Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4037) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 475 Kell Farm Drive in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the ``Richard G. Wilson Processing and Distribution Facility''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4037.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise in support of H.R. 4037, which honors the life of Richard G. Wilson by naming this U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution facility in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, after him.

Private First Class Wilson was an Army corpsman who served with gallantry during the Korean War. He distinguished himself by aiding wounded soldiers in harm's way outside Opari, Korea, in October of 1950.

At the bottom of the valley near Opari, enemy forces engaged Private Wilson's company. As the U.S. forces suffered casualties, the unarmed Private Wilson charged into harsh combat to provide aid to his wounded company men, despite their protest. He treated several soldiers in the face of the merciless enemy attack.

The company was forced to retreat, and Private Wilson's whereabouts were initially unknown. Two days later, a U.S. patrol found him lying next to one of the troops that he had helped during the firefight. Wilson had been shot several times.

Private Wilson was posthumously awarded the Nation's highest military award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor, on June 21, 1951. The medal was presented to Wilson's widow Yvonna in a ceremony at the Pentagon that day.

Mr. Speaker, this postal facility designation, introduced by the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson), will memorialize Richard Wilson's bravery and selflessness in his hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. I understand that members of his family still live in Cape Girardeau, and I certainly hope this exceedingly deserved honor for Richard Wilson will be meaningful to them.

Mr. Speaker, while heroes of today fight for freedom across the globe in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, it is always appropriate to recognize America's military heroes of yesterday. I strongly urge every Member of the House to support this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 4037.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3855) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 607 Pershing Drive in Laclede, Missouri, as the ``General John J. Pershing Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3855, which honors one of our Nation's greatest patriots and champions of freedom, General John Joseph Pershing. This legislation designates the U.S. Postal Service facility in Laclede, Missouri, as the General John J. Pershing Post Office.

John Joseph Pershing was born on September 13, 1860, in Linn County, Missouri. As a teenager, Pershing became a teacher at a school for African American children in Laclede. While later teaching at Prairie Mound, he entered and won a competitive examination for an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, enrolling in 1882.

Pershing was only average in his studies at West Point, but he excelled in leadership roles and displayed extraordinary soldierly qualities. Pershing held the highest possible rank in the Cadet Battalion each year; and in 1886 he was elected president of his class, and he graduated as senior cadet captain, the highest honor at West Point.

Mr. Speaker, General Pershing worked his entire life to protect and preserve freedom. His nickname, Black Jack, dates from his service with the 10th Cavalry, a unit of the Buffalo Soldiers in Montana. It became a subtle accolade to both him and the Buffalo Soldiers he fought with and praised. Pershing took the nickname with pride as an honor to the soldiers that he fought with. He was concerned about the welfare of all soldiers, especially minorities; and as a result of his service in the 10th Cavalry, Pershing remained instrumental in coordinating minority organizations throughout his entire military career.

Mr. Speaker, General Pershing was a man who consistently praised his soldiers and understood their commitments to freedom and to this great Nation. Despite his numerous awards and honors, General Pershing was a man of humility.

He was promoted to brigadier general in 1906 over 862 senior officers. As a major general, Pershing was appointed commander of the American Expeditionary Forces following the U.S. declaration of war against Germany.

The Regular Army at that time consisted of only 25,000 men, and there was no reserve core as we know it today. General Pershing literally organized an army from scratch. And within a year and a half, the national Army consisted of approximately 2.5 million men, a result of recruiting and training programs initiated by Pershing. These same programs stood as a model for the mobilization training plan of World War II.

Following the Great War, General Pershing became chief of staff to the U.S. Army in 1921. Up until his death, he worked to ensure American forces were prepared in a changing global environment. He was truly ahead of his time as our Nation came to realize our importance on the global stage.

Mr. Speaker, General Pershing's service to this country in World War I was so phenomenal that the 66th Congress revived the rank called the General of the Armies of the United States. General Pershing was appointed to that office on September 3, 1919. He accepted the appointment on September 8 of that year and retired with that rank on his birthday in 1924.

