[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8761-H8762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMOS F. LONGORIA POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2700) to designate the United States Post Office building 
located at 7980 FM 327, Elmendorf, TX, as the ``Amos F. Longoria Post 
Office Building'', as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2700

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The building located at 8302 FM 327, Elmendorf, Texas, 
     which houses operations of the United States Postal Service, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Amos F. Longoria Post 
     Office Building'', and any reference in a law, map, 
     regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United 
     States to such building shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Amos F. Longoria 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 legislation before us, H.R. 2700 was unanimously 
approved as amended by the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight. H.R. 2700 designates the U.S. Post Office building located 
at 7980 FM 327, Elmendorf, TX, as the ``Amos F. Longoria Post Office 
Building.'' The amendment corrects the address to read 8302 FM 327 and 
modifies the title of the bill to reflect the change. H.R. 2700 was 
introduced by the gentleman from Texas, [Mr. Tejeda] and was 
cosponsored by the full Texas House Delegation, pursuant to committee 
policy.
  H.R. 2700 honors Amos F. Longoria who was born in Elmendorf on 
September 12, 1924. He was one of seven children of Bonaficio and 
Juanita F. Longoria. Amos Longoria was drafted into the U.S. Army in 
April 1943 during his last year of high school; he reported for basic 
training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. He volunteered to serve in 
the European theater during World War II, was assigned to the 30th 
Infantry, 3d Division and saw combat in the Italian campaign. Amos 
Longoria was wounded during the first 6 months of his joining the 
military but he returned to duty shortly thereafter. He was mortally 
wounded on November 13, 1943 at the crossing of the Rapido River in 
Italy and died in an army hospital in Italy on November 19, 1943 at the 
age of 19.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support H.R. 2700 as amended, a 
bill naming the Post Office Building in honor of a local, young hero 
who served when called and died in service to your country.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2700 as introduced by 
the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Tejeda]. This bill designates the U.S. 
Post Office in Elmendorf, TX, as the ``Amos F. Longoria Post Office.'' 
Mr. Longoria was drafted in the U.S. Army and served in the European 
theater during World War II. He was fatally wounded at the crossing of 
the Rapido River in Italy and later died on November 19, 1943.
  This is a very fitting tribute to a dedicated public servant who paid 
the ultimate sacrifice for his country, so I am pleased to join my 
colleagues in support of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Texas [Mr. Tejeda], a very hard-working and courageous 
Congressman.
  Mr. TEJEDA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to come to the floor today to 
urge everyone to support H.R. 2700, legislation to name the Elmendorf 
Post Office in the name of Amos Longoria.
  First I would like to take a minute to thank my colleagues who have 
spent much of their time in the floor. All 29 of my Texas colleagues 
who cosponsored the bill have done an outstanding job especially 
particularly the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gene Green, and also I would 
like to thank very much the gentleman from New York, Mr. McHugh and 
ranking Democrat, the gentlewoman from Michigan, Miss Collins, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Clinger and ranking Democrat, the 
gentlewoman from Illinois Mrs. Collins.
  Most of all, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the citizens of 
Elmendorf, TX, for, first of all, circulating and doing everything 
possible to do, and they did an outstanding job in 1 year to bring in 
the name. I have known the Longoria family for many years, and I cannot 
think of a more worthy person for this honor than Amos Longoria.
  First of all, it was mentioned before, but first of all let me just 
say that Amos Longoria was born in Elmendorf, TX, on September 12, 
1924, and was one of seven children born of Bonifacio and Juanita 
Longoria. Amos was drafted

[[Page H8762]]

into the Army in April 1943 and volunteered to serve in the European 
theater. On November 13, 1943, shortly after his 19th birthday, Private 
Longoria was wounded at the famous crossing of the Rapido River in 
Italy. He died in an Army hospital in Italy 6 days later.
  The Elmendorf Post Office will be a lasting tribute to a native son 
who paid the ultimate price for our country's freedom. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2700.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MORAN. 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. 2700, 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 building located at 8302 FM 327, Elmendorf, Texas, which 
houses operations of the United States Postal Service, as the `Amos F. 
Longoria Post Office Building'.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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