To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the "Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office Building".

Thanks to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to urge my colleagues to support my legislation, H.R. 3378, a bill to name the post office building in Munising, Michigan, after the late Mrs. Elizabeth Kinnunen.

Mrs. Kinnunen's story is like that of many people's from northern Michigan and all across this Nation. It's a story of an immigrant who came to this country in the hopes of a better life and left America a better place. Mrs. Kinnunen came to our country from Finland in 1903. She married Oscar Kinnunen in 1909. They had 11 children, and like parents do all across this country, they worked hard all of their lives to ensure that their children would have a shot at the American Dream.

Mr. and Mrs. Kinnunen operated a boarding house in Marquette, Michigan. They provided warm beds to many timber and mining workers in Marquette County. Eventually, they moved to Munising, Michigan, where Oscar worked for the paper company and Elizabeth worked as a local cook. Mrs. Kinnunen was a faithful member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Munising.

Mrs. Kinnunen's life was marked by tragedy. Two of her sons, Eiso and Raymond, were both killed in war while defending the freedoms we cherish so much. Eiso was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, and Raymond lost his life in the Korean War in 1952. We will never know the devastating grief their family must have suffered after such an enormous loss. We will also never be able to fathom the somber dignity Mrs. Kinnunen must have felt--in the words of President Lincoln--to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Mrs. Elizabeth Kinnunen died on April 5, 1974, at the age of 81. She is not famous. Her name does not grace history books; but Mrs. Kinnunen's life--the hard work she did, the family she raised, the terrible sacrifices she endured--is a small but important part of this long story that we call the United States. It is the countless lives like hers that has made this country the greatest Nation in the world. Naming this post office in her honor is a thoughtful and lasting way for the community of Munising to celebrate her life and accomplishments.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3378) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the ``Elizabeth L. Kinnunen 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 extraneous material to the Record regarding H.R. 3378.

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

H.R. 3378, introduced by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office Building.

This bill was introduced November 4, 2011, and reported from the Government Oversight and Reform Committee on February 7, 2012.

Mr. Speaker, Elizabeth Kinnunen was a strong pillar of her community in Munising, Michigan. She and her husband, Oscar, operated a boarding house in Marquette, Michigan, and together they raised 11 children. Two of their sons fought bravely for their country and tragically gave their lives. Her son Eiso was killed in action during World War II. Her son Raymond was killed during the Korean war.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Kinnunen is a very worthy designee of this postal facility naming, and I urge all Members to join me in the support of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Michigan (Mr. Benishek).

I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3378, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

As a member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 3378, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 220 Elm Avenue in Munising, Michigan, as the Elizabeth L. Kinnunen Post Office Building.

The bill before us was introduced by my colleague Dan Benishek on November 4, 2011. In accordance with committee requirements, H.R. 3378 is cosponsored by all members of the Michigan delegation, and it was reported out of the Oversight Committee by a voice vote on February 7, 2012.

Elizabeth Kinnunen has a very special place in America's heart due to her personal sacrifice for our country. Mrs. Kinnunen is what we call a ``double gold star mother.'' Her son Eiso was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Unfortunately, years later, her son Raymond was killed during the Korean War, while a third son, Reino, served in West Germany during the same war. No mother should have to lose two sons to war; but her family sacrifice will forever be part of history, and I ask that we pass this bill with no reservation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, having no further requests for time, 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.