[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 131 (Monday, September 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                     WILLIAM J. RANDALL POST OFFICE

  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 4551), to designate the post office building 
located at 301 West Lexington in Independence, MO, as the ``William J. 
Randall Post Office,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4551

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The United States Post Office building located at 301 West 
     Lexington Street in Independence, Missouri, shall be known 
     and designated as the ``William J. Randall Post Office''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the building referred 
     to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     William J. Randall Post Office.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan [Miss Collins] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan [Miss Collins].
  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4551 will designate the U.S. Post Office building 
located at 301 West Lexington Street in Independence, MO, as the 
``William J. Randall Post Office.''
  Mr. Randall, a former Member of the U.S. Congress served the 
residents of the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri for 17 
years. His commitment to the community is exemplified by his works as 
chairman of the Select Committee of Aging, and the Government 
Operations Subcommittee on Government Activities and Transportation. 
Through his works on the Government Operations Committee, he was 
instrumental in the construction of the Independence Post Office 
Building.
  I am pleased to join Congressman Wheat and the citizens of 
Independence, MO in their desire to name the postal facility located at 
301 West Lexington Street, Independence, MO, as the ``William J. 
Randall Post Office.'' I support the passage of H.R. 4551, and urge my 
colleagues to support the measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4551, legislation 
designating the post office building at 301 West Lexington Street, 
Independence, MO, as the ``William J. Randall Post Office.''
  A former Member of the U.S. Congress, Mr. Randall served the 
residents of the Fourth Congressional District of Missouri for 17 
years. During his tenure in the Congress he served as the distinguished 
chairman of the Select Committee on Aging and the Government Operations 
Subcommittee on Government Activities and Transportation.
  I am pleased to join Congressman Wheat and the citizens of 
Independence, MO, in their desire to name a postal facility honoring 
William J. Randall. I accordingly urge your support for this measure.
  Mr. WHEAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 4551, a bill I 
introduced to name the post office building in Independence, MO, after 
former Congressman William J. Randall.
  Congressman Randall devoted much of his adult life to public service. 
Born in Independence, MO, he began his years of service to Independence 
as a city attorney and a municipal judge. Elected to Congress after 
winning a special election, Bill Randall served Missouri's Fourth 
District for 17 years, from 1959 to 1976. Though formerly part of the 
fourth district, which my colleague Congressman Ike Skelton represents, 
Independence is now a major part of the fifth district, which I 
currently serve. It is for this reason that we are proud to jointly 
offer this legislation to rename the Independence post office after 
Congressman Randall.
  The fourth district during Congressman Randall's tenure was largely 
composed of rural communities, and he helped lead efforts in Congress 
to address the needs of rural and small-town America. For example, Mr. 
Randall worked tirelessly for the passage of a 1962 bill for 
construction of housing for older Americans living in rural areas. With 
the advent of new antipoverty legislation aimed at urban areas in 1964, 
Congressman Randall succeeded in persuading Congress to extend the 
program to rural communities.
  Bill Randall also championed educational opportunities for America's 
children and assistance to our country's veterans. And he worked 
diligently from the very beginning of his career to improve the quality 
of life for America's seniors and secure necessary funding for senior 
centers nationwide. In 1971, Congressman Randall, a member of the 
Government Operations Committee, was named chairman of the panel's 
Special Studies Subcommittee which made recommendations for meeting the 
needs of our Nation's growing elderly population. On February 6, 1975, 
Bill Randall was recognized for his deep commitment to America's 
elderly with his assignment as the first chairman of the Select 
Committee on Aging. Missourians are proud of Congressman Randall's 
endeavors on this critical issue.
  Much of Bill Randall's work with Government Operations dealt with 
oversight of the Postal Service. In his final speech to Congress, he 
eloquently described his firm belief in the integrity of the Postal 
Service, noting its vital mission in ``binding the country together.'' 
In Missouri, Congressman Randall was instrumental in the construction 
of the post office in Independence which was completed in 1965, and 
kept an office there which I later occupied. Since 1982, I have 
continued to keep the same office open to serve the people of 
Independence in the great tradition of Bill Randall.
  Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, naming the Independence 
post office building after Congressman Randall is a fitting tribute to 
a man who devoted his career to the good citizens of Independence and 
the Fourth District of Missouri. I urge you to support this 
legislation.

                              {time}  1220

  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Montgomery). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan [Miss Collins] that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4551, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
designate the United States Post Office building located at 301 West 
Lexington Street in Independence, Missouri, as the `William J. Randall 
Post Office'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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