[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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