General Pershing passed away on July 15, 1948, at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. He was a great American. He stands as an inspiration to all those who have served this great Nation in our Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Missouri for honoring General Pershing. This post office will stand as a testament to his dedication to freedom and as a permanent token of appreciation from a grateful Nation. I encourage all Members of the House to support H.R. 3855.

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

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman

from Missouri (Mr. Graves) and urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3855, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1822) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3751 West 6th Street in Los Angeles, California, as the ``Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise today in support of H.R. 1822. This post office designation introduced by the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson), also a member of the committee, honors one of the earliest Korean American leaders of our Nation, Dosan Ahn Chang Ho. Each of the other 52 members of the California congressional delegation has also cosponsored the legislation, which I think in itself is worthy of mention.

Ahn Chang Ho emigrated to San Francisco from Korea in 1902. After Japan colonized Korea in 1910, Ahn Chang Ho traveled around the world to pull together financial and political opposition to Japan's imperial rule in Korea, and that lasted until the end of World War II. In addition to fighting for Korean freedom, Ahn Chang Ho worked hard here in the United States to establish schools, social organizations, and job-training programs for Korean Americans in California.

In 1932, the Japanese arrested Ahn Chang Ho in Shanghai, China, and accused him of a bombing incident in which he was not involved. He was taken to prison and ultimately died at a Korean hospital in 1938.

Mr. Speaker, Dosan Ahn Chang Ho was an extremely important political leader and educator and a humanitarian for people in the United States and Korea at the beginning of the 20th century. Therefore, I am pleased that the House is considering H.R. 1822. I commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) for her work.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 1822, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 97) recognizing the 91st annual meeting of the Garden Club of America.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on S. Con. Res. 97.

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

Mr. Speaker, Senate Concurrent Resolution 97 recognizes the 91st annual meeting of the Garden Club of America. The resolution is timely because the Garden Club's annual meeting is here in Washington, D.C., this weekend from April 24 to 27.

So what is the Garden Club of America? The club is a national nonprofit organization that promotes gardening activities and restores, improves, and protects the quality of numerous aspects of the environment. The club has more than 17,000 members in 195 local chapters across the Nation.

We acknowledge the contributions of the Garden Club today because of their work to beautify so many of our Nation's communities.

Twelve local clubs here in the District of Columbia and nearby Maryland will host the annual national meeting this weekend. This year's meeting theme is ``Capital Landscapes,'' and the distinguished honorary chair for the weekend is the First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush. It has been 20 years since Washington has hosted a national meeting, and so it is appropriate that we celebrate the Garden Club's return to our Nation's Capital.

I encourage all Members of the House to support Senate Concurrent Resolution 97.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri), a very good friend of the Garden Club, who also sponsored an identical piece of legislation, House Concurrent Resolution 368, here in the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, I commend both the Senator from Maryland as well as the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) for their work to recognize the Garden Club of America prior to their annual meeting this weekend. I urge the House to adopt Senate Concurrent Resolution 97.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that we are in the midst of an election year. As a matter of fact, judging from the intensity of the campaign so far, one might think that we are at the end of October instead of the end of March.

Part of the reason for this intensity is the news organizations who are captivated not by the issues at hand but by the horse race, who is ahead and who is behind; and reporters and pundits are the ones calling the race. But, clearly, some of these pundits are wearing political blinders, suggesting nothing less than partisan bias.

In mid February, CBS News and The New York Times conducted a poll. That night, Dan Rather rather gleefully reported the results, that the Democratic nominee held a five-point lead over President Bush, on the CBS evening news.

The next CBS News/New York Times poll was conducted and again Dan Rather reported that the Democratic nominee had a one-point lead.

Two weeks after that, a third CBS poll showed President Bush leading the Democratic nominee by three percentage points, and what did Dan Rather report on this poll? Nothing. Not a mention.

