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 thank my colleagues from Maryland and Arizona for bringing this bill to the floor.

I rise today in support of H.R. 2223, a bill to name the post office building in Munising, Michigan, after the late Mrs. Elizabeth Kinnunen.

Born in 1893, the former Elizabeth Lempi Paasto immigrated to our country from Finland in 1903. She came, like many in northern Michigan and throughout our great land, for freedom and opportunity and for a chance at the American Dream. She married Oscar Kinnunen in 1909. Together, they had 11 children.

To provide for their family, Mr. and Mrs. Kinnunen operated a boarding house in Marquette, Michigan. They provided lodging to 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 continued to work to support her family after Oscar died in 1952 and was a faithful member of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Munising.

Mrs. Kinnunen's life was, unfortunately, marked by tragedy in two great wars that defined this country. Two of her sons, Eiso and Raymond, were killed overseas defending the American people and our freedom. Eiso was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, and Raymond lost his life in Korea 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. Kinnunen died on April 5, 1974, at the age of 81. While Mrs. Kinnunen is not a household name, her hard work to provide for her family and the terrible sacrifices she and her family endured, much like many throughout our country, form an important part of our history. Naming this post office in her honor is a thoughtful and lasting way for the community of Munising to celebrate her life and accomplishments.

The City of Munising, the Alger County Board of Commissioners, and the American Legion Post 131 in Munising have worked for years to honor Mrs. Kinnunen by renaming this post office in her name. It is my honor to represent the citizens of northern Michigan today who have worked so hard to recognize the sacrifices Mrs. Kinnunen made for love of family and country.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2223) 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 to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2223, introduced by my colleague Representative Dan Benishek of Michigan, 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.

Elizabeth Kinnunen emigrated from Finland to the United States in 1903. She operated a boarding house in Marquette, Michigan, with her husband and had 11 children.

During her life, Mrs. Kinnunen endured a devastating and unfathomable loss: two of her sons died while in service to our country. Her son Eiso was killed at the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, and her son Raymond was killed in Korea in 1952.

Mrs. Kinnunen passed away in 1974. Mrs. Kinnunen's sacrifice and the sacrifice of thousands of others just like her and their continued perseverance illustrate the courage and indomitability of the American spirit.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 2223, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 2223, a bill 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.

Elizabeth Kinnunen came to the United States from Finland in 1903 with hopes of a better life. After marrying Oscar Kinnunen in 1909, Elizabeth worked alongside her husband to

run a boarding home for timber and mining workers in Marquette, Michigan. Eventually, Elizabeth, Oscar, and their 11 children moved to Munising, Michigan, where they continued to work tirelessly so that each of their children could achieve the American Dream.

Ms. Kinnunen made many sacrifices on behalf of her children, and two of her beloved sons made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our great country. Eiso Kinnunen was killed in action in the Battle of the Bulge in 1945; and shortly thereafter, in 1952, Ms. Kinnunen became a two Gold Star Mother, when Raymond Kinnunen lost his life in the Korean war.

It is difficult to fathom, Mr. Speaker, the devastating losses Ms. Kinnunen endured, but we can honor her hard work, her dedication, and her sacrifices by naming this post office in her honor.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following measures, which are post office-naming bills, and the Senate proceed to their consideration en bloc: H.R. 4939, H.R. 1707, H.R. 78, H.R. 2112, H.R. 2223, H.R. 2678, H.R. 3534, and H.R. 5030.

I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed en bloc and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc with no intervening action or debate.