To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the "Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 793) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office''.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 793, introduced by the gentlelady from California (Ms. Woolsey), would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office.'' The bill is cosponsored by the entire California State delegation and was, favorably, without amendment, reported out of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last Thursday, March 10.

It is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Inverness for Army Specialist Velloza to honor a true American hero and his service to our country.

Jake Robert Velloza was born on June 21, 1986, in Santa Rosa, California; and he grew up in Inverness. From a young age, he knew that he wanted to serve his country in the military. His high school football coach recalled after his death: ``He was set on his goals. He was one of those young men who knew what he wanted to do and did it. Service to his country is what appealed to him.''

Specialist Velloza enlisted in the Army in 2006 and was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division based out of Fort Hood, Texas. Tragically, on May 2, 2009, Specialist Velloza was shot and killed by enemy forces while on his second tour of duty in Mosul, Iraq. He was 22 years old, and left behind his fiancee, Danielle Erwin, whom he had proposed to just 6 months prior to his tragic death. For his bravery and service to his country, Specialist Velloza was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, both of which were presented to his parents, Robert and Susan Velloza.

Mr. Speaker, having a father who fought and served in World War II, along with three brothers who are all combat veterans of the Vietnam war, it is a privilege for me to stand here today before this body and honor the memory of a true American hero. As the Representative of Florida's 12th Congressional District, I have the honor of representing many of our brave retired servicemembers who were based out of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, just a few miles west of my district.

The men and women who were once based out of MacDill and those who currently work there have much in common with Specialist Velloza, a courageous young man who made the ultimate sacrifice promoting freedom and protecting our great Nation.

I am grateful for the service of Specialist Velloza and for all of those who serve and protect us each and every day. I urge all Members to join me in strong support of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 793.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, it has been my honor to introduce and shepherd to the floor H.R. 793, a bill paying tribute to an American hero in my home district.

On May 2, 2009, Army Specialist Jake Robert Velloza of Inverness, California, was shot and killed during an attack by Iraqi soldiers near the city of Mosul. He was 22 years old and on his second tour in Iraq. He was the only child of Bob and Susan Velloza. He was engaged to be married to Danielle Erwin, proposing to her on the Golden Gate Bridge, between deployments, 6 months before his death.

Jake was a stand-out athlete at Tomales High School like his father before him. He attended the College of Marin, and following in his grandfather's footsteps, worked at the North Marin Water District. Yet he knew from the time he was in his teens that he wanted to serve, and he joined the Army in 2006. Jake knew that he might not make it back home.

He left behind a moving poem, full of courage and grace, that was read at his funeral. In it, he comforted his family and his friends by saying: ``Don't grieve for me now for I am free. Be not burdened with times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.''

Mr. Speaker, I think everyone knows my strong feelings about our Nation's policies toward Afghanistan and Iraq, but my opposition to these wars is matched in intensity only by my admiration and support for the men and women risking their lives to fight them. And that's why, when members of Jake's church and others in the community approached my office about honoring his memory, we went right to work.

I was proud to introduce legislation last month to name the post office at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office.'' I am grateful to all my colleagues in the California delegation for cosponsoring and to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, especially Chairman Issa, Ranking Member Cummings, and Member Lynch, for approving the bill last week.

I urge all my House colleagues to approve this designation with the hope that the Senate will soon follow to make sure this proud soldier's service and sacrifice are never forgotten. Please pass H.R. 793.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

First of all, I would like to thank the gentleman for his kind remarks.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 793, which would rename the United States Postal Service facility at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office Building.

The measure before us was first introduced by my colleague and friend, Representative Lynn Woolsey from California, on February 17, 2011. The bill is cosponsored by all 52 members of the California delegation. Further, H.R. 793 was taken up by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 10, 2011, and was reported out of the committee on the same day.

I would like to briefly highlight some of the achievements and honorable service of Specialist Velloza. The only son of Robert and Susan Velloza, Specialist Jake Velloza was a lifelong resident of Inverness, California. Specialist Velloza graduated from high school in 2004 and attended the College of Marin before enlisting in the Army in 2006. Specialist Velloza was a member of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division stationed out of Fort Hood, Texas. Army Specialist Velloza was serving in Mosul, Iraq, when he was killed in action by enemy fire on May 2, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of this young man's bravery and accomplishments, I ask that we pass the underlying bill without reservation and pay tribute to the commitment and sacrifice made by Specialist Velloza on behalf of our country.

I urge the passage of H.R. 793.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the lead sponsor of this measure, the gentlewoman from California, Representative Lynn Woolsey.

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

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately I was unable to cast my votes on Monday, March 14, 2011 due to a scheduled meeting in my District with constituents to discuss local transportation issues and wish the record to reflect my intentions had I been present to vote on H.R. 793 and H. Con. Res. 27.

Had I been present to vote on H.R. 793, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office'', I would have reluctantly voted in favor of this bill. I do not believe that in this time of high unemployment and rising deficit and debt levels we should be wasting time naming post offices. However, since I have a high respect for our military members and their sacrifices, on this bill I would have voted ``aye.''

Had I been present to vote on H. Con. Res. 27, providing for the acceptance of a statue of Gerald R. Ford from the people of Michigan for placement in the United States Capitol, I would have again reluctantly voted in favor of this bill. Again, at this time of high unemployment and record deficits and debts, I do not believe that we should be spending our time on placing statues in the U.S. Capitol. However, since we have set up a program allowing states to place statues in the Capitol and the people of Michigan have selected to honor President Gerald Ford, on this bill I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on March 14th I missed the two rollcall votes of the day. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 175 on passage of H.R. 793, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California, as the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office.'' Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 176, on passage of H. Con. Res. 27, providing for the acceptance of a statue of Gerald R. Ford from the people of Michigan for placement in the United States Capitol.