I would say that is not quite fair and certainly not balanced.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 328) recognizing and honoring the United States Armed Forces and supporting the designation of a National Military Appreciation Month, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 328, as amended

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I am very pleased that the House is considering House Concurrent Resolution 328. During the 106th Congress, on April 30, 1999, the United States Senate passed Senate Resolution 99 that called for May of 1999 to be signified as National Military Appreciation Month. Today's resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 328, supports the goals and ideals of National Military Appreciation Month. As the war on terror continues, this is an appropriate piece of legislation for the House to pass today.

The Members of our Armed Forces have fought to preserve freedom for the American people for over 200 years. Recently, new challenges have confronted our brave military men and women since the horrific attacks on our Nation of September 11, 2001. Our soldiers have courageously and effectively carried out remarkable missions in Afghanistan and Iraq that respectively intended to disrupt the terrorist networks and to end the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, the United States Armed Forces have dramatically expanded their presence in the Middle East and Central Asia into once unthinkable locations, such as former Soviet republics. These new bases seek to strengthen American alliances with friendly countries and to protect the citizens of countless nations across the globe.

Indeed, the war on terror has tested our armed services, and I am proud to reported that our servicemen and women have responded very honorably.

In addition to the war on terror, nearly 1,800 United States soldiers have defended the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince in recent weeks as well. Unquestionably, our great Nation and, indeed, the entire world is a safer place because of their commitment and their sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I know that the sponsor of this resolution, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, wanted to be here for consideration of this legislation. Consistent with my earlier request for general leave, I will submit his statement on House Concurrent Resolution 328 in writing. I commend the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Tom Davis) for this important resolution, and I urge every Member of this House to support its adoption.

I salute all of our Nation's gallant servicemen and women.

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

Mr. Speaker, I simply would urge all Members to support the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 328, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3059) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 304 West Michigan Street in Stuttgart, Arkansas, as the ``Lloyd L. Burke Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3059.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3059 designates the Stuttgart, Arkansas, postal facility as the Lloyd L. Burke Post Office. All members of the Arkansas congressional delegation have signed on as cosponsors to this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, through this point in the 108th Congress, the House has passed 43 meaningful bills that name post offices after physicians, after political leaders, athletes, military servicemen and certainly other worthy individuals as well, but we may never consider a commemorative piece of legislation that honors a braver person than Lloyd Burke.

Colonel Lloyd Burke served in the Army during World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars. Most notably, he was a legitimate hero of the Korean War. Facing a battle over a strategic hill outside of Seoul, then Lieutenant Burke led a group of only 35 battle-weary American soldiers toward a brigade of over 300 Korean fighters in December of 1951. On this day, Lloyd Burke practically defeated this overwhelming enemy force with only his bare hands.

Lloyd Burke led the charge against the Korean brigade by firing his rifle and throwing grenades. He attacked enemy trenches all by himself, clearing out enemy machine gun positions. During his attack, his rifle jammed, and then he was forced to catch three grenades thrown at him and hurled them back at the enemy soldiers. He ultimately manipulated his rifle and returned it to working order, firing it until he ran out of ammunition. At that point, he used only his pistol to attack the heavily armed Korean soldiers.

Burke's bravery inspired his fellow troops. When the dust settled, most of the 300 enemy soldiers had been killed and the remaining Army troops had captured the hill. It was estimated that Lloyd Burke had killed 100 of the enemy himself. It was an unbelievable scene, and an important strategic victory for the 5th Cavalry Regiment that day.

Mr. Speaker, when Lloyd Burke returned home the following spring, President Harry S. Truman awarded him the Medal of Honor at the White House on April 11, 1952. Many years later, Colonel Burke was a guest of another President here in Washington, President Bill Clinton, at the dedication of the Korean War Memorial in July of 1995. These were two highly deserved honors for a serviceman to whom all Americans owe a debt of gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, Lloyd Burke passed away in his sleep at the age of 74 at his home in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on June 1, 1999. Therefore, I want to commend the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Berry) for working to permanently honor Colonel Lloyd L. Burke with this post office dedication. Colonel Burke's bravery and commitment to his country was above and beyond the call of duty, and therefore I am pleased today that the House remembers his service today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3059.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, we in the Congress have been

working hard to improve the economy and to help to create an environment that allows for new jobs.

