Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1475) congratulates the town of Tarboro, North Carolina, on the occasion of its 250th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present H. Res. 1475 for consideration. This measure congratulates the town of Tarboro, North Carolina, on its 250th anniversary.

H. Res. 1475 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina, Representative G.K. Butterfield, on June 24, 2010. The measure was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on July 15, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 50 Members of the House.

Mr. Speaker, the North Carolina General Assembly approved the Tarboro town charter 250 years ago this month, November 30, 1760. It is one of the oldest colonial towns in the State. Its downtown is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and it has the only town common outside of Boston to be originally chartered with the town.

It was home to such notable figures as former United States Congressman George Henry White, who was elected to the Congress in 1896 and 1898. He was the last African American to serve in Congress until World War II.

Tarboro is also the home of General Hugh Shelton, who served in the United States Army and served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997 to 2001.

Mr. Speaker, let us join together in congratulating the town of Tarboro on reaching this historic milestone. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1475.

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

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 agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1428) recognizing Brooklyn Botanic Garden on its 100th anniversary as the preeminent horticultural attraction in the borough of Brooklyn and its longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and education for the City of New York.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

I rise in support of H. Res. 1428, a resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

H. Res. 1428 was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from New York, Representative Yvette Clarke, on June 9 of 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on July 28, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of 50 Members of the House.

Mr. Speaker, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a top cultural and environmental attraction in New York City, attracting over 730,000 visitors each year. It is a superb example of urban gardening and horticultural display, serving local residents and international visitors alike, and also features a number of educational programs through a partnership with the Brooklyn Academy of Science and the Environment High School.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden features a number of specialty gardens and collections on its 52 acres, including a collection of cherry trees that allows it to host a world-renowned Cherry Blossom Festival each spring. Its other collections hold over 11,000 different varieties of plants from all over the world, representing an invaluable cultural and scientific resource.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on its 100th anniversary and for its commitment to education, community service, and environmental stewardship.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield time to the sponsor of the bill, our colleague, Representative Yvette Clarke, for such time as she may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).

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. 5758) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2 Government Center in Fall River, Massachusetts, as the ``Sergeant Robert Barrett 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.

I now yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5758. This measure designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2 Government Center in Fall River, Massachusetts, as the Sergeant Robert Barrett Post Office Building.

H.R. 5758 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts, Representative Barney Frank, on July 15, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on July 28, 2010, and enjoys the support of the entire Massachusetts delegation to the House.

Sergeant Robert Barrett was a member of the 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment of Fall River. He had served as a commanding officer in his high school's junior ROTC and was head of its honor guard.

After graduating, he enlisted in the Army National Guard. He served in the honor guard for a time, including at the inauguration of President Obama, as a member of the Massachusetts National Honor Guard's volunteer regiment.

Sergeant Barrett was stationed as a part of a 15-member embedded training team training an Afghan battalion. While on patrol south of Kabul International Airport, Sergeant Barrett was killed by a suicide bomber in an attack that also injured eight others in his battalion. He was 20 years old.

Sergeant Barrett is survived by has parents, Paul and Carlene Barrett; his older sister Rebecca; and his 2-year-old daughter Sophie Alexandra.

Mr. Speaker, let us now take time to honor the service of Sergeant Barrett through the passage of H.R. 5758, which will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2 Government Center in Fall River, Massachusetts, in his name. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the legislation, my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, 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 agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1529) commending Bob Sheppard for his long and respected career as the public-address announcer for the New York Yankees and the New York Giants.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am proud to present H. Res. 1529 for consideration. This legislation commends Bob Sheppard for his long and respected career as the public-address announcer for the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. Introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Carolyn McCarthy of New York, on July 15, 2010, H. Res. 1529 was favorably reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on September 23, 2010. In addition, this legislation enjoys the support of over 50 Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, born on October 20, 1910, in Queens, New York, Bob Sheppard served as the public-address announcer for the New York Yankees from opening day in 1951 through 2007 and was also the PA announcer for the New York Giants from 1956 through 2005. During this period, Mr. Sheppard announced 4,500 Yankees baseball games, including 22 pennant-winning seasons and 13 World Series championships. Additionally, during his half century covering the New York Giants, Mr. Sheppard announced nine conference championships and three NFL championships.

Mr. Sheppard prided himself on being clear, concise, and correct; and his distinctive style earned him the nickname ``the voice of God,'' which was first coined by Yankee Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson. Mr. Sheppard's distinctive style has set the standard of sports announcing, and as New York Times writer Richard Goldstein notes, ``In an era of blaring stadium music, of public-address announcers styling themselves as entertainers and cheerleaders, Mr. Sheppard, a man with a passion for poetry and Shakespeare, shunned hyperbole.''

