To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 400 Southern Avenue Southeast in Washington, District of Columbia, as the "District of Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office".

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7873) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 400 Southern Avenue Southeast in Washington, District of Columbia, as the ``District of Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office''.

Madam 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.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7873, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 400 Southern Avenue Southeast in Washington, District of Columbia, as the ``District of Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office.''

Our Nation's veterans enlist knowing full well that they may be injured or killed in service to our country.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are almost 30,000 veterans living in the District of Columbia, with just over 22,000 of them being wartime veterans.

Unfortunately, these brave individuals fight for a country that does not afford them the same right to representation enjoyed by other Americans.

This is an oversight that must be remedied.

It is our responsibility to remember and honor their sacrifices. This bill will ensure that their service is never forgotten.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the sacrifices of our veterans by naming a post office in the Nation's capital after them.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the sponsor of the bill.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 7873, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Maloney for marking up my bill and helping to bring it to the floor.

This bill would name the post office at 400 Southern Avenue Southeast in the District of Columbia as the District of Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office. While it is important that our country honor all servicemembers and veterans, our country owes a special debt of gratitude to D.C. servicemembers and veterans, who serve or have served their country without voting representation in Congress or full local self-government. It is remarkable that they serve a country that denies them basic democratic rights, rights they have often been sent overseas to defend.

D.C. residents have served in every war since the Revolutionary War. There are approximately 30,000 veterans who live in the District of Columbia, and almost 200,000 D.C. residents have served in the military since World War I. This bill is one way to recognize their service and sacrifice.

635 D.C. residents were casualties of World War I, a casualty figure greater than that of three States during that war. 3,575 D.C. residents were casualties of World War II, a casualty figure greater than that of four States during that war. 547 D.C. residents were casualties of the Korean war, a casualty figure greater than that of eight States during that war. 243 D.C. residents were casualties of the Vietnam war, a casualty figure greater than that of 10 States during that war.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7873, which honors all servicemembers and veterans who reside in the District of Columbia.

There are approximately 31,000 veterans who currently live in the District and more than 200,000 D.C. residents who have served in the military since World War I.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring American patriots from the Nation's capital city, and I yield back the balance of my time.