow. Whether she was promoting legislation in the Small Business Committee to protect small business owners or offering conservative solutions during the debate over welfare reform, she always remembered that when Congress spent money, it was the taxpayers' money, not the government's.

She regularly voted to cut taxes so that Americans could keep more of what they earned and worked to reduce the budget deficit and eliminate wasteful government spending. Kansas son and American hero Bob Dole summed it up well when he said of Jan Meyers on the Senate floor that she ``never stopped fighting to reduce the regulatory and tax burdens on America's small businessmen and women.'' She was a true steward of the people's resources and worked hard on their behalf.

Yet it was her caring and attentive nature that Kansans really remember. Although a conservative Republican, Jan reached out to Kansans of every philosophy. She was sensitive to the needs of Kansans and always quick to respond to their problems. Jan never forgot who she worked for and always had time for the folks back home.

To me, Jan was more than an ideal public servant. She is also a friend. The manner in which she met difficult circumstances with a smile gave me comfort on several occasions, and I value her kindness and gentle spirit. While we recognize Jan today, it's also important to note the recent loss of Jan's husband of 56 years, Dutch. Together, Jan and Dutch made a good team and raised two wonderful children.

Our Nation needs more public servants like Jan Meyers, people that are good stewards of taxpayer money and put service above self. Designating a post office in her hometown of Overland Park in her name will remind Kansans of these characteristics and honor her legacy for years to come. I thank Jan Meyers for a job well done and for a life well lived.

I appreciate the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) for bringing this legislation to the floor.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4095, which would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service, located at 9727 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the Congresswoman Jan Meyers Post Office Building. Congresswoman Meyers dedicated her career to serving the people of Kansas.

After working on Larry Winn's successful campaign for a Kansas City- based House seat in 1966, Meyers began her own career in public service as a member of the Overland Park City Council from 1967 until 1972. In 1972, Meyers won a seat in the Kansas State Senate. She would serve in the State senate for 12 years, eventually becoming the Chair of the Public Health and Welfare Committee. In 1984, Congressman Larry Winn decided to retire. Meyers won the election for the district's open seat. She served her constituents for five terms, during which time she became the Chair of the Small Business Committee. She was the first woman in almost 20 years to chair a Permanent House committee.

Small businesses were very important to her throughout her career. She once commented, ``There may be more dramatic issues, but none that are more important . . . because the small business sector employs at least 50 percent, maybe a little more, of the individuals in this country. Virtually all of the entry-level employees are with small business.'' A quote that is relevant to today.

While some wanted to eliminate the Small Business Committee at the time, Congresswoman Meyers was committed to seeing the committee was active and served an important purpose. In 1995, Congresswoman Meyers decided that she would retire and not run for reelection in order to spend more time with her family. She considered bills that she introduced that lowered taxes and reduced regulation on small business owners as some of the greatest accomplishments in her career.

Throughout her five terms of service, Congresswoman Meyers believed that it was very important to ``listen to your conscience and your constituents, both. Most of the time, they'll agree.''

Mr. Speaker, to honor Congresswoman Meyers' career of service and the work that she did both for her constituents in Kansas and for small business owners throughout America, I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my distinguished colleague from the great State of Kansas (Mr. Moran).

Mr. Speaker, I urge support and passage of H.R. 4095, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to voice my support for H.R. 4095, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9727 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the ``Congresswoman Jan Meyers Post Office Building''.

I would like to also congratulate my colleague and fellow Kansan, Mr. Moore, the sponsor of this bill, for his service to our state. And thank Mr. Moran and Mr. Tiahrt, the other members of the Kansas delegation who joined me as the original co-sponsors of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, We Kansans are proud of our pioneering spirit and Congresswoman Jan Meyers is a great example of that spirit. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Jan attended public schools in Superior, Nebraska before receiving a bachelor of arts from the University of Nebraska in 1951.

After moving to Kansas, Jan served on the City Council of Overland Park, from 1967 to 1972. She then served in the Kansas Senate from 1972 to 1984 and in 1984 she was elected to the House of Representatives where she served until January 3, 1997. During her time in this body, Jan chaired the Committee on Small Business in the 104th Congress, the first woman to serve in that capacity in more than 20 years.

Jan's commitment to fiscal responsibility made her a regular recipient of the Golden Bulldog Award from Watchdog of the Treasury for her work to eliminate wasteful in government spending she was regularly named Taxpayer Hero by the Citizens Against Government Waste.

Jan is also an advocate for children and was a leader for health care reform. A committed conservationist, Jan was essential in the creation of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, 10,894 acres of protected Kansas tall grass prairie, which forms the only unit of the National Park System dedicated to the rich natural and cultural history of this cherished ecosystem that is in our state.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, Jan Meyers is a great Kansan who served our State and this Nation with distinction and I consider myself lucky to call her my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4095) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9727 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the ``Congresswoman Jan Meyers Post Office Building''.

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

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

As chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am pleased to present H.R. 4095 for consideration. This legislation will designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 9727 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the ``Congresswoman Jan Meyers Post Office Building.'' Introduced by my friend and colleague Representative Dennis Moore of Kansas on November 17, 2009, H.R. 4095 was reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on December 10, 2009, by voice vote. Notably, H.R. 4095 has the support of the entire Kansas House delegation.

Since the lead sponsor, Mr. Moore, is here, I would like to yield him such time as he may consume in bringing this resolution to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time; however, I will continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, again I encourage my friends on both sides of the isle to join Mr. Moore of Kansas in honoring the life and legacy of Congresswoman Jan Meyers through the passage of H.R. 4095, and I yield back the balance of my time.