Notably, Mr. Sheppard did not limit his oratory skills to the baseball diamond and the football field. In fact, he also served as chairman of the speech department at the John Adams High School in Queens and as an adjunct professor of speech at St. John's University in the Bronx. For his tireless dedication to his craft, Mr. Sheppard was elected to the St. John's University Sports Hall of Fame, the Long Island Sports Hall of Fame, and the New York Sports Hall of Fame. He also received honorary doctorates from St. John's University and Fordham University and received the St. John's Medal of Honor, the highest award that the university can confer on a graduate, in 2007.

On May 7, 2000, Mr. Sheppard's legacy was enshrined in Yankee Stadium's Monument Park with a plaque that reads: ``Bob Sheppard, the voice of Yankee Stadium. For half a century he has welcomed generations of fans with his trademark greeting, `Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Yankee Stadium.' His clear, concise, and correct vocal style has announced the names of hundreds of players--both unfamiliar and legendary--with equal divine reference, making him as synonymous with Yankee Stadium as its copper facade and Monument Park.'' Sadly, on July 11, 2010, Mr. Sheppard passed away at the age of 99 in his home in Baldwin, New York.

Mr. Speaker, let us further honor the life and legacy of Mr. Sheppard through the passage of H. Res. 1529, which recognizes his distinctive style of announcing, influence on the entire field of sports announcing, and also commends him on his 52 years of service as a public-address announcer and speech professor. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 1529.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5655) to designate the Little River Branch facility of the United States Postal Service located at 140 NE 84th Street in Miami, Florida, as the ``Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Post Office.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I now yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present H.R. 5655 for consideration. This measure designates the Little River Branch facility of the United States Postal Service, located at 140 Northeast 84th Street, in Miami, Florida, as the Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Post Office.

H.R. 5655 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Kendrick Meek, on June 30, 2010. It was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on July 28, 2010. It enjoys the support of the entire Florida delegation to the House.

Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. was the first African American member of the Florida cabinet since the end of Reconstruction, being appointed to that post in 1978. He is also remembered for his work as a civil rights activist, leading lunch counter sit-ins in Tallahassee during his days studying at Florida A&M. Mr. McCrary also had an esteemed legal career, serving as Florida's first African American assistant attorney general in 1967. He was renowned for his knowledge of constitutional law and for his skill at debate and argument.

In 2003, 2 years after Mr. McCrary suffered a disabling stroke, the Florida House passed a resolution honoring him as a ``living legend'' and as a ``preeminent authority on constitutional law who won 10 landmark cases presented before the Florida Supreme Court.'' His colleagues remember him as a dedicated public servant and as a fierce advocate for underserved communities. Sadly, Mr. McCrary died of lung cancer on October 29, 2007.

Mr. Speaker, let us now take time to honor the memory of this great public servant, Jesse J. McCrary, Jr., through the passage of H.R. 5655, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman from Florida, Representative Kendrick Meek.

(Mr. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, may I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5702) to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to reduce the waiting period for holding special elections to fill vacancies in the membership of the Council of the District of Columbia, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

I now yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5702, which reduces the waiting period for special elections to fill certain vacancies in elected positions in the District of Columbia government from 114 to 70 days. I introduced this measure on July 1, 2010, and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee ordered the bill reported on September 23.

Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that, I have to apologize, comes before the House. I hope that in the next session of Congress such trivial matters--``trivial'' as far as Congress is concerned but of great moment to the District of Columbia--no longer have to come before you. They come before you because matters involving the structure of the District of Columbia are contained in the charter. Although the bill before you has been passed by the city council, charter bills have to be passed by Congress.

I don't think anybody cares how many days it takes to fill elected positions once a position becomes vacant in a particular city, in this case, the District of Columbia. Of course, the residents of the District of Columbia care mightily. We had two council members who were elected to other positions, and the ward council members' seats were vacant for 114 days. We get to the 70 days because that's what the council wants. I don't think anyone wants to have vacancies go on for very long in a democracy, because that means that these wards would be unrepresented in the D.C. council.

