A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 462 Washington Street, Woburn, Massachusetts, as the "Officer John Maguire Post Office".

I thank the gentleman very much for yielding. I thank the gentleman from Texas as well. This is a very important bill.

I rise today in support of H.R. 2640, which I introduced in the House of Representatives, and Senate 1412, introduced by Senator Kerry and Senator Brown, and that is to name the Woburn Post Office in honor of Officer John--his friends called him ``Jack''--Maguire.

At 9 p.m. on December 26, 2010, during the height of a blizzard, two men invaded a Kohl's department store on Washington Street in Woburn, Massachusetts, to rob the jewelry counter as the employees prepared to close. As one robber entered the store, the second stood lookout on the outside, while a third man waited in a nearby getaway vehicle.

The robber in the department store was a career criminal with a long and violent record. He took a large amount of jewelry and fled outside the store into the driving snow. Eyewitnesses and store employees dialed 911. Officer Maguire arrived in the parking lot moments after the robbery. He saw an officer chasing a gunman on foot and drove his cruiser to a location to prevent the escape of the gunmen into a residential neighborhood in Woburn. Officer Maguire jumped out of his cruiser on Washington Street, and the

gunman opened fire on him. Shots were exchanged, and the gunman was killed. Unfortunately, Officer Maguire was shot four times in the torso and was transported to a local trauma center, where it was announced, unfortunately, that he had passed away.

Officer Maguire paid the ultimate price protecting the citizens of Woburn. We are incredibly grateful for his selfless acts that day, which capped 34 years of outstanding dedication to the safety of the people of Woburn.

On June 26, 1977, Officer Maguire began his career by being sworn in by his father, Police Chief Thomas Maguire, a longtime friend of mine, and he was so proud to follow in his father's footsteps. On December 26, 2010, he died wearing badge 23, which had been his own father's badge number. Just days before his death, he had celebrated his 60th birthday and given notice of his intention to retire in October of 2011.

A devoted husband and caring father, Officer Maguire is survived by his wife, Desiree, and children Bryan, Tara, and Sean. Officer Maguire died protecting the residents of Woburn from an armed gunman. He was the first officer killed in the line of duty from the Woburn Police Department since its inception in 1847. It was a tragedy for his family, for the Woburn Police Department, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to have lost such an honorable father, a courageous cop, and a hometown hero.

That is why, at the request of Mayor Scott Galvin of Woburn, Police Chief Richard Kelly, and former Police Chief Phillip Mahoney of the Woburn Police Department, I introduced H.R. 2640 to rename the Woburn Post Office in the memory of Officer John ``Jack'' Maguire. Renaming the post office located at 462 Washington Street--just a few hundred yards across the street from where Officer Maguire was shot and killed--in his honor is the least that we can do to pay tribute to this brave, dedicated first responder. We honor his service and sacrifice. We honor his life and his legacy. And we honor police officers everywhere who go to work every day to protect the safety and security of all citizens.

Today, we are considering an identical bill that was introduced by my colleagues Senator Kerry and Senator Brown. I urge adoption of this bill, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 462 Washington Street, Woburn, Massachusetts, as the ``Officer John Maguire Post Office'' to honor the legacy of a true hometown hero.

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

I urge the body to pass this legislation.

I rise in strong support of S. 1412, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 462 Washington Street in Woburn, Massachusetts as the ``Officer John Maguire Post Office.''

The measure before us was introduced on July 25, 2011 by Senator John Kerry.

Our distinguished colleague, Congressman Edward Markey of Massachusetts, also introduced a companion version of the underlying bill on July 25, 2011.

Both S. 1412 and H.R. 2640 have met the requirements for consideration established by the Oversight Committee and enjoy the support of all members of the Massachusetts delegation.

S. 1412 was reported out of Committee by voice vote on November 3, 2011.

John ``Jack'' Maguire was born on December 23, 1950 in the city of Woburn, Massachusetts.

He became a police officer for the Woburn Police Department in June 1977 and was sworn in by his own father, then-Police Chief Thomas Maguire. Throughout his career, he wore Badge Number 23--the same badge his father had worn.

Officer Maguire has been called a `life-long student.'

He graduated from Austin Prep High School in 1969 and from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in 1973.

In 1998, more than 20 years later, he earned a master's degree in business administration from Franklin Pierce College.

He went on to earn a second master's in science and criminal justice administration from Western New England College in 1999.

That same year, he earned a doctorate in philosophy from the American College of Metaphysical Theology.

Following the celebration of his 60th birthday late last year, Officer Maguire gave notice of his intention to retire in the fall of 2011.

On December 26, 2010, however, Officer Maguire found himself on duty in the middle of a New England blizzard.

Armed robbers threatened the employees of the Kohl's department store in Woburn and then fled the store with money and jewelry.

