To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4801 West Van Giesen Street in West Richland, Washington, as the "Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from North Carolina for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of legislation that will commemorate the life and service of a young man from central Washington who died serving his country just over a year ago, on July 10, 2017.

Marine Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman grew up in Richland, Washington, with his parents, Eric and Susan, and his two brothers, Aaron and Hans. He attended Christ the King Catholic School, Hanford High School, and Columbia Basin College, where he met friends who would remain close to him throughout his entire life.

In 2010, with a world of opportunity ahead of him, he chose to dedicate his life to service and enlist in the United States Marine Corps. It was his goal to serve within Special Operations Command.

Throughout his service, he received 14 awards and decorations, including several Achievement Medals, Good Conduct Medals, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He had completed two overseas deployments, serving our Nation during Operation Enduring Freedom.

He achieved his goal, honorably serving as a critical skills operator in the U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Raider Battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, when he was tragically killed in a KC-130 plane crash in Mississippi on July 10, 2017.

My legislation would designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 4801 West Van Giesen Street in West Richland, Washington, as the Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman Post Office Building.

Dietrich and his fellow servicemembers gave the ultimate sacrifice, and I hope to honor his memory, as well as the memory of the 15 other men and women killed in the crash, with this dedication to their service.

Dietrich's strong ties to his family, friends, and hometown continue to be evident. An avid skydiver, Dietrich's death inspired his parents, childhood friends, and fellow marines to complete a memorial skydive over central Washington. He had a tattoo symbolizing his love of the Pacific Northwest and requested that his ashes be spread on Mount Rainier, where his Marine brothers-in-arms will hike this August in his honor.

We recently observed the 1-year anniversary of the devastating plane crash, and I know that the designation of this post office will mean a lot to Dietrich's family and to our community, serving as a local memorial and a reminder of the sacrifice he and his fellow servicemembers gave to preserve the freedoms that are the cornerstone of our Nation.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to name this building, which will be visited often by friends and family, after a courageous young man whose life and service deserve this honor.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5504) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4801 West Van Giesen Street in West Richland, Washington, as the ``Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman Post Office Building''.

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. 5504, a bill introduced by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse) to name a post office in West Richland, Washington, in honor of Marine Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman.

Marine Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman grew up in Richland, Washington. After graduating high school in 2009, Schmieman enlisted in the Marine Corps, eventually attending the Special Operations School.

Sergeant Schmieman completed two overseas deployments. He received multiple honors during his service, including two Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. He also achieved his goal of serving as a critical skills operator in the 2nd Raider Battalion.

In July 2017, Sergeant Schmieman was tragically killed in a cargo plane crash over Mississippi. We thank him for his service to our Nation, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to hearing more about this bill from Congressman Newhouse in a few minutes, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Newhouse), the sponsor of this bill.

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 pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 5504, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4801 West Van Giesen Street in West Richland, Washington, as the Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman Post Office Building.

A graduate of Columbia Basin College, Dietrich Schmieman joined the Marine Corps in 2009. Following a deployment to Okinawa, Japan, as a military parachutist and diver, Dietrich was promoted to sergeant and selected for Marine Corps Special Operations School.

You heard that he tragically lost his life in a cargo plane crash in July, but before that, he would complete a second overseas deployment and attain his goal of serving as a critical skills operator.

Sergeant Schmieman received 14 awards and decorations during his service and continues to be deeply missed by his Marine team, who plans to climb his beloved Mount Rainier in his honor this summer.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 5504, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge the passage of H.R. 5504 in memory of Sergeant Schmieman, an American hero, and I yield back the balance of my time.