On the other hand, it takes time for people to gear up to run for new seats. So the council, in its wisdom, decided to reduce the time in half, and I don't think anyone in Congress would want to second-guess what a local jurisdiction believes on such a locally based issue. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting

I appreciate the gentleman's remarks, and I certainly appreciate his support of the bill. I do want him to know that the Home Rule Act does delegate decisions precisely like this to the D.C. Government. I believe that the State government analogy is inapposite here. I don't think any Member of Congress believes that he or she is in a position to revise in any way what the local government would do in this regard, and I do believe that this kind of matter does clutter the committee calendar. It clutters the calendar of the House of Representatives at a time when we have very serious issues. I should think we would be looking for matters that have no concern for every single Member of this House except me.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6278) to amend the National Children's Island Act of 1995 to expand allowable uses for Kingman and Heritage Islands by the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume and rise to support H.R. 6278, the Kingman and Heritage Islands Act of 2010. This bill would permit the District of Columbia to use the Kingman and Heritage Islands for recreational, environmental, and educational purposes. I introduced this bill on September 29, 2010.

The bulk of the language in the bill was considered by the Oversight Committee, the full House, and the Senate in another measure, H.R. 2092. However, because of a clerical error in the Senate, minor changes were not included in the bill when it was considered by the Senate. I have introduced H.R. 6278 to ensure the correct language is passed by both Houses. This bill includes the House-passed language in H.R. 2092, and captures the minor changes agreed upon in a bipartisan fashion by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

The amendment agreed to by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee makes it clear that the islands may revert back to the Federal Government in the future if they are not used for the purposes specified in the bill.

I should note that the House Oversight Committee did file a report on H.R. 2092, and that report is an important part of the legislative history of the bill we are considering now.

Mr. Speaker, we are very pleased that this bill has come in time before the House. The original act transferred title of this land on the Anacostia bill, but a prior Congress authorized it for another purpose, and, therefore, since we in the District of Columbia want to use this for environmental, recreational, and educational purposes, it was necessary to come again with a bill.

This is a bill that involves 40 acres of tidal marsh in Kingman Lake, currently being restored by the Army Corps, the District, and local environmental teaching groups. These islands are beautiful little places in the midst of the concrete of a big city. They, for example, have a memorial tree grove dedicated to the three District of Columbia schoolchildren who were on a trip sponsored by the National Geographic on a plane that went down in the September 11 attack on our country. This quaint set of islands has guided trails and interpretive stations.

As far as my own work in the Congress is concerned, Mr. Speaker, the dedication of these islands to environmental, teaching, and recreation purposes complements my own work on the Anacostia River. I am the primary sponsor of the Anacostia River initiative. There's already a 10-year plan of the jurisdictions in this region to restore the Anacostia River so that it is no longer one of the most polluted rivers in America.

To that end, I regard this bill as another manifestation of our determination to return the river to its original state and to allow the use of these small islands for the recreational and environmental purposes of the citizens of the District of Columbia and to all of those who visit our city and would like some relief from the big-city life and will find it right in the midst of what appears to be nothing other than a big-city landscape and will be relieved if they are privileged to visit these islands.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5367) to amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to revise certain administrative authorities of the District of Columbia courts, and to authorize the District of Columbia Public Defender Service to provide professional liability insurance for officers and employees of the Service for claims relating to services furnished within the scope of employment with the Service, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 5367, the District of Columbia Courts and Public

Defender Service Act of 2010. I introduced this bill on May 24, 2010, and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee ordered the bill reported on September 23. H.R. 5367 expands the administrative authorities of the District of Columbia Court system and increases the efficiency of the system.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is at the special request of the Article I Courts of the District of Columbia where changes need the consent of Congress in order to be made. These are small but important changes to the court. It wishes the desire to hold its conferences other than on an annual basis, particularly given the fact that the court has access to Web sites and other ways to communicate to judges. Therefore, this bill simply leaves this matter to the discretion of the judiciary.

The bill also has an important section, allowing the court to toll judicial proceedings in the event of an emergency. We know that the District of Columbia is in the cross-hairs of al Qaeda. We also know that we are not immune to natural disasters. While the court has the authority to conduct emergency sessions outside of the District of Columbia, it is imperative that it be able to delay proceedings so that it can reconfigure what to do in the event of an emergency. Similar bills have been introduced here in the Congress regarding the Federal court system, and several States have enacted similar legislation. I do not need to tell Members of this House what it would mean to a court of jurisdiction to be faced with a calendar and then an emergency as to what to do with, for example, commercial transactions or criminal matters. Clearly the court needs discretion to delay, according to the circumstances, such justice as it sees fit.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5367.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, may I also indicate that this bill gives the public defender of the District of Columbia the right to purchase liability insurance, a right that the Federal public defenders have throughout the United States. The reason the bill is necessary in order to give them this right is that the public defender of the District of Columbia exists in a twilight zone, as it were. It handles local matters, but it is a Federal agency. So we need the imprimatur of this Congress.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3567) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Broadway in Lynbrook, New York, as the ``Navy Corpsman Jeffrey L. Wiener 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.

