To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 515 Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, as the "First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna Jr. Post Office".

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am honored to stand before you today to pay tribute to the life and service of a true American hero, First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna, by naming the Bristol Post Office in his honor.

A native of Bristol, Rhode Island, Sergeant McKenna dedicated 17 years of his life to serve and protect our country in the United States Army.

Born in 1980 to his mother, Carol, and father, Peter, Sergeant McKenna knew at the age of 5 years old that he wanted to be a soldier, and by the age of 7 that he wanted to serve the Nation as a Green Beret. His family and close childhood friends recall him wearing camouflage-patterned clothes almost every day.

Sergeant McKenna attended Mount Hope High School in Bristol, graduating in the spring of 1998. Upon graduation, he immediately enlisted in the Army as an infantryman.

After just 3 years, he went to selection for the Green Berets. He completed the grueling Special Forces Qualification Course in 2003, achieving his lifelong dream to be a part of the military's most elite.

Sergeant McKenna was then assigned to the First Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. He went on to serve one tour of duty in Iraq and five more tours in Afghanistan.

During his first tour in Afghanistan, from 2004 to 2005, First Sergeant McKenna was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his tremendous courage under fierce enemy fire during a mission that resulted in the death of a senior Taliban official. He would then go

on to earn 18 military awards, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

First Sergeant McKenna is remembered at each of his duty stations for his intense work ethic, strong attention to detail, commitment to excellence, quick sense of humor, and infectious smile. To this day, former team leaders and fellow servicemembers praise his motivation, leadership, and ability to bring out the best in the people around him.

Of the countless stories I could tell that exemplify these values in Sergeant McKenna, there is one that stands out.

In 2011, Master Sergeant Chris Corbin, a fellow Green Beret, was forced to undergo a double amputation on both legs after stepping on a hidden IED in Afghanistan. During a months-long recovery process at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, First Sergeant McKenna would make the 5-hour drive from Fort Bragg, located in North Carolina, to visit Master Sergeant Corbin, sometimes spending multiple days or even weeks at his bedside. Master Sergeant Corbin would later go on to credit Sergeant McKenna's reliability and motivation for getting him through his recovery.

This same selfless devotion to his fellow servicemembers was, of course, not a first for Sergeant McKenna, and it would not be his last in a decorated life that was ended far too soon.

He was stationed at Camp Integrity in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August of 2015 when Taliban soldiers exploded a car bomb outside the gates of the compound in the middle of the night. Four heavily armed insurgents opened fire on security contractors guarding the Special Forces complex, killing eight guards and breaching the facility. Sergeant McKenna was messaging with his mother at the time, and her last message to her son went unanswered.

After hearing an explosion and gunshots, he immediately grabbed his weapon and proceeded to engage the enemy alongside fellow Green Beret, Master Sergeant George Vera.

During the ensuing firefight, First Sergeant McKenna lost his life and Master Sergeant Vera suffered critical wounds to his spine, kidney, liver, and leg.

Their decision to charge into the fight without hesitation and regard for their own safety likely prevented the deaths of many, many soldiers stationed at that base.

First Sergeant McKenna's bravery and his ultimate sacrifice allowed supporting personnel to eliminate the Taliban attack and secure the complex.

First Sergeant McKenna was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for Valor in Combat, the Nation's third highest decoration for valor, for his courageous and lifesaving actions.

He was fearless. He was heroic. He represented the very highest examples of service, duty, and sacrifice throughout his career and on this fateful day. However, in the words of his friend, Master Sergeant Corbin: ``That's just Drew. There's dozens of times he's done stuff like that.''

First Sergeant McKenna was laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery in Bristol next to his brother, Patrick, who passed away in 2005.

He is survived by his mother and father, whom I had the honor of hosting for President Obama's final State of the Union Address.

The First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund, set up in his memory, awards $6,000 in scholarships every year to Rhode Island high school students planning to attend college or serve in the Armed Forces.

Andrew McKenna was a true American hero who embodied the very best of Rhode Island values.

His patriotism, loyalty, and sense of shared purpose were reflections of his strong character and the values he learned growing up in Bristol.

I consider myself fortunate to have met First Sergeant McKenna in 2015 at the Bristol Fourth of July parade and for my continued relationship with his wonderful family.

I am proud to lead the effort here in Congress to honor First Sergeant McKenna's legacy that means so much to his family, his friends, the town of Bristol, and the State of Rhode Island.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my gratitude to Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings for their support of this bill, as well as my good friend and cosponsor of this bill, Congressman Jim Langevin.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their courtesy and urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by commending my colleague from the First Congressional District of Rhode Island, Mr. Cicilline, for sponsoring this bill in the first place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Rhode Island hero and to support the designation of the United States Postal Service facility at 515 Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, as the First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna Jr. Post Office.

First Sergeant McKenna had served with distinction for 17 years when he was killed on August 7, 2015, during an insurgent attack on Camp Integrity in Afghanistan.

That previous summer, I had the privilege of meeting First Sergeant McKenna at the Bristol Fourth of July parade.

Mr. Speaker, he was only 35 years old, and he died running toward incoming fire, saving the lives of his fellow soldiers.

A member of the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group out of Eglin Air Force Base, First Sergeant McKenna saw six deployments, five to Afghanistan and one to Iraq, and his extraordinary service was recognized throughout.

Among his many medals are five Bronze Stars, one of which was awarded with a valor device for his actions during a mission that resulted in the death of a senior Taliban commander.

Following First Sergeant McKenna's death, he was awarded a Purple Heart and Silver Star, decorations he richly deserved.

In my time as ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, I have heard the stories of many of our special operators and the heroic deeds they perform to keep us safe here at home. They are the consummate quiet professionals, never far from danger, yet shying away from the spotlight.

First Sergeant McKenna was ``the best of us,'' his fellow Green Beret, Sergeant First Class Tim Kennedy, remarked.

He gave his life for his country, and naming the post office at 515 Hope Street in his honor is just a small way that we can thank him for his remarkable service and ensure that his memory lives on.

Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Cicilline, and our two Senators, Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, for coming together to offer this legislation.

First Sergeant McKenna has made his parents, Peter and Carol McKenna, his friends, the town of Bristol, and the entire State of Rhode Island extraordinarily proud.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his courage, his service, and his sacrifice today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4685) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 515 Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, as the ``First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna Jr. 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 include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4685, introduced by the gentleman from Rhode Island, Representative David Cicilline.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4685 names the U.S. Post Office at 515 Hope Street in Bristol, Rhode Island, after U.S. Army First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna, Jr.

First Sergeant McKenna served 15 years in the Army, most recently as a Green Beret, and then as the first sergeant for the Special Operations Joint Task Forces--Afghanistan.

In August 2015, First Sergeant McKenna was killed in action while defending Camp Integrity in Kabul, Afghanistan, against insurgents. For his bravery and leadership during the attack, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

This bill would honor his service to the Nation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4685.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline) to tell us about the heroism of First Sergeant Andrew McKenna, Jr.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my good friend.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge passage of H.R. 4685, and I yield back the balance of my time.