[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8758-H8759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ROSE Y. CARACAPPA UNITED STATES POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3139) to redesignate the United States Post Office building
located at 245 Centereach Mall on Middle Country Road in Centereach,
NY, as the ``Rose Y. Caracappa United States Post Office Building.''
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3139
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION.
The United States Post Office building located at 245
Centereach Mall on Middle Country Road in Centereach, New
York, shall be known and designated as the ``Rose Y.
Caracappa United States 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 ``Rose Y. Caracappa United States
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, the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight
unanimously approved H.R. 3139. The legislation designates the U.S.
Post Office building located at 245 Centereach Mall on Middle Country
Road in Centereach, NY, as the ``Rose Y. Caracappa United States Post
Office Building.''
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3139 was introduced by the gentleman from New York
[Mr. Forbes] and, pursuant to committee policy, the legislation has
been cosponsored by the House delegation of the State of New York.
H.R. 3139 honors Rose Caracappa of Selden, New York who was elected
to the Suffolk County legislature from 1981 until her death in May 1995
at age 56. Ms. Caracappa served on the Suffolk County Sewer Authority
and was chairperson of the committees on public works, veterans and
senior citizens. She was known as a combative, colorful legislator and
was recognized for her tireless work for people. At the time of her
death, she was actively working on building a World War II monument to
honor those who served in that war. The people whom Rose Caracappa
championed--the police, firefighters and veterans--buried her with full
honor usually reserved for uniformed personnel.
Mr. Speaker, I have cosponsored H.R. 3139 and urge our colleagues to
support the measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, we are also pleased to join the New York congressional
delegation supporting H.R. 3139 that designates the post office in
Centereach, NY, as the gentleman from New York [Mr. McHugh] has said,
as the Rose Y. Caracappa Post Office. She was a former New York county
legislator. She championed the rights of senior citizens and veterans.
She deserves this honor. We support giving it to her.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New
York [Mr. Forbes], who is the sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished Chair and the
ranking member, the gentleman from Virginia, for their courtesies in
moving this legislation forward.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage enactment of H.R. 3139, a bill
that I have introduced, which designates the post office at Centereach,
Long Island, NY as the ``Rose Y. Caracappa U.S. Post Office Building.''
Rose Caracappa was one of Suffolk County's most celebrated
legislators. Rose was a feisty, outspoken legislator who died suddenly
in May of 1995. It was a great loss to all of us on Long Island, Mr.
Speaker, because Rose was one of New York's pioneer legislators. In
honors usually reserved for uniformed personnel, Rose's funeral
procession was led by 13 police motorcycles and followed by half a
dozen fire and emergency vehicles with one clanging bell, the symbol of
a fallen firefighter.
Before being elected to serve in the Suffolk County Legislature, Rose
was really a person of her community. She had volunteered her services
to the local Parent-Teacher's Association, to her church, to the Girl
Scouts, and to the Cub Scouts, and she had been an active member and
supporter of the Salvation Army.
In 1981, after having worked as a legislative aide in the county
legislature, Rose decided to run for her own as county legislator in
the fourth district and she won. She served as the lone conservative in
the Suffolk County Legislature for nearly 15 years.
As a legislator, Rose was responsible for providing Suffolk County
police officers with body armor and was also noted for sponsoring the
open space acquisition of Camp Barstow, a former Girl Scout camp on
Long Island. During her tenure as a county legislator, she served as
chairwoman of the public works, veterans, and seniors committees.
She is best known as a tireless champion for the police, for the
firefighters, for senior citizens, and veterans. And while chairing the
committee on veterans' affairs, Rose was proud to have sponsored
legislation for the Armed Services Plaza in Hauppauge. At the time of
her death she was working, as has been previously noted, on a World War
II monument to be placed at the Armed Forces Plaza in Hauppauge to
commemorate all those who have served in that war.
Rose was the key legislator who orchestrated the building of a Korean
war veterans monument and a women's veterans monument in Suffolk
County. They have both been erected at the same Hauppauge site.
[[Page H8759]]
What made Rose so special was not only her leadership in the county
legislature, but her genuine concern for all the people of Suffolk
County. Everything that she really cared about had to do with people,
not buildings, not budgets, not politics. She truly was one of the
people. Because the people thought of Rose as one of them, constituents
would regularly visit her offices and share their personal problems and
concerns with Rose, who was known from time to time to dig into her own
purse and help a constituent out when they needed to pay a bill.
Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better way to pay tribute to this
feisty loving person, Rose Caracappa, than to designate this post
office building in her loving memory. On behalf of the Caracappa family
and all the people of Suffolk County, I thank the committee, and I
thank this House for taking up this important legislation.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Forbes] has said everything that needs to be said about the person to
whom we are dedicating this post office.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3139, a bill
I introduced to designate the post office in Centereach, Long Island,
NY, the ``Rose Y. Caracappa United States Post Office Building.''
Rose Caracappa was one of New York's most celebrated legislators.
Rose, a feisty, outspoken legislator died suddenly from a heart attack
in 1995. It was a great loss for the people of Long Island because Rose
was one of New York's pioneer legislators. In honors usually reserved
for uniformed personnel, Rose's funeral procession was led by 13 police
motorcyclists and followed by a half-dozen fire and emergency vehicles
with one clanging a bell, the symbol of a fallen firefighter.
