Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 813) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1050 Sunset Road Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico,…
Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 813) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1050 Sunset Road Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the ``Jose Hernandez Post Office Building''.
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 813, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service at 1050 Sunset Road Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the Jose Hernandez Post Office Building.
Jose Hernandez was born in 1971, in Arizona. He enlisted in the Army after graduating from Arizona State University and was stationed in Germany. In 2003, he deployed to Iraq for 1 year. When he was discharged from the Army, Mr. Hernandez moved to New Mexico with his wife and continued his career in public service at the U.S. Postal Service.
New Mexicans on his mail route remember the days when they were in a rush and Mr. Hernandez would quickly go through his mailbag just to get them their mail before they had to rush on their way. And they remembered the slower days when he would join them for a short chat or simply sit for a moment to enjoy the weather.
In April of 2019, letter carrier Jose Hernandez was tragically killed while protecting a mother in an argument with her son. Mr. Hernandez intervened to try to peacefully end the dispute, but was, instead, shot and killed by the young man.
Mailboxes along his former route quickly became memorials, while his colleagues made their own memorial at his former post office.
So naming a post office after this distinguished public servant, who gave his life in the line of duty trying to protect an innocent woman, I think is the very least that this body can do.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland).
Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers on this side. I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico for being here as the Secretary- Designate of the Interior Department. This is a confirmation day. So to be at both places at the same time is very important, and I think it underscores her real heartfelt appreciation with respect to this legislation and its passage.
Having said that, I urge passage of H.R. 813, and I yield back the balance of my time.