[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]

 
               ARTURO R. WATLINGTON, SR., U.S POST OFFICE

  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 4192) to designate the U.S. post office located 
at 100 Veterans Drive in Saint Thomas, VI, as the ``Arturo R. 
Watlington, Sr. United States Post Office,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4192

       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 3000 
     Veterans Drive in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Arturo R. Watlington, Sr. 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 
     Arturo R. Watlington, Sr. 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. 4192, will designate the U.S. Post Office building 
located at 3000 Veterans Drive in Saint Thomas, VI, as the ``Arturo R. 
Watlington, Sr. United States Post Office.''
  Mr. Watlington, a former postmaster is also a recipient of the Postal 
Service's Superior Accomplishment Award. His dedication to the postal 
community is demonstrated through his works as an assistant postmaster, 
superintendent of mail, and a mail handler.
  I am pleased to join Congressman de Lugo and the citizens of Saint 
Thomas, VI, in their desire to name the postal facility located at 3000 
Veterans Drive, in Saint Thomas, VI, as the ``Arturo R. Watlington, Sr. 
United States Post Office.''
  I support the passage of H.R. 4192, 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 to join my colleagues on the Post 
Office and Civil Service Committee in giving my support to the 
consideration of this measure which would designate the postal facility 
located at 100 Veterans Drive in Saint Thomas, VI, as the ``Arturo R. 
Watlington, Sr. Post Office.'' And I commend the gentleman from the 
Virgin Islands [Mr. de Lugo] for introducing this measure.
  Mr. Watlington spent an exceptional 45 years in the service of the 
U.S. Post Office Department and the U.S. Postal Service before retiring 
in 1983 as postmaster for the Charlotte Amalie territory. During those 
45 years he was able to work himself up through the ranks holding 
basically every postal position available to him in the area.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in commending this fine 
public servant, whose career has served as an example to many, by 
supporting the designation of this facility in his honor.
  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 again for her 
courtesies. Again, I thank my friend, the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for H.R. 4192, a bill to 
designate the U.S. post office at 100 Veterans Drive on St. Thomas, VI 
the ``Arturo R. Watlington, Sr. United States Post Office.''
  Arturo Romano Watlington, Sr. served the postal service in a variety 
of capacities during his 45-year career. By the time he chose to retire 
in 1983, he had risen to the position of Charlotte Amalie postmaster.
  An electrician and a teacher by trade, Arturo Watlington began 
working with the post office in 1938 as a mail handler. In years to 
come, he would hold nearly every position at the facility.
  In 1957, he was appointed superintendent of Mails, a post that placed 
him in charge of the post office on St. Thomas in the absence of the 
postmaster.
  Arturo Watlington served under two successive postmasters, and in 
1960, he was given the Superior Accomplishment Award in recognition of 
his excellent performance.
  Arturo Watlington later advanced to the position of assistant 
postmaster for Charlotte Amalie and he became acting postmaster during 
the illness of Postmaster Aubrey Ottley.
  Arturo Watlington was appointed Charlotte Amalie postmaster in 1981, 
a position he held until his retirement from the Postal Service in 
1983.
  Mr. Speaker, Arturo Watlington served his community and our Postal 
Service with ability and pride for 45 years. Today, we pay recognition 
to his accomplishments by naming the Veterans Drive, St. Thomas post 
office in his honor. I urge the House pass the bill, H.R. 4192.
  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 4192, 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 3000 
Veterans Drive in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands, as the `Arturo R. 
Watlington, Sr. Post Office'.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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