A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 School Street, Orchard Park, New York, as the "Jack F. Kemp Post Office Building".

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

I rise today in support of S. 1211, designating the United States Post Office at 60 School Street in Orchard Park, New York, as the Jack F. Kemp Post Office.

A former Congressman, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and, most importantly, a former quarterback for the San Diego Chargers, Jack Kemp will always be remembered in San Diego and around this country for his unwavering dedication to the ideals of conservative principles, a passion for economics, faith in helping poor people across the country, and for his eloquent quotes of Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, or one of the influential citizens he met along his journey, such as Kimi Gray. Jack Kemp was truly an American original.

Through his years as a Congressman and as a Cabinet Secretary, Jack Kemp inspired us all to hold fast to our ideals. He was known and respected by people in both political parties and by people from all walks of life for his leadership and commitment to principles, no matter what the issue.

Jack Kemp spent the majority of his political career staunchly advocating tax cuts, promoting economic growth, and encouraging us all to recognize, as John Kennedy did, that a rising economic tide raises all boats. His devotion to supply-side economics saw its height when, due largely to his influence, it became a cornerstone in the

Reagan administration's economic policy. He believed in expanding and growing the economic pie, not just parceling up what was available at the time.

He was also deeply committed to minority rights. Throughout his life, Jack Kemp relentlessly urged the GOP to fight for and support minorities. He sincerely believed in the party of Abraham Lincoln as the party that should be leading all people in this country.

As Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, he was a forceful advocate for affordable housing for all Americans, especially in the inner cities.

Congressman Kemp was a role model because of his integrity and his passion, whether it be on the football field, in the House Chamber or in the executive branch, and it is appropriate today that we name this post office after him.

I reserve the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. King).

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

I want to compliment the gentleman from Pennsylvania. It's true, as somebody who had to endure, as my father was stationed in South Philly before the urban renewal, but mostly before we abandoned the old concepts of urban renewal and talked about true revitalization, which was a totally different restructuring of the way government went in, it wasn't the one-size-fits-all Washington knows best, it went in and incorporated with the community, allowed the community to decide, right sizing, human sizing, not just government sizing. It really did transform, especially South Philly.

As somebody that spent his childhood, some of his childhood in Philly, I was happy to see that Jack Kemp was able to work with the local Congressmen, the local community, to make sure that in the future the children in that area wouldn't have to endure what we did in those days.

I also want to point out, Mr. Speaker, that Jack Kemp was somebody who

really stood up for the concept that thinking outside of the box was important, that Democrat or Republican or left and right, that being right was all that mattered and not worrying about staying in and being locked in to parameters of so-called political doctrine.

I would also like to point out in closing that as a personal friend of his, I appreciate the fact that we have been able to discuss his life. I just want to correct for the record that as far as I remember, Jack Kemp was not only a quarterback for the Chargers, he was the first quarterback for the Chargers. He was the guy that we first saw carrying the lightning bolt in what was then Balboa Stadium. We will always remember him not as a Congressman, not as a Secretary, but always the guy who was carrying the ball for those of us in San Diego.

I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1211, a bill to honor former Congressman Jack Kemp by naming a post office in Orchard Park, New York, in his memory.

Jack Kemp was born and raised in Los Angeles, and he did much of his important work here in Washington. But in his adopted home of western New York we consider him one of our own. We are especially proud of the contributions he made to our community, both on the football field as quarterback of the Buffalo Bills and in public service as our Representative in the United States Congress.

During his 7-year tenure as quarterback of the Bills, Jack was embraced by the western New York community. He led the Bills to back- to-back AFL championships in 1964 and in 1965, winning the league's Most Valuable Player award in 1965 as well. Today he still ranks third all time in Bills' record books for yards and touchdowns thrown.

Before he ever stood for public office, Jack's leadership skills were evident when his teammates named him captain of the San Diego Chargers in 1960, and after he was claimed by Buffalo, the Bills, in 1962. In a preview of the interest he would later take in matters of economic policy, he cofounded the AFL Players' Association and was elected its president five times.

After he retired from football, Jack ran for an open House seat in New York's 31st congressional district. He served nine terms in the House of Representatives, where many of my colleagues had the privilege to serve with him.

As a Member of the House, Congressman Kemp was a tireless advocate for job creation, particularly in urban areas like Buffalo. He helped promote the idea of using special tax incentives to encourage job creation and private investment in distressed communities. This is a cause that I try to advance on behalf of western New York today through my work on the House Ways and Means Committee, and I owe a great deal to the foundation and the groundwork that Jack laid in this area.