This morning we received some more good news that shows that the economy is improving and that the President's economic growth package is working. The Labor Department reported that initial claims for unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 last week. This is the lowest level in more than 3 years.

By cutting taxes for every American taxpayer and job provider, we are making it easier for employers to create new jobs and certainly to help our families meet their needs. We cannot turn back the momentum in the recovery as some on the other side have suggested.

No tax increase ever created a job. The only way to continue to grow our economy and to create new jobs is to hold the line on taxes.

Today's good news is welcome, and we will continue the fight for lower taxes and for more jobs.

Mr. Speaker, no one can ever forget the horrific attacks on our Nation of 9/11. Our lives changed that day; the world changed that day; and America looked for answers and we looked for justice. And we looked, most importantly, for leadership.

I think the terrorists, recognizing the very limp response that America had made to terrorist activities during the 1990s, probably thought we would make a lot of noise, we would be out here rattling our sabers, and then go back to our comfortable lifestyles and that we would not respond in any meaningful way.

Well, these cowards, these terrorists who prey on the weak and innocent, seriously underestimated the will of the American people, and they certainly did not understand the political resolve of our great President George W. Bush, our President who understands that his constitutional responsibilities are to protect the homeland, to protect Americans.

And so we went to Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban. We went into Iraq where we liberated the Iraqi people from the oppression of Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Speaker, recently I had the opportunity to travel to Libya where we met with Moammar Qaddafi, and as we all know, he has opened up the borders to Libya to let the Atomic Energy Commission come in and voluntarily dismantle his nuclear program. Apparently he watched Saddam Hussein get drug out of a rat hole and thought this regime change is not all it is cracked up to be. Clearly the Bush doctrine is working.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the brave Americans who have lost their lives fighting for freedom, fighting the war

on terror. We recognize that battle is not over yet. Every one of them is a hero, every American who puts on the uniform is a hero, and we thank our partners in the coalition as well. God bless them all, God bless our Commander in Chief, and God bless America.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3733) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 410 Huston Street in Altamont, Kansas, as the ``Myron V. George Post Office''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun), the sponsor of the bill, I rise in support of H.R. 3733 that designates this postal facility in Altamont, Kansas, as the ``Myron V. George Post Office.'' This is a well-deserved honor for Congressman Myron George, who, despite passing away more than 30 years ago, remains one of Kansas's favorite sons to this day.

Congressman George served four terms in the House representing the people of southeast Kansas.

His respected career in the Congress followed his service in the United States Army during World War I, and when he returned safely home from the war, he learned the printing trade on the staff of his father's newspaper, the Altamont Journal. George ultimately became the owner and the publisher of the Edna Sun in Edna, Kansas, and he published that newspaper for 17 years until 1941.

While he still owned the Edna Sun, Myron George became an officer with the Kansas State Highway Commission in 1939 and, as a result of his decade of work with the Commission, he was elected to the first of his four terms to the United States House of Representatives in 1950. During his tenure in the House, Congressman George was known for his modesty and effectiveness. His greatest achievement was using his experience on the Kansas Highway Commission to work with President Dwight Eisenhower to implement the Federal Interstate Highway System for which the Eisenhower administration was famous.

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge every Member of the House to support this legislation that honors Congressman Myron George, and I certainly congratulate the gentleman from Kansas for shepherding H.R. 3733 through the committee process. I look forward to hearing his words.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun).

Madam Speaker, I urge that all Members support the passage of H.R. 3733.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 433) honoring the life and legacy of Luis A. Ferre.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, House Resolution 433 honors Luis A. Ferre, perhaps the greatest political figure in Puerto Rico during the last half century. Luis Ferre passed away in San Juan at the age of 99 on October 21, 2003, and this resolution recognizes his lifelong devotion to the United States, and to social justice in his native Puerto Rico.

Luis Ferre spent his life as a successful businessman and a human rights advocate for people on the small Caribbean island. He was elected to terms as Governor and to Representative in Puerto Rico.

