To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the "Judge Shirley A. Tolentino Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2896, which would name the postal facility located at 269 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey, after the late Judge Shirley A. Tolentino. This was a bill favored by our late colleague, Donald Payne of New Jersey, and it's an honor and privilege to carry that bill on the floor today.

Shirley Tolentino was born in Jersey City, served in the judicial system, and lived a life of great accomplishments. She graduated with a degree in Latin with honors from the College of St. Elizabeth. Judge Tolentino taught Latin and English before starting law school. As a student at Seton Hall University School of Law, Judge Tolentino was the only African American female in the graduating class of 1971.

She became a deputy attorney general in the State of New Jersey, where she remained until being appointed to the Jersey City Municipal Court in 1976, becoming the first female appointed to that position. Judge Tolentino received her master of laws degree in criminal justice from NYU Graduate School of Law in 1980 while continuing to serve in the municipal court. She later was elevated to the position of presiding judge of the municipal court of New Jersey, again as the first female to hold that position.

With all those great accomplishments, she viewed her appointment and time served on the Coleman Commission, which would later be called the New Jersey Supreme Court Task Force on Minority Concerns, as her greatest accomplishment. During her time on the commission, she became chair of the subcommittee on juvenile justice.

As a member of the Jersey City Hudson County Urban League, the Hudson County Girl Scouts Board, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a host of other local organizations, she served in prominent roles and loved being part of her community and, obviously, served as a role model for future generations, especially among young women.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 2896 to honor the life of Judge Tolentino and to remember our distinguished late colleague, Donald Payne of New Jersey.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2896) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Judge Shirley A. Tolentino Post Office Building''.

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

General Leave

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

H.R. 2896, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Payne, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the Judge Shirley A. Tolentino Post Office Building. The bill is cosponsored by the entire New Jersey State delegation and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 27. Although Representative Payne passed away earlier this year, it is our privilege to consider H.R. 2896 today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 2896, and I yield back the balance of my time.