To designate the headquarters building of the Coast Guard on the campus located at 2701 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue Southeast in the District of Columbia as the "Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building", and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks.

The timing on this bill could not be more appropriate. Later this month, we will cut the ribbon for the new Coast Guard building, the first building the Coast Guard has ever owned.

Next month, Coast Guard employees will begin moving into the building located on the old Saint Elizabeths Hospital campus in southeast Washington, D.C. It is only fitting that the Coast Guard should be moving into a building named for one of their own, Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro. Signalman First Class Munro is the U.S. Coast Guard's only Medal of Honor recipient. The Coast Guard specifically requested that I write this bill in time for the opening of the Coast Guard headquarters.

I want to express my appreciation to my good friends on the other side for promptly passing this bill in committee last week and then seeing to it that it got to the floor this week.

Munro died heroically on Point Cruz, Guadalcanal, after succeeding in his volunteer assignment to evacuate a detachment of marines that had been overwhelmed by the enemy. Signalman First Class Munro had an outstanding record as an enlisted man and was promoted rapidly through the various ratings to a signalman first class. In addition to being a Medal of Honor recipient, Signalman First Class Munro was also posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal and was eligible for the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He, indeed, was a hero.

Signalman First Class Munro is an excellent example of the commitment to service and bravery that our men and women of the Coast Guard still provide today, much of it here at home. It is an honor to be the lead sponsor of this bill to name the building in honor of a true American hero.

The new Coast Guard headquarters building that would be named for Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro will be a 1.1-million-square- foot building and will house up to 3,700 members of the U.S. Coast Guard and civilian employees. This building, which will be the first office building completed for the Department of Homeland Security headquarters consolidation, will mark the first time that a Federal agency will be located east of the Anacostia River.

I believe Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro's outstanding service to his country and his unique status as the only member of the U.S. Coast Guard to win the Medal of Honor ensures that it is particularly fitting to name the new U.S. Coast Guard headquarters the Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building.

I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I want to say in closing, Mr. Speaker, that we honor Signalman First Class Munro by naming a first class, extraordinary, state-of-the-art building after him. But in honoring Signalman First Class Munro, I think we also honor members of the Coast Guard. These are, to coin a cliche, real unsung heroes in our society. They are the men and women who save men and women and children every year right here in our country as part of their duties here. In a real sense, when we name this building for the only Medal of Honor winner, I think it will make Americans understand there are many heroes of the Coast Guard who also serve them every day of every year.

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

Mr. Speaker, as Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security, I rise to support H.R. 2611, a bill to designate the new Coast Guard headquarters building as the ``Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building.''

Douglas A. Munro, a signalman first class of the United States Coast Guard, died heroically on Guadalcanal Island on September 27, 1942, after succeeding in his volunteer assignment to evacuate a military unit of Marines under fire from opposition forces.

Born on October 11, 1919, Munro was raised Washington State and attended the Central Washington College of Education for a year before enlisting in the United States Coast Guard in 1939. He had an outstanding record of service in the Coast Guard and was quickly promoted to signalman, first class.

In the Battle of Guadalcanal, Munro was in charge of the boats that had landed the Marines at the scene. When it became necessary to evacuate the Marines, Munro volunteered to lead evacuation. He did so under heavy enemy fire, ultimately using himself and his boats as cover allowing the last of the Marines to leave. Tragically, Munro was fatally wounded in the process.

Munro posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart Medal, and was eligible for the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Mr. Speaker, Douglas A. Munro gave his life to protect his fellow service members and defend this great Nation; it is most fitting that the U.S. Coast Guard's new headquarters is named in his honor.

With its long, rich history and significant contributions to homeland security, I can see why the Coast Guard was selected to be the first occupant of the Department of Homeland Security's new permanent home-- on the campus of St. Elizabeths. I wish the Coast Guard the best as it begins a new chapter in its new headquarters.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the men and women of the Coast Guard who continue to serve our country today, ensuring the service lives up to its motto of Semper Paratus, or ``always ready.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2611.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2611) to designate the headquarters building of the Coast Guard on the campus located at 2701 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue Southeast in the District of Columbia as the ``Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building'', and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, 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 H.R. 2611.

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

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us, H.R. 2611, would designate the United States Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., as the Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building.

Douglas Munro was born in Vancouver, Canada, of American parents on October 11, 1919, and grew up in Washington State. He attended the Central Washington College of Education for a year and left to enlist in the United States Coast Guard in 1939. He served the country during World War II, rising to the rank of signalman first class.

Douglas Munro was killed in action at Guadalcanal on September 27, 1942, shielding 500 United States marines from enemy fire during an evacuation. He volunteered to head the boats for the evacuation, and he placed himself and his boats as cover for the last marine to leave. During this time, Douglas Munro was fatally wounded. Reportedly, he remained conscious long enough to say four words: ``Did they get off?''

Douglas Munro was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. The bravery and sacrifice of Douglas Munro saved hundreds of marines, and he should be honored and remembered. I think it's appropriate to ensure that he will always be remembered by naming the United States Coast Guard headquarters in his honor.

Therefore, I support the passage of this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes during this week:

On rollcall vote 354, on the passage of H.R. 2576, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote 355, on the passage of H.R. 1848, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote 356, on the passage of H.R. 2611, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote 357, ordering the Previous Question for H. Res. 300, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote 358, on the passage of H. Res. 300, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote 359, on the Motion to Adjourn, I voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote 360, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 2667, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote 361, on passage of H.R. 2667, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote 362, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 2668, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote 363, on passage of H.R. 2668, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote 364, on ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 303, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote 365, on passage of H.Res. 303, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote 366, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote 367, I would have voted ``aye.''

On rollcall vote 368, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall vote 369, I would have voted ``no.''

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2611, which is at the desk.

I further ask that the bill be read three times and passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.