[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]


                              {time}  1230
 
                   UBALDINA SIMMONS U.S. POST OFFICE

  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 4193) to designate the U.S. post office located 
at 100 Vester Gade, in Cruz Bay, Saint John, VI, as the ``Ubaldina 
Simmons United States Post Office,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4193

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The building located at 100 Vester Gade, in Cruz Bay, Saint 
     Thomas, Virgin Islands, shall, for the period of time during 
     which it houses operations of the United States Postal 
     Service, be known and designated as the ``Ubaldina Simmons 
     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, with respect to the period referred to 
     in section 1, be deemed to be a reference to the Ubaldina 
     Simmons 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, I support the passage of H.R. 4193, which will designate 
the U.S. Post Office building located at 100 Vester Gade, in Cruz Bay, 
Saint Thomas, VI, as the ``Ubaldina Simmons U.S. Post Office.''
  Ms. Simmons is a former Saint John postmistress who devoted 25 years 
to the Postal Service. During her tenure, she was instrumental in 
overseeing the construction of the postal facility persently located at 
100 Vester Gade, in Cruz Bay.
  I am pleased to join Congressman de Lugo and the citizens of Cruz 
Bay, Saint John, VI, in their desire to name the postal facility 
located at 100 Vester Gade, in Cruz Bay, Saint John, Virgin Island, as 
the ``Ubaldina Simmons U.S. Post Office.''
  I support the passage of H.R. 4193, 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 want to take this opportunity to join my 
colleagues on the Post Office and Civil Service Committee in giving our 
support to the consideration of this measure which would designate the 
postal facility located at 100 Vester Gade in Cruz Bay, Saint John, VI 
as the ``Ubaldina Simmons Post Office'' and I commend the gentleman 
from the Virgin Islands, [Mr. de Lugo] for introducing this measure.
  Mrs. Simmons was hired in 1949 as the first postmaster for the island 
of Saint John and during her 25 years of dedicated service saw that 
facility grow from a small fourth class postal facility, where the 
postmaster had to do much of the work, to a much larger, newer second 
class facility with a greater number of employees to supervise. I can 
think of no more fitting tribute than to now designate this facility in 
her honor and I would ask that my colleagues join us in doing so by 
passing H.R. 4193 today.

                              {time}  1240

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may 
consume to my colleague, the gentleman from the Virgin Islands [Mr. de 
Lugo].
  Mr. de LUGO. Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan for 
her support of this legislation, and also my friend, the gentleman from 
New York, who is representing the Republican Members on the floor this 
day.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 4193, a bill to 
designate the U.S. Post Office in Cruz Bay, St. John, the ``Ubaldina 
Simmons United States Post Office.''
  Ubaldina Simmons holds the distinction of having served as the first 
postmistress for the island of St. John.
  St. Thomas was part of the Danish West Indies when she was born on 
March 31, 1910. She attended school and grew up there.
  On October 19, 1949, Ubaldina Simmons was appointed St. John 
postmistress and was given full responsibility for all postal services 
on the island.
  In those days 35 years ago, the island's population totaled 800 
people. As St. John's only postal employee, her duties were many: she 
not only oversaw all operations, she performed them, acting as clerk 
and mail handler.
  Ubaldina Simmons was known to work regular 12-hour days as well as on 
weekends to insure that the U.S. mail was delivered.
  As postmistress, her leadership enabled the St. John Post Office to 
be upgraded from a fourth class facility to a second class facility.
  In 1971, Ubaldina Simmons was honored for her years of dedication and 
hard work at ceremonies dedicating the new Cruz Bay Post Office.
  Ubaldina Simmons retired on December 31, 1974, after 25 years of 
service to the Postal Service and to the people of St. John.
  Mr. Speaker, it is entirely fitting that the Cruz Bay, St. John Post 
Office be named in honor of this hard-working and dedicated public 
servant, and I urge the House pass the bill, H.R. 4193.
  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. 4193, 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 building located at 100 Vester Gade, in Cruz Bay, Saint 
Thomas, Virgin Islands, for the period of time during which it houses 
operations of the United States Postal Service, as the `Ubaldina 
Simmons Post Office'.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________