Ponzi Scheme Victims' Tax Relief Act of 2011

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

I rise today to honor a fallen soldier from the United States Army. Sergeant Chris Davis of Lubbock, Texas, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Georgia. He joined the Army in September of 1999 and proudly served four tours in Iraq, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007. On June 23, 2007, while deployed in Iraq, Sergeant Davis was killed in action when his unit was attacked by insurgents using improvised explosive devices and small arms. He was only 35 years old.

The bill currently under consideration, H.R. 1632, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5014 Gary Avenue in Lubbock, Texas, as the Sergeant Chris Davis Post Office. I believe it is important for Congress to honor the sacrifice of this soldier and his family, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Chris was born October 25, 1971. He grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and graduated from Estacado High School. He later enlisted in the Army in 1999. Before enlisting, Chris was a welder in a machine shop.

Sergeant Davis wanted to serve his country from a very young age. According to his father, Ray Davis, he said that while Chris was in school, he expressed a desire to join the Army. His family remembers that he used to say, I want to fight for my country. I want to do something for my country and this is what I will do. And he said, So if something happens, don't be mad at anyone.

Chris earned quite a few awards during his honorable service to our country: one Army Commendation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, one Presidential Unit Citation, one Good Conduct Medal, one National Defense Service Medal, one Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, one Southwest Asia Service Medal, one Iraqi Campaign Medal, one Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and one Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Sergeant Davis will be remembered as a valiant soldier and a wonderful son, father, husband, and brother. He loved his family and was known to always place others before himself. His sister Margaret remembers that Chris loved to have barbecues just for the opportunity to give him time to spend time with his family. He was known to make people laugh. He had the knack for cheering up anyone around him who was having a bad day. Chris was proud to be an American, and he bravely served his Nation that he loved.

Chris is survived by his wife, Debbie; his daughter, Taylor; his son, Zachary; his parents, Raymond and Herminia; and nine siblings, who I am sure are watching today.

On behalf of the United States Congress, we thank you for your sacrifice. As I speak these words, I'm reminded of the words Abraham Lincoln used in his famous letter to Mrs. Bixby, the mother of five sons who were killed during the Civil War:

``I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.'' Abraham Lincoln, November 21, 1864.

Mr. Speaker, with the 4-year anniversary of Sergeant Davis' death just a few days away, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1632, in honor of Sergeant Chris Davis, and designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5014 Gary Avenue in Lubbock, Texas, as the Sergeant Chris Davis Post Office.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1632) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5014 Gary Avenue in Lubbock, Texas, as the ``Sergeant Chris Davis Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1632, introduced by the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Neugebauer, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5014 Gary Avenue in Lubbock, Texas, as the Sergeant Chris Davis Post Office. The bill is cosponsored by the entire Texas delegation; and, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor myself.

Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Lubbock for Army Sergeant Davis to honor a true American hero and his service to our country.

Sergeant Davis was born on October 25, 1971, in Lubbock; and according to his sister Margaret, he was always helping people and serving, even from a young age. She recalled that ``he was always helping and serving and always thinking of someone else. That was Chris.''

With his passion for service, Chris joined the Army in 1999 and was eventually assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Benning, Georgia.

While deployed in Iraq, Sergeant Davis was tragically killed on June 23, 2007, when his unit was attacked by insurgents using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire in Baghdad. He was 35 years old and left behind his wife, Debbie, and two children.

As a Representative from Texas, it is my honor to stand in this Chamber and pay tribute to fellow Texans who have made the ultimate sacrifice courageously defending our country's freedom. I am truly grateful for the service of Sergeant Chris Davis and for all those who serve and protect us each day. I urge all Members to join me in strong support of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Lubbock, Texas (Mr. Neugebauer), the sponsor of this legislation, who represents Texas Tech University and a fine area of west Texas.

Mr. Speaker, along with my Texas colleagues, I would like to urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 1632.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform minority, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 1632, which would rename the United States Postal Service facility at 5014 Gary Avenue in Lubbock, Texas, as the Sergeant Chris Davis Post Office.

The bill before us was introduced by my good friend and colleague Representative Randy Neugebauer of Texas on April 15, 2011. In accordance with the committee requirements, the bill is cosponsored by all 32 Members of the Texas delegation. Further, H.R. 1632 was unanimously reported out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to briefly highlight the achievements and the honorable service of Sergeant Davis. After graduating from Estacado High School in Lubbock, Texas, Sergeant Davis enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed out of Fort Benning, Georgia. Sergeant Davis was killed while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire and an improvised explosive device.

From his early childhood, Sergeant Davis was always described as being a server, whether it was helping out in his community or looking out for friends and family. His decision to enlist in the Army and serve his Nation would be the crowning achievement of his ability to give back to his community. Always described as a happy-go-lucky individual, Sergeant Davis will be forever remembered by his ultimate sacrifice to our Nation.

I ask that we pass the underlying bill without reservation and pay tribute to the honor and value this young man displayed and so others understand his commitment and sacrifice to protect our Nation.

I also join my good friend from south Texas, and I urge the passage of H.R. 1632.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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