Madam Speaker, Luis Ferre loved the United States and his greatest hope was to see his native Puerto Rico become an American State. In 1917, at the age of 13 years old, Ferre and the Puerto Rican population were granted United States citizenship. In the year of 2000, Ferre once recounted that he could not distinctly remember the event but, he said, ``Ever since I have been very proud of that day. I feel it is a great privilege and a great honor to be a citizen of the greatest republic that we have had in the history of the world.''

In 1951, Ferre was elected delegate to the Puerto Rican Constitutional Convention and he was able to directly contribute to the island becoming an official United States Commonwealth in 1952.

In 1968, Ferre was elected Governor and he continued to work towards Puerto Rican Statehood. He remained active in politics up to his death, most notably as the chairman of the Republican Party in Puerto Rico.

To recognize Luis Ferre's life of public service, former President George H.W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest government award a civilian can receive, in 1991. Ferre is one of four Puerto Ricans to ever receive this Presidential honor.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for his efforts to bring House Resolution 433 to the floor today, and I urge its adoption.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 433, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 87) honoring the life and legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and recognizing his contributions on the anniversary of the date of his birth.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.J. Res. 87.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 87 sponsored by my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter).

This resolution offers the House a chance to remember Franklin Delano Roosevelt's leadership over 120 years after his birth.

Madam Speaker, President Roosevelt who, of course, was known very affectionately around the world as FDR, skillfully guided our great Nation through the Great Depression and World War II during four terms in the White House.

When he first took office in 1933 FDR pushed through Congress legislation designed to stimulate the inactive American economy. FDR called these measures a New Deal for the American people.

Some have suggested that the New Deal jump-started the economy by stabilizing prices and triggering employers to hire in America work to emerge from the Depression.

Madam Speaker, President Roosevelt also mobilized the American spirit at home and energized the developing military forces abroad following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. His grace during World War II certainly encouraged patriotism, sacrifice from Americans everywhere, which helped the United States prevail in the massive global conflict that he was not able to see through.

President Roosevelt passed away as a result of cerebral hemorrhage just weeks after beginning his fourth term, on April 12, 1945. In large part because of President Roosevelt's vigilance the United States and the allies went on to defeat the Nazis in Europe and force the Japanese to surrender in the Pacific Theater later that year.

In a message to Congress in June of 1934, FDR stated that among the top priorities of his administration would be the security of the men, women, and children of the Nation first. The President stated that the security of the home and the security of livelihood constitutes a right that belongs to every individual. Securing America's future through frightening times was perhaps FDR's greatest legacy. And for that reason and many others, the House honors him today.

Madam Speaker, just as the Resolved clause of the resolution states, I urge the Congress to honor the life and legacy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I commend the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) for introducing House Joint Resolution 87 that honors one of America's most legendary leaders in history.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I have no further speakers at this time and I support the adoption of House Joint Resolution 87.

I yield to the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton) for his eloquent recollections.

Mr. Speaker, I support the adoption of House Joint Resolution 87 that honors President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3536) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 Main Street in Malden, Illinois, as the ``Army Staff Sgt. Lincoln Hollinsaid Malden Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3536.

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

Mr. Speaker, the next three pieces of legislation that the House will consider today are each tributes to a fallen soldier of the United States Armed Forces who served in Iraq in the past year.

All Americans and all peace-loving people around the world should have rejoiced in the news just yesterday that members of the Iraqi Governing Council signed an interim constitution, a grand step towards the objective of establishing free elections and a permanent self- ruling government in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, in working to achieve these extraordinary goals, countless American servicemen and women have sacrificed for months since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom nearly one year ago and, indeed, some American soldiers today have paid the ultimate price for our country. Today I am pleased that the House is taking time

to consider bills that will honor the lives of three brave men whose service to our Nation and to freedom everywhere must never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, the first of the three bills introduced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller) that we will consider is H.R. 3536. This designates a post office in Malden, Illinois as the Army Staff Sgt. Lincoln Hollinsaid Post Office. All members of the Illinois State delegation have co-sponsored this meaningful legislation.

