[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8756-H8757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                OSCAR GARCIA RIVERA POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 885) to designate the U.S. Post Office building located at 
153 East 110th Street, New York, NY, as the ``Oscar Garcia Rivera Post 
Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 885

       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 153 East 
     110th Street, New York, New York, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``Oscar Garcia Rivera Post Office 
     Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the United States 
     Post Office building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed 
     to be a reference to the ``Oscar Garcia Rivera Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. McHugh] and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran] each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh].
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the legislation before us, 
H.R. 885, was approved unanimously by the Committee on Government 
Reform and Oversight. This legislation, designating the U.S. Post 
Office Building located at 153 East 110th Street, New York, NY as the 
``Oscar Garcia Rivera Post Office Building,'' was introduced by the 
gentleman from New York, [Mr. Serrano], and was cosponsored by his full 
State delegation, as required by committee policy.
  H.R. 885 honors the first Puerto Rican to be elected to public office 
in the continental United States. Oscar Garcia Rivera was born in 
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico on November 6, 1900. He came to the mainland 
after graduating from high school and worked part time in a Brooklyn 
factory. He pursued his studies while working and was assigned to the 
post office in City Hall. He was instrumental in organizing and 
establishing the Association of Puerto Rican and Hispanic Employees 
within the post office department. Mr. Garcia Rivera received his law 
degree from St. John's University, New York in 1930 and was elected 
assemblyman in the State of New York in March 1937 by the 14th 
District, which then included Harlem. He was reelected the following 
year and served until 1940. Soon thereafter, Mr. Garcia Rivera returned 
to Mayaguez where he continued to be known for his commitment to 
protecting the rights of manual laborers and remained a role model and 
a community leader. He dies in his hometown in 1969.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the passage of H.R. 885 and urge our 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, rather than reiterate the points that my colleague from 
New York has already made, let me just say that I rise in support of 
H.R. 885, which designates the U.S. post office in New York City as the 
Oscar Garcia Rivera Post Office.
  This measure was introduced, as the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
McHugh] said, by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Serrano] and the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Rangel] and supported by the whole New 
York congressional delegation pursuant to the committee rules.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this tribute to a 
pioneer whose work marked the beginning of Puerto Rican leadership in 
the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, with passage of this bill, we not only pay 
tribute to a great American but we recognize in a small way the great 
culture and tradition of the Puerto Rican people.
  This bill is the first step in the process of renaming the Hellgate 
Post Office in my congressional district in East Harlem after Oscar 
Garcia Rivera, the first Puerto Rican elected to public office on the 
mainland of the United States.
  Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Mr. Rivera personified all the virtues 
of hard work, dedication, and commitment to the service of his country 
that Americans hold dear. After migrating to New York City, he worked 
in a factory in Brooklyn while studying at night at my own alma mater, 
St. John's Law School.
  Like so many minorities of his generation and still today, he found 
work in the post office, where he later helped establish the 
Association of Puerto Rican and Hispanic Employees of the U.S. Postal 
Service.
  In 1937, he made history by becoming the first Puerto Rican elected 
to public office in the continental United States. His election to 
represent what was then the 14th State assembly district was 
unprecedented. His decision to run was courageous as well in a city in 
which, in those days, Puerto Ricans were a distinct minority and a 
Puerto Rican official of any kind was unheard of.
  Though he served only until 1940, Mr. Rivera was a trailblazer for 
the more than 400 Hispanic Members of Congress, State Representatives, 
and judges who serve today throughout these United States. Today that 
representation--like that of African Americans--is under attack. But I 
am confident that the spirit of leaders such as Oscar Garcia Rivera 
will ultimately prevail.
  During his short time of service in the New York State Assembly, 
Rivera made lasting contributions, not only to the Puerto Rican 
community but the labor movement. He defended minimum wage laws, fought 
for regulated work hours, was a dedicated champion of manual laborers. 
On the national level--he joined with fellow fighters against Jim Crow 
and racism by supporting a successful campaign for legislation to 
outlaw lynching.
  Oscar Garcia Rivera holds a special place in the hearts of many of my 
older constituents in East Harlem. While I doubt that many of our 
younger contemporaries would recognize his name, this simple monument--
a post office on east 110th Street--will give him a permanent place in 
the history of New York.
  Oscar Garcia Rivera was a source of pride for his people back in the 
1930's and `40's. The recognition that we offer today is well deserved 
not only by him but by all Puerto Ricans. In wartime they have fought 
bravely, and many have died to defend our country. They have made 
contributions large and small to American culture--in the arts, in 
music, in politics, and in law.
  Oscar Garcia Rivera reminds us that like all Americans, the people of 
Puerto Rico are not only entitled but have earned respect. Their 
culture, their language, their communities, their choices of political 
leadership should be embraced and never challenged.
  I wish to congratulate Jose Serrano, my dear friend and colleague 
from New York who has provided the leadership that has made passage of 
this bill possible. With his commitment and determination, he clearly 
walks in the footsteps of Oscar Garcia Rivera.
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for H.R. 885, a bill I introduced with Mr. Rangel to designate the U.S. 
Post Office building located at 153 East 110th Street, New York, NY, as 
the ``Oscar Garcia Rivera Post Office Building'' and to celebrate the 
59th anniversary of the first Puerto Rican elected to public office in 
the continental United States.

