To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1450 Montauk Highway in Mastic, New York, as the "Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 829, my legislation to honor the life and legacy of Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth by renaming, in his name, the post office in his hometown of Mastic, New York.

Specialist Thomas Wilwerth always possessed a strong sense of duty to his country, having participated in the Junior ROTC program at William Floyd High School, where I once graduated as well. But it was in our Nation's darkest hour that 17-year-old Specialist Wilwerth was driven to enlist.

During his junior year of high school, Specialist Wilwerth bore witness to the unimaginable horror of September 11, with Ground Zero just under 100 miles from his high school. Instead of cowering in the face of terror, he shipped off to basic training that summer and actually finished high school while serving in the Army Reserve.

As a member of 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division based out of Fort Carson, Colorado, Wilwerth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

It was only 3 months into his deployment on February 22, 2006, that 21-year-old Specialist Wilwerth and two of his fellow soldiers were killed in action when an explosive device detonated near has Bradley Fighting Vehicle while on a routine morning patrol near Balad, Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I wish there were more people who possessed such a strong sense of patriotism. Even fewer answer the call at just the age of 17 and sacrifice their entire lives and their entire future to serve in the U.S. military.

Specialist Wilwerth was the best of who we are. He is the embodiment of what makes this country the greatest in the world: the willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice serving this most exceptional Nation, and the willingness to lay down one's life for his neighbors, for his community, but most courageously, for those Americans he never knew.

Before serving in Congress, I was in the New York Senate, and I introduced a bill that also became law, the Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth Military Dignity Act, to ban protests at military burials in my home State.

It is my greatest honor to stand here on the House floor today to speak about this new legislation in honor of Thomas.

Specialist Wilwerth is survived by his loving parents, Elaine and Terry Wilwerth, and his sister, Kerry. There are no words to describe the emptiness this loss left in their hearts and in the heart of our entire community.

Before I close, I would like to read a few words from the Wilwerth family that really drive home why this straightforward legislation will have such a profound impact.

The Wilwerth family said: ``Tommy died so that his fellow Americans could live a better life. His deep-rooted sense of patriotism drove him to enlist in the aftermath of September 11, and he would have been so proud of his sacrifice on behalf of our entire Nation.

``To have his name and legacy displayed in the heart of the community he loved--the community he laid his life down for--will never bring him home, but it will ensure his memory and sacrifice live on in the hearts of those who call Long Island home.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank both Members who have spoken in its favor today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 829) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1450 Montauk Highway in Mastic, New York, as the ``Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth 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 this measure.

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. 829 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1450 Montauk Highway in Mastic, New York, as the Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth Post Office Building.

Army Specialist Wilwerth's life was defined by a call to service. While still a junior in high school, Thomas felt the call to serve his country in the years after 9/11, and he made the decision to join the Army to defend his country.

After finishing his senior year, during which he also served in the Army Reserves, Thomas was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division based out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

In December 2005, Thomas was deployed to Iraq, and he served selflessly with his division as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While on deployment, he was tragically taken from us on February 22, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

At just 21 years of age, Thomas' tragic death serves to remind us all of the human cost of war. He demonstrated in his short life, Mr. Speaker, the kind of commitment and service to this great country that is an example to all of us.

Naming a post office in his honor in his hometown of Mastic, New York, is the least we can do as a country to honor and remember a young man who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to all of us.

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

Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Zeldin indicated, there is nothing we can do, not this action, that can really make up for the loss of a loved one, even in the time of war. But we can, as a grateful Nation, explain our appreciation and gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice that was made, and that is what we are doing today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained on April 4, 2019 during roll call no. 151, on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 829, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1450 Montauk Highway in Mastic, New York, as the ``Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth Post Office Building.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' I was also unavoidably detained during roll call no. 152, on the Motion to Commit with Instructions for S.J. Res. 7, to direct the removal of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' I was unavoidably detained during roll call no. 153, on Passage of S.J. Res. 7, to direct the removal of the United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen that have not been authorized by Congress. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' I was also unavoidably detained during roll call no. 154, on Agreeing to the Amendment, Torres Small of New Mexico Part B Amendment No. 40, to H.R. 1585. Had I been present, I would have voted, ``aye.'' I was also unavoidably detained during roll call no. 155, on the Motion to Recommit with Instructions for H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' I was also unavoidably detained during roll call no. 156, on Passage of H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. Had I been present, I would have voted, ``aye.''

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 829 introduced by Representative Lee Zeldin. The bill names a post office located in Mastic, New York, in honor of Army Specialist Thomas J. Wilwerth.

Specialist Wilwerth joined the United States Army while he was still in high school. He felt called to defend our Nation after the terrorist attacks on September 11. After graduating high school, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

In December 2005, Specialist Wilwerth was deployed to fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On February 22, 2006, Specialist Wilwerth and two others in his unit were killed by an improvised explosive device.

Specialist Thomas Wilwerth was 21 years old when he gave his life in service to his Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin)

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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