[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8757-H8758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         AUGUSTA ``GUSTY'' HORNBLOWER UNITED STATES POST OFFICE

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3768) to designate a U.S. Post Office to be located in 
Groton, MA, as the ``Augusta `Gusty' Hornblower United States Post 
Office''.
       The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3768

       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 to be located at 80 Boston 
     Road in Groton, Massachusetts, shall be designated and known 
     as the ``Augusta `Gusty' Hornblower United States Post 
     Office''.

     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 referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the ``Augusta `Gusty' Hornblower United States 
     Post Office''.

  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, the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight 
unanimously approved H.R. 3768. This bill before the House today 
designates the U.S. Post Office building which the Postal Service is 
constructing at 80 Boston Road in Groton, MA as the ``Augusta `Gusty' 
Hornblower United States Post Office.'' The legislation is sponsored by 
the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Blute], and cosponsored by the 
entire Massachusetts State Delegation as required by procedures 
established by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.
  Augusta Hornblower was known to be both outspoken and tough in the 
political arena, but a kind human being and a real friend on a personal 
level. ``Gusty'' Hornblower served many years in public service 
including as a trustee of the Plimoth Plantation, State chair and 
national board member of the American Legislative Exchange Council, and 
member of the Nashoba Community Hospital Board.
  ``Gusty'' was the State Representative to the Massachusetts General 
Court from the First Middlesex District from 1985 to 1994 where she 
represented the towns of Groton, Ayer, Dunstable, Lunenberg, Pepperell, 
Townsend, and Tyngsborough. While in the Massachusetts House, she 
served on the Joint Committees on Election Reform and Taxation and the 
Special Commission on Tax Reform. She served as assistant minority whip 
in 1993-94.
  ``Gusty'' Hornblower championed breast cancer research with great 
success in the Massachusetts State Legislature but died of the disease 
in August 1994.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support H.R. 3768.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 3768, which designates 
the Post Office in Groton, MA as the Augusta ``Gusty'' Hornblower Post 
Office. It is cosponsored by the entire Massachusetts delegation, 
particularly my friend and colleague, Mr. Blute. It is a fitting honor 
and duly notes the contributions made by Ms. Hornblower. She is a 
person well deserving of this honor, and we certainly support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts [Mr. Blute], prime sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. BLUTE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Postal Service for helping to move this bill 
expeditiously through the committee. I thank my good friend from 
Virginia for his kind words on behalf of this bill, and I would also 
like to thank my colleague from Massachusetts, Mr. Martin Meehan, for 
his cosponsorship, and the entire Massachusetts delegation for getting 
this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, Augusta ``Gusty'' Hornblower was quite a woman and quite 
a good friend. She served as a State legislator in Massachusetts 
general court for 5 terms. She was one of the first women in our State 
to achieve the post of legislative leader. She was the minority whip 
for many years. She represented her constituents well on such important 
issues as the closing of Fort Devens, which is in her district and in 
my district. By recognizing the tremendous economic impact on her 
district with its closing, Gusty helped activate and steer the Fort 
Devens Enterprise Commission in sharing beneficial land use and 
industrial recovery for the area.
  She was also an advocate for lower taxes, increased educational 
opportunities and tough crime laws. She served on the State House Joint 
Committee on Election Reform and Taxation as well as the Special 
Commission on Tax Reform.

[[Page H8758]]

  In addition to her service on the general court, Gusty served the 
public interest with numerous groups, such as the Nashoba Community 
Hospital Board. She was a national board member of the American 
Legislative Exchange Council. Her love of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts led her to work hard to preserve it. She served on the 
board of trustees and then the board of overseers of the Plimoth 
Plantation, founded by her father, Henry Hornblower II. In the historic 
town of Arlington, MA, she served on the board of trustees of the 
Schwamb Mill Preservation Trust. She also held a seat on the Martha's 
Vineyard Commission.
  Unfortunately, Massachusetts and many of our friends lost her on 
August 27, 1994 when she succumbed to breast cancer. However, in her 
last years she became a vocal and effective advocate for breast cancer 
research and education and was instrumental in securing an 
unprecedented $3 million of State dollars for breast cancer research.
  She saw the devastating effects of this disease firsthand and helped 
women across the State with her advocacy. This bill is a fitting 
tribute to her lasting contributions to not only the people of Groton 
but to the people of Massachusetts as well.
  I thank the chairman of the committee for his leadership, the 
gentleman from Virginia for supporting this bill and all my colleagues 
for supporting this important bill, recognizing this extraordinary 
woman.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ewing). 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. 3768.
  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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