Mr. Speaker, Staff Sergeant Lincoln Hollinsaid left his home in Malden, Illinois, on January 22, 2003 and headed to the Middle East as an engineer with the Army's Third Infantry Division to participate in the liberation of Iraq. He was killed tragically on April 7, 2003 in Iraq when a rocket propelled grenade hit the crane that he was operating. Sergeant Hollinsaid was 27 years old.

Lincoln was a graduate of Princeton High School in Princeton, Illinois, and he was an avid fisher. He enlisted with the Army in 1995 and he had served ever since.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller), I extend the heartfelt sympathy of the House of Representatives to the family of Lincoln Hollinsaid, especially his father, Dan, his mother, Nancy, and his two brothers, Adam and Kevin.

I urge all the Members of the House to support H.R. 3536, that will commemorate the life and service of Staff Sergeant Lincoln Hollinsaid.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all members to support

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3537) to designate the facility of the United States

Postal Service located at 185 State Street in Manhattan, Illinois, as the ``Army Pvt. Shawn Pahnke Manhattan Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3537.

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

Mr. Speaker, the second post office designation bill in honor of an Iraq war victim pays tribute to the courage and service of Army Private Shawn Pahnke.

This legislation, H.R. 3537, names a United States Postal Service Facility after Private Shawn Pahnke of Manhattan, Illinois, the town in which Shawn grew up.

Mr. Speaker, Shawn was another hero serving in Iraq to secure the freedom of all Iraqi citizens. Private Pahnke enlisted in October of 2002 right after getting married to his wife, Elisha. He left with the First Armored Division for Freidberg, Germany, four days before the birth of his son, Dean, on March 20, 2003. Sadly, Shawn would never meet his son. While patrolling the streets of Baghdad in a Humvee armored vehicle, a single bullet was fired into the vehicle and struck Private Pahnke in the back, fatally wounding him.

Mr. Speaker, Shawn's lifelong dream was to serve in the military. In the days after his son's death, his father, Tom, told about the letter Shawn had written to his family. These letters described how proud he was to be a soldier. His mother, Linda, said Shawn wanted to show the Iraqi people how wonderful freedom could be.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller) for honoring Army Private Shawn Pahnke. This post office is a deserved and permanent token of appreciation from a grateful Nation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from the State of Illinois (Mr. Weller), the sponsor of this legislation, my distinguished colleague.

(Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members would support the passage of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3538) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 South Chicago Avenue in Saint Anne, Illinois, as the ``Marine Capt. Ryan Beaupre Saint Anne Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3538, the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, like the last two pieces of legislation, H.R. 3538 names a post office after a courageous young man who died while bravely fighting for our Nation in Iraq. This bill designates a postal service facility in Saint Anne, Illinois, as the Marine Capt. Ryan Beaupre Saint Anne Post Office.

Mr. Speaker, Captain Ryan Beaupre of Saint Anne, Illinois, was a pilot of a CH-46 helicopter that crashed in Kuwait on March 20, 2003, just days after the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Captain Beaupre died at the age of 30.

Mr. Speaker, prior to serving in the Marine Corps, Ryan Beaupre was a standout student at Bishop McNamara High School and Illinois Wesleyan University. In his spare time in Saint Anne, he enjoyed exercising and he volunteered at a homeless shelter. He is survived by his father, Mark; mother, Nicky; two sisters, Alyse and Kari; and a brother, Cristopher. I want to assure the Beaupre family that the thoughts and the prayers of all Members of this House are with them. With passage of this legislation, the Congress can forever commemorate Ryan Beaupre's sacrifice with a post office that bears his name in his hometown.

Mr. Speaker, serving in our Nation's military is perhaps the greatest contribution one can make for his or her country. Our Armed Forces serve the entire Nation at home and overseas with unparalleled loyalty and selflessness. Undeniably, Ryan Beaupre possessed these admirable characteristics. That is why I urge all Members to support this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller).

(Mr. WELLER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members support the passage of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.