Responding to a fellow officer's call for assistance in a foot chase, Officer Maguire rushed to the scene and blocked an escape path with his cruiser.

He then got out of his vehicle to confront an assailant. The two exchanged gunfire, which killed the gunman and left Officer Maguire mortally wounded.

John Maguire was the first officer killed in the line of duty in Woburn, Massachusetts since the department was established in 1847.

I know the City of Woburn, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the family of Officer Maguire are grateful for his service and sacrifice. We are truly indebted to men and women like him, who risk their lives to protect our communities on a daily basis.

Madam Speaker, I ask that we recognize Officer Maguire's devotion to his profession, his community, and our country's safety by passing S. 1412.

I yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the companion bill, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1412) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 462 Washington Street, Woburn, Massachusetts, as the ``Officer John Maguire Post Office''.

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

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

S. 1412, introduced by Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 462 Washington Street, Woburn, Massachusetts, as the ``Officer John Maguire Post Office.'' The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent on October 20 and was reported favorably by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on November 3.

Madam Speaker, John Maguire was born and raised in Woburn, Massachusetts, growing up in a home where his father was chief of police in Woburn for 15 years. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Officer Maguire was sworn in as a Woburn police officer by his own father in June of 1977. Wearing badge No. 23, which had been his father's badge number, Officer Maguire worked for over three decades as a tireless public servant, protecting the people of Woburn.

On December 26 of last year, three armed men went into a department store in Woburn and proceeded to steal money and jewelry. Arriving on the scene to back up his fellow officers, Officer Maguire used his cruiser to block the gunmen who were fleeing on foot from the store. Exiting his vehicle, Officer Maguire and one of the suspects exchanged gunfire. Officer Maguire was able to kill the suspect; but, tragically, he was mortally wounded himself. Officer Maguire had celebrated his 60th birthday just 3 days prior to his death and was less than a year away from retirement.

Madam Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Woburn for Officer John Maguire. And to Officer Maguire and all those who wear a badge and courageously protect and serve our towns, cities, and counties each and every day, we are eternally grateful for all that you do and all that you sacrifice. I urge all Members to join me in strong support of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of Senate 1412, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. President, I am pleased to join with my colleague from Idaho, Sen. Mike Crapo, in introducing the Geothermal Tax Parity Act of 2011. This legislation will modify an existing investment tax credit for geothermal energy authorized under Section 48 of the Federal tax code. Although both solar energy and geothermal energy projects are eligible for an investment tax credit under Section 48, they are not equal. While I am a strong supporter of solar energy technology and support the solar energy tax credit, I am also a strong advocate for having a level playing field when it comes to government incentives. That is why this bill is called the Geothermal Tax Parity Act, because it will create parity in the tax code for these two important renewable energy resources.

This bill would provide geothermal energy with the same 30 percent investment tax credit that is now available to solar energy and fuel cell technologies in Section 48 and extend this 30 percent tax credit for geothermal through December 31, 2016, as it is for these other technologies. Without this legislation, new geothermal energy projects would be allowed only a 10 percent investment tax credit under Section 48. This legislation will create a more level playing field among clean, renewable energy technologies and help stimulate investment in geothermal energy projects.

Geothermal energy can provide a continuous supply of renewable energy with very few environmental impacts. Although the United States has more geothermal capacity than any other country, this potential energy resource has not been widely developed. This is due in large part to the high initial cost and risk involved in locating and developing geothermal resources. Extending the 30 percent tax credit through 2016 will help geothermal developers obtain the financing they need to make investments in exploration and development.

This legislation is identical to a bipartisan companion bill, H.R. 2408, that our colleagues from the Pacific Northwest, Rep. David Reichert from Washington and Rep. Earl Blumenauer from Oregon have sponsored in the House.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, last December, in the middle of a New England blizzard, armed robbers descended on the Kohl's department store in Woburn, MA. They threatened the employees of the store and fled with money and jewelry. Officer John ``Jack'' Maguire, on duty that night, rushed to the scene in his cruiser. Responding to his fellow officer's call for assistance in a foot chase, Officer Maguire blocked the gunman's path with his cruiser and got out of his vehicle to confront the gunman. The two exchanged gunfire, which killed the gunman and left Officer Maguire mortally wounded. Officer Maguire's death marks the first officer killed in the line of duty in Woburn, MA, since the department was established back in 1847.

On behalf of the Maguire family, Woburn Mayor Scott Galvin, Woburn Chief of Police Richard Kelley, and the residents of Woburn, I am introducing legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office on Washington Street in Woburn the Officer John Maguire Post Office.

This post office is only a few hundred yards from the spot where Officer Maguire was killed. I believe it is a fitting honor to a public servant who gave his life protecting the city of Woburn. It is my hope that when people pass by the Post Office on Washington Street, they will be reminded of the sacrifices made by both Officer John ``Jack'' Maguire and his family.