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

On behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present S. 3567 for consideration. This measure designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Broadway in Lynbrook, New York, as the Navy Corpsman Jeffrey L. Wiener Post Office Building.

S. 3567 was introduced by the gentleman from New York, Senator Charles Schumer, on July 12, 2010. The measure passed the Senate by unanimous consent on July 30, 2010. After being received by the House, the measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on September 23, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of both Senators from New York.

Mr. Speaker, Hospital Corpsman Jeffrey L. Wiener enlisted with the U.S. Navy on May 1, 2003, with the goal of serving as a medic with a Marine infantry company. After undergoing the Navy's basic training, he attended the Marine Corps' Field Medical School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he was trained as a fighting infantryman also tasked with delivering medical attention to infantry wounded in combat.

He arrived in Iraq in late February 2005 and volunteered for duty on the front lines with a Marine assault platoon. Sadly, Corpsman Wiener was killed on May 7, 2005, in an ambush and bombing in Haditha, Iraq. Corpsman Wiener is survived by his wife, Maria, and two daughters, Mikayla Lynn and Theodora Rose.

Corpsman Wiener deserves this tribute not only for his service as a dedicated infantry medic but also for his service as a member and ex- captain of Tally-Ho Engine 3 of the Lynbrook Fire Department. He also served as a medic for the Lynbrook Fire Department as well as the Nassau County Police Department before he enlisted in the Navy.

Mr. Speaker, let us now pay tribute to the life and service of this brave man, Corpsman Jeffrey L. Wiener, through the passage of S. 3567, to designate the Lynbrook, New York, post office building in his honor.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 3567.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to our colleague from New York State, Representative Carolyn McCarthy.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1494) congratulating the champion, finalists, and all other participants in the 83rd Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

I rise in support of H. Res. 1494, a resolution congratulating the champion, finalists, and all other participants in the 83rd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee.

H. Res. 1494 was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from Ohio, Representative Betty Sutton, on June 30, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it to be reported favorably by unanimous consent on September 23, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 50 Members of the House.

Mr. Speaker, the Scripps National Spelling Bee is a 2-day competition held in May or early June each year here in Washington, D.C. Students from around the country and around the world compete in local and regional spelling bees for a chance to take part in this highly competitive event.

The participants compete for prizes, including scholarships, savings bonds, reference materials and cash; but this and other spelling bees serve the greater purpose of encouraging students to improve their vocabularies, spelling, and appropriate grammar usage. As the largest and longest running educational promotion in the country, the competition gets national coverage on cable and network television, further promoting its educational ideals to millions of viewers.

This year's winner was Anamika Veeramani, an eighth grade student at Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights, Ohio, who won the bee with the word ``stromuhr,'' defined as a tool that measures the speed of blood through an artery. And I dare Members of Congress to try to spell the word.

Mr. Speaker, let us now take a moment to congratulate this remarkable young student and all of the other participants in the 83rd annual Scripps National Spelling Bee through the passage of H. Res. 1494. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to our colleague from Ohio, the sponsor of the bill, Representative Betty Sutton.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6237) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1351 2nd Street in Napa, California, as the ``Tom Kongsgaard Post Office Building,'' as amended.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present H.R. 6237 for consideration. This legislation will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1351 2nd Street in Napa, California, as the Tom Kongsgaard Post Office Building. Introduced by our colleague Representative Mike Thompson of California on September 28, 2010, H.R. 6237 enjoys the support of the entire California House delegation.

Born on June 3, 1921, in Everett, Washington, a son of Norweigian immigrants, Judge Thomas Kongsgaard began his longstanding commitment to public service by enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Fighting in the war, Judge Kongsgaard was severely injured, leaving him with a replacement leg. He served in the Pacific theater and at the end of the war was stationed at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

Judge Kongsgaard began his judicial career as a Napa Superior Court judge, 9 years after receiving his law degree from Stanford University. He served from 1958 to 1984, missing just 1 day of work in his 26 years. Reflecting on his immigrant roots, he was always especially proud to preside at naturalization ceremonies.

Being an avid student of political history and American culture, Judge Kongsgaard organized the Halls of History project inside the courthouse that recounts Napa County's history in words and photographs.

That courthouse was dubbed ``Kongsgaard Square'' by the Board of Supervisors in 1984. A bronze plaque cemented to a basalt boulder that sits in a rose garden on the south side of the courthouse takes note of the jurist's distinguished career. It reads: ``The Board of Supervisors names this block Kongsgaard Square as a token of esteem for his noble services to the citizens of Napa County.''

