To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the "Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3637) to designate the facility

of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the ``Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building''.

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

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

H.R. 3637, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building.

The bill was favorably reported by the committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 7 of this year.

Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Jupiter, Florida, for Roy Rood, a servant to his local community and a veteran who served in World War II.

Recently, Mr. Speaker, I had the tremendous honor of awarding a World War II veteran in my own district that I represent, Sergeant Arthur Nowakowski, his Silver Star for heroics he displayed over 60 years ago.

To Sergeant Nowakowski and Roy Rood and all of those who risked their lives and fought for the freedoms we hold dear today, thank you. Whether we present commendation medals or name post offices to honor our courageous veterans, these are small thanks and the very least that we can do for those who have sacrificed so much for our Nation.

I would now like to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney).

Mr. Speaker, we can never do enough for our veterans, men like Roy Rood who have sacrificed and risked it all in the name of freedom.

While it has been over 60 years since World War II, we must never forget the sacrifices made by these people and so many others during that time. To those who have fought and served, to those who protect and defend our great country each and every day, thank you. Remember, Mr. Speaker, freedom is not free.

I urge all Members to join me in strong support of this bill, H.R. 3637, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the legislation designating the United States Postal Service located in my district at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the Roy Rood Post Office Building.

Roy was a longtime resident and a founding father of my hometown of Tequesta, Florida. Roy was born in 1918 on a farm in Jupiter, Florida, one of 11 children. Roy's childhood was spent working on his family's dairy farm where he learned the value of a hard day's work and fostered his love of the outdoors. The Rood farm was also home to Tequesta's first post office.

Rood joined the U.S. Navy in 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served with dignity and honor as a trained instructor and aviation mechanic throughout World War II. Rood was stationed on the USS Hollandia C 97, a jeep aircraft carrier that was part of the fleet that participated in the Battle of Guam. By the end of the war, Roy had risen to the rank of aviation mate first class and was an acting chief petty officer.

Following the war, Roy returned home to Florida where he started a landscaping business that continues today. Before his death in October of last year, Roy Rood helped found American Legion Post 271, of which I'm a member; the local Kiwanis Club; the First Bank of Jupiter; and Jupiter Christian School.

Tequesta has seen many changes over the last 60 years and has grown due to the hard work and dedicated lives of people like Roy Rood. He was a fixture in my own hometown of Tequesta and in the many philanthropic organizations along the Treasure Coast, and they are directly attributed to his efforts. The residents of Tequesta are lucky to call Roy Rood our town's founding father. It would be a fitting tribute to Roy Rood's legacy and service to name the post office in Jupiter in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, over the last several years, I got to know Mr. Rood and his wife personally. I can honestly say there is no better, gentler, and kinder man than Mr. Rood. He will truly be missed.

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

On behalf of the minority of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I rise in support of the consideration of H.R. 3637, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building.

The measure before us was introduced by my good friend, Representative Tom Rooney, on December 12 of last year in accordance with committee requirements. H.R. 3637 is cosponsored by all Members of the Florida delegation and was favorably reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee by unanimous consent on February 7, 2012.

H.R. 3637 honors the life and legacy of Roy Rood, a Navy chief petty officer and business pioneer from Tequesta, Florida.

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Rood elected to join the fight for freedom by enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1941. During his tour of duty with the U.S. Navy in World War II, Mr. Rood served with dignity and honor as a trained instructor and aviation mechanic. Mr. Rood was stationed on the USS Hollandia C 97, which was part of the fleet that participated in the Second Battle of Guam in 1944.

After his service in World War II, Mr. Rood returned to his home in south Florida where he started a successful landscaping business that actually continues to operate and thrive to this day. As the founder of the town of Tequesta, Florida, Mr. Rood has been a philanthropic and valuable member of that community.

That said, Mr. Speaker, let us honor the service and life of this fine American citizen by renaming the Old Dixie Highway Post Office in Jupiter, Florida, as the Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, March 5, 2012, I had a previously scheduled meeting with constituents in Champaign, Illinois. As a result, I am unable to attend votes this evening. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye,'' on H.R. 3637, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the ``Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building.''

Mr. Speaker, on March 5, 2012, I was absent from the House and missed rollcall vote 95. Had I been present for rollcall 95, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3637, a measure to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Old Dixie Highway in Jupiter, Florida, as the ``Roy Schallern Rood Post Office Building,'' I would have voted ``aye.''