[[Page H8757]]

  Oscar Garcia Rivera, Esq., was elected Assemblyman in the State of 
New York from the 14th District, on March 7, 1937.
  Born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, on November 6, 1900, Oscar Garcia 
Rivera was raised on a coffee plantation. As a young man, Garcia Rivera 
demonstrated talent and leadership. He was president of his high school 
senior class in 1925, and excelled in his studies. After graduation 
from high school, Garcia came to the United States and began working 
part time in a factory in Brooklyn, while he continued to take courses 
to reach his goal of becoming a lawyer. He applied for a job at the 
U.S. Postal Service, obtained high recommendations, and was assigned to 
the post office in City Hall. He quickly became involved in union 
issues, and later encouraged the establishment of the Association of 
Puerto Rican and Hispanic Employees within the U.S. Postal Service.
  Garcia Rivera attended law school at St. John's University, and 
graduated in 1930. Dedicated and committed to the struggles of Pioneer 
Puerto Ricans and Hispanics in East Harlem, where poverty and 
discrimination were rampant, Garcia Rivera announced publicly in 1937 
that he would seek a seat in the New York State Assembly.
  In March of the same year, he made history by becoming the first 
Puerto Rican elected to public office in the continental United States. 
He won re-election the following year and continued in this post until 
1940.
  During the short time that he served in the Assembly, Oscar Garcia 
Rivera initiated legislation that offered valuable and lasting 
contributions to his Puerto Rican community, the labor movement, and 
the working class. He introduced a bill guaranteeing safeguards against 
unemployment; this revolutionary piece of legislation was enacted into 
law in February of 1939. Garcia Rivera defended minimum wage laws, 
fought for regulated hours of labor, worked to establish tariff 
agreements, and most importantly, he was committed to protecting the 
rights of manual laborers and encouraged workers to organize themselves 
into active unions. He also supported the campaign which established a 
law which punished lynching throughout the United States.
  The legislative career of Oscar Garcia Rivera ended barely 3 years 
after it began. He returned to Puerto Rico, and died in 1969 in the 
town where he was born, Mayaguez.
  The anniversary of Oscar Garcia Rivera's election as the first Puerto 
Rican who attained a public office marks a proud moment in our history. 
Although his career as assemblyman was brief, Oscar Garcia Rivera 
became a great leader in his community and a role model for young 
people. His actions transformed the Puerto Rican community, and 
improved working conditions for all in the State of New York.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill to honor Oscar Garcia 
Rivera and mark the beginning of Puerto Rican leadership in New York 
and the continental United States.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 885.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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