After retiring, Judge Kongsgaard continued his judicial career as a visiting judge. In 1991, he was appointed by the California Supreme Court to be one of three special masters who recommended a reapportionment plan for the legislature and California Representatives to Congress after the 1990 census.

Although retired, he worked with Judicial Arbitration Mediation Services until the day before he was hospitalized with complications from treatment of leukemia. Regrettably, Judge Kongsgaard died on June 25, 2001, at

the age of 80. He is survived by his daughters, Mary and Martha; son, John; and seven grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, let us honor Judge Thomas Kongsgaard for serving both his country and his community through the passage of this bill to designate the 2nd Street post office in Napa in his honor. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6237.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6237, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6387) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 337 West Clark Street in Eureka, California, as the ``Sam Sacco 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.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to present H.R. 6387 for consideration. This legislation will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 337 West Clark Street in Eureka, California, as the Sam Sacco Post Office Building. Introduced by our colleague, Representative Mike Thompson of California, on September 29, 2010, H.R. 6387 enjoys the support of the entire California House delegation.

Born and raised in Susanville, California, Sam Sacco moved to Eureka, California, in 1956 with his wife Mary Beth and four children: Sam, Jr.; Joe, Jim, and Lisa. For the next 30 years, Mr. Sacco dedicated his life to serving his community as a local business owner and public official.

As a longtime owner of a Farmers Insurance agency in Eureka, Mr. Sacco also attended to the needs of local families with a warmth and generosity that will not be forgotten. In addition, in 1974, Mr. Sacco was afforded the opportunity to further serve the city of Eureka upon his election as mayor. Throughout his mayoral tenure, which began in 1975 and ended in 1979, Mr. Sacco devoted his attention to advocacy on behalf of the city's working families. Notably, for example, Mr. Sacco worked tirelessly to safeguard the interests of hundreds of local timber industry workers during the expansion of Redwood National Park.

Mr. Speaker, Sam Sacco is well regarded as a model citizen and a dedicated public servant, whose compassion for his local community was larger than life. The life of Sam Sacco stands as a testament to his public service, and it is our hope that we can honor this remarkable individual through the passage of this legislation to designate the West Clark Street post office in his honor.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6387.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman as well, and again I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating D.C.'s Different Drummers on their 30th Anniversary of providing music and entertainment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Washington,

Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill to offer Federal employees supplemental disability insurance at no cost to the Federal Government. My bill will allow Federal employees to collect disability benefits to replace a portion of their income if they become unable to work because of a non-work related injury or illness. While the Federal Government does offer non-work related disability benefits to Federal employees, they do not protect the lost income of employees who become disabled but who have not been employed by the Federal Government for at least 18 months, or 5 years as the case may be, and are disabled for less than 1 year. Under current law, Federal employees hired before 1984 who become disabled for more than 1 year are eligible to collect their Federal employee retirement pension if they have 5 years of creditable civilian service, while Federal employees hired after 1984 who become disabled for 1 year or more cannot collect such benefits unless they have been employed by the Federal Government for 18 months or more. Without the disability insurance option that my bill will offer, a Federal employee who becomes disabled, even for a short time, is at risk of financial ruin.

My bill is also significant because, although it will require Federal employees to pay 100% of premiums, the purchasing power of the Federal Government will allow Federal employees to pay lower insurance premiums and will not exclude those with preexisting conditions. A Federal employee can still elect to purchase disability insurance in the private marketplace, but they may face higher premiums or even be denied coverage altogether because of a pre-existing condition. This bill is a much needed supplement to the insurance benefits currently available to Federal employees.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of John W. Harrod, who was instrumental in establishing the Market 5 Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. and was its president during 30 years of devoted service to the Market 5 Art Gallery.

In the late 1970s, the first District of Columbia Mayor, Walter E. Washington, started a neighborhood arts initiative, and Mr. Harrod launched the Market 5 Art Gallery. The community embraced John Harrod's work in establishing a facility for comprehensive artistic expression, including poetry readings, dance performances, and theater productions, as well as a workspace for artists, musicians, and theater troupes.

Through the Market 5 Art Gallery, John Harrod committed himself to serving the community and filling the void in artistic education in the neighborhood. With John's assistance, a colleague from the Peace Corps was able to start a photography shop for at-risk youth. Throughout its 30 years in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, Market 5 Art Gallery has served as an exhibitor of work by aspiring youth and local and national artists. Market 5 Art Gallery grew in popularity through the Saturday arts and crafts festivals and Sunday flea markets. The gallery remains an indispensible fixture of the community and serves as a prototype for art galleries.

Mr. Harrod graduated from Northeastern University, where he played football. Mr. Harrod was a District native and maintained residency here throughout his 69 years.

Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the life of John W. Harrod.