After leaving Congress, Jack went on to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the administration of George H. W. Bush, where he continued to advocate for America's urban centers through promoting enterprise zones to attract investment to cities and by moving more Americans into homeownership.

Jack also famously joined the 1996 Presidential ticket of Senator Bob Dole. While I may not have agreed with much of the platform on which they ran, I, like all western New Yorkers, was proud that Jack represented our community so well on the national stage.

Jack Kemp passed away on May 2, 2009, at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. He was an accomplished politician, an outstanding athlete and a tireless public servant to this Nation. He will be, and already is, greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, S. 1211 would name a post office in Orchard Park, New York--where the Buffalo Bills play--after Jack Kemp. I would like to thank Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for proposing this fitting tribute in his honor, and I urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1211) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 School Street, Orchard Park, New York, as the ``Jack F. Kemp 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am very proud to present S. 1211 for consideration. This measure would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 School Street, Orchard Park, New York, as the ``Jack F. Kemp Post Office Building.''

S. 1211 was introduced July 9, 2009, by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and passed by the United States Senate by unanimous consent on September 4, 2009. The bill was then favorably reported out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by unanimous consent on October 29, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, S. 1211 will designate the postal facility at 60 School Street in Orchard Park, New York, as the Jack F. Kemp Post Office. Mr. Kemp launched his first political campaign in 1970 and ran for the congressional seat in upstate New York's 39th District. Mr. Kemp won his first election and proceeded to serve eight additional terms in Congress.

In addition to his tenure in Congress, Mr. Kemp's political career also includes his service as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the administration of President George Herbert Walker Bush from 1989 to 1993 and as the Republican Party's Vice Presidential candidate in 1996.

Mr. Speaker, regretfully, Jack Kemp passed away on May 2 of this year. In honor of his legacy of public service, Mr. Kemp was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009. Let us continue to honor this dedicated public servant through passage of this legislation to designate the School Street post office in his name.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 1211 and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to Representative Brian Higgins of New York.

Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Representative Fattah.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I would urge the passage of S. 1211, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my voice to those supporting S. 1211, honoring the life of Jack Kemp by designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 School Street, Orchard Park, New York, as the ``Jack F. Kemp Post Office Building.''

Jack was an accomplished and respected politician and athlete. He served his country in the United States Army Reserve and was a professional quarterback for 13 years, probably best known for his time with the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills. He served as a Member of this body from 1971 to 1989, as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1989 to 1993, and as the Republican Party's nominee for Vice President and presidential nominee Bob Dole's running-mate in the 1996 election.

Both as a public official and as a private citizen, Jack was a great voice for common-sense conservatism in America. Laws still bear his name, which is a testament to his effectiveness as a Member of Congress. Jack Kemp left behind a legacy of principled determination and resolve to find practical solutions, not only within the Republican Party, but in the realm of public service as a whole.

Even more important than his career accomplishments was Jack's strong character. He had a deep faith that he lived out every day. He cherished his wife Joanne and their four children, making sure that, despite his many roles and responsibilities, he was there for them as a husband and father.

I am honored to have known Jack as a colleague and friend, and hope that the designation of the Jack F. Kemp Post Office Building will serve as one of many different recognitions of his life and service to our country. His family remains in our thoughts and prayers, and I encourage my colleagues to keep his memory alive as we work together in the fight for freedom and opportunity for all Americans.

I thank the gentleman from California for yielding, and I am proud to rise in support of this legislation which will be naming a post office in honor of Jack Kemp.

As the Speaker well knows, Jack Kemp was a long-time Congressman from New York. Jack Kemp was a proud Republican who was always willing to reach across party lines. Jack Kemp was a principled conservative who tried to find ways always to make those who were not as well off as others, to enable them to move up in society.

He was particularly interested in low-income areas. He was particularly interested in expanding housing opportunities for the underprivileged. As the Speaker knows, Congressman Kemp worked very closely with Congressman Garcia in the Bronx to expand housing, to provide more opportunities. Jack Kemp was a Republican who saw a large world. He saw a world where we could reach out to all people.

In my own case, I was proud to call Jack Kemp a friend. I knew him for many years before I had the opportunity to be here in Congress. During that time I was always struck by his integrity, by his candor and by his willingness to explain, even to people like myself, the nuances of economics. Jack Kemp was the author and the architect--and no one was more involved than he was in the Reagan Revolution--of the Kemp-Roth tax bills which brought unprecedented job growth to this country.

Mr. Speaker, Jack Kemp personified the very best of this Congress. He personified the very best of being an all-pro athlete, a person who was always there for his friends, always there for his country, a man who until the day he died was fighting for the principles he believed in.

I am proud to join in this resolution.