To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 League in Irvine, California, as the "Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1170) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 League in Irvine, California, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial 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.

I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of H.R. 1170 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service at 1 League in Irvine, California, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.

Before passing away in June of 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Friend was one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen who took to the skies during World War II as the first African American military aviators.

The roughly 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 combat sorties, destroyed 260 enemy aircrafts, and received 150 decorations of the Flying Cross and Legion of Merit, fighting the Nazi Luftwaffe while simultaneously striking a blow against racism back home.

Lieutenant Colonel Friend flew fighter aircrafts for nearly 2 years during the war. During Lieutenant Colonel Friend's 142 combat missions, he destroyed critical Nazi and Axis power military assets, helping move the U.S. and ally forces towards victory during the war.

In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Friend served in strategic roles as an operations officer for the 301st Squadron and was the final operations officer of the 332nd Fighter Group. Lieutenant Colonel Friend also served honorably in Korea and Vietnam.

Lieutenant Colonel Friend was the recipient of multiple military awards for service, including the: Distinguished Flying Cross, Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Flying Cross, three Distinguished Service Medals, and an Air Medal. In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Friend and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

Following the war, Lieutenant Colonel Friend studied astrophysics at the Air Force Institute of Technology and business at the University of California in Los Angeles. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, he worked as a consultant on the development of missile systems and space-station components near his home in Irvine, California.

Naming a post office for Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Friend is entirely appropriate given his distinguished, extraordinary contributions to his State and country.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter), the distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Natural Resources.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 1170. I thank Representative Porter for her strong support in helping to pass this important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for recognizing me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1170, which will designate the post office located at 1 League in Irvine, California, as the Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building.

I introduced this bill to honor the legacy of a true Orange County hero, Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend.

Before passing away in June of 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Friend was one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen who took to the skies during World War II as the first African American military aviators. The roughly 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 combat sorties, destroyed 260 enemy aircraft,

and received 150 decorations of the Flying Cross and Legion of Merit, fighting the Nazi Luftwaffe while simultaneously striking a blow against racism back home.

Lieutenant Colonel Friend flew fighter aircraft for nearly 2 years during the war. During his 142 combat missions, he destroyed critical Nazi and Axis power military assets, helping move the U.S. and Allied forces toward victory during the war.

Lieutenant Colonel Friend was the recipient of multiple military awards for valorous service, including the: Distinguished Flying Cross, Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Flying Cross, three Distinguished Service Medals, and Air Medal. In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Friend and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.

Following the war, Lieutenant Colonel Friend studied astrophysics at the Air Force Institute of Technology and business at the University of California, Los Angeles. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, he worked as a consultant on the development of missile systems and space- station components near our community and his home in Irvine, California.

Lieutenant Colonel Friend is survived by his children: Thelma, Robert, Jr., Michael, Debra, Dana, Karen, and Clara Ann Browning; 18 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great- grandchildren. His son, Darryl, died in 2002 while on active duty in the military.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the other Members of the California delegation for signing on in support of this bill and ensuring that Lieutenant Colonel Friend's name is memorialized and his legacy lives on for future generations.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1170, which would name a post office after Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen.

Lieutenant Colonel Friend was a fighter pilot for 2 years during World War II, and destroyed critical Nazi military assets, bolstering the United States. He also served in Korea and Vietnam.

After retiring from the military, he studied astrophysics and business at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

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

As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills, en bloc: Calendar No. 185, H.R. 767; Calendar No. 186, H.R. 1170; Calendar No. 187, H.R. 1444, Calendar No. 189, S. 2932; Calendar No. 325, S. 3825; Calendar No.

326, S. 3826; Calendar No. 328, H.R. 735; Calendar No. 329, H.R. 1298; Calendar No. 330, H.R. 2324; Calendar No. 332, H.R. 3579; Calendar No. 333, H.R. 3613; and Calendar No. 334, H.R. 4168.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills en bloc be considered read a third time and passed, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.