Before being elected to serve in the Suffolk County Legislature, Rose
volunteered her services to the local PTA, her church, the Girl and Cub
Scouts, and the Salvation Army. In 1981, after having worked as a
legislative aide in the Suffolk County Legislature, Rose decided to run
for county legislator of the fourth district and won. She served as the
lone conservative in the Suffolk County Legislature for nearly 15
years.
As a Suffolk County legislator, Rose was responsible for providing
Suffolk County police with body armor and for sponsoring the open-space
acquisition of Camp Barstow, a former Girl Scout camp on Long Island.
During her tenure as a Suffolk County legislator, she served as
chairwoman of the public works, veterans, and seniors committees.
Rose is best known for being a tireless champion for the police,
firefighters, senior citizens, and veterans of all of New York. While
chairing the Veterans Affairs Committee, Rose was proud to have
sponsored legislation for the Armed Forces Plaza in Hauppauge. At the
time of her death, Rose was working to build a World War II monument in
honor of all those that served. Rose was the key legislator who
orchestrated the building of a Korean war veterans monument and a women
veterans monument, the first in Suffolk County, which have been erected
at the Hauppauge site.
What made Rose so special was not only her leadership in the Suffolk
County Legislature, but her genuine concern for the people she served.
Everything that she really cared about had to do with people, not
buildings, budgets, or politics. She truly was one of the people.
Because the people thought of Rose as one of them, constituents would
regularly go to Rose's office with their problems and concerns. Rose
would think nothing of digging into her purse to give a constituent
money for a bill.
I can think of no better way to pay tribute to one of New York's most
lively legislators than to honor her by redesignating the post office
in Centereach in her name. Her record of public service deserves this
worthy acknowledgement.
Rose Caracappa
Rose was born on October 14, 1938, in Huntington, Long
Island. She was appropriately born during an historical month
and year, two weeks after the hurricane of 1938, and two
weeks before the Orson Wells radio show broadcasting the
infamous alien invasion. In 1940, at the age of two, Rose and
her family moved to Brooklyn, where she was raised and
educated.
In 1964, Rose moved to the hamlet of Selden and still
resides in the same home after twenty-seven years, where she
raised her three children, Deborah, Nicholas and Joseph.
Rose's daughter Deborah now resides in Brunswick, Ohio, with
her husband, James.
As a concerned parent and taxpayer, Rose volunteered her
services to the local PTA, church and civic organizations,
Girl and Cub Scouts, the Salvation Army, the Cancer Fund and
the Jerry Lewis MS Fundraising Committee.
Before becoming an elected official in 1982, Rose worked in
banking, real estate and as a Legislative Aide in the Suffolk
County Legislature under various Presiding Officers. Having a
full background in County government, Rose ran for County
Legislator of the Fourth District in 1981 and has
successfully been re-elected to five terms.
During her tenure as Suffolk County Legislator, Rose has
been the recipient of numerous awards and honors in
appreciation of her public service. She has gained much
experience and an overall knowledge in all levels of
government. Rose was Chairperson of the Veterans Affairs
Committee for three years, chaired the Public Works and
Dredging & Screen Committees for five years, and for the past
two years, she has served as Chair of the Legislative,
Personnel & Government committee. Rose has also been a member
of the Human Services, Ways & Means, Health, Transportation,
Hazardous Materials, Senior Citizens, Public Safety, Finance
& Education, Environment & Energy, and Education & Youth,
Budget Ad Hoc, and Insurance & Risk Management committees, as
well as a member of the Health & Safety Grievance Council.
Rose also serves as an advisory member for the Suffolk County
Council of Boy Scouts, and served on the Development
Committee of APPLE.
While chairing the Veterans Affairs Committee, Rose is
proud to have sponsored legislation for the Viet Nam Memorial
in Farmingville, as well as the Armed Forces Plaza in
Hauppauge, and for acquiring land for the American Legion
Convention Center in Setauket. Rose also formed two
commissions to study proposals for a Korean War Veterans
Monument and a Women Veterans Monument, the first in Suffolk
County, which have been erected at the Hauppauge site.
On May 28, 1995, Legislator Rose Caracappa passed away.
Mr. LAZIO of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honored to rise today
in support of a bill to redesignate the U.S. Post Office building in
Centereach, NY, as the ``Rose Y. Caracappa United States Post Office
Building.'' I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill, and I commend my
colleague, Mike Forbes, for introducing this legislation.
I served with Rose during my 4 years in the Suffolk County
legislature. I succeed Rose as the chair of the legislature's Committee
on Veterans and Seniors. I knew Rose well. She was a great friend not
only to me, but also to Suffolk County's veterans and seniors. Her
passing touched local veterans and seniors very deeply.
Yet, her work lives on. She was responsible for the placement of
several of the war monuments to both men and women veterans at Veterans
Plaza outside the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. Rose never
missed a parade in honor of veterans and often could be seen marching
with them in annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades. She was
truly a patriot and a great American. We all miss her greatly, and it
is fitting that this tribute will endure in her absence.
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. 3139.
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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