[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3996-H3997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NANCY B. JEFFERSON POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2798) to redesignate the building of the United States 
Postal Service located at 2419 West Monroe Street, in Chicago, 
Illinois, as the ``Nancy B. Jefferson Post Office Building.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2798

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

     SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION.

       The building of the United States Postal Service located at 
     2419 West Monroe Street, in Chicago, Illinois, and known as 
     the Midwest Post Office Building, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``Nancy B. Jefferson Post Office 
     Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

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

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) 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, H.R. 2798 was introduced by the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Davis), our distinguished colleague, who, indeed, serves on the 
Subcommittee on the Postal Service of the Committee on Government 
Reform and Oversight.
  The legislation was introduced November 4, 1997, and enjoys the 
cosponsorship of the entire House delegation from that State as 
pursuant to the policy of the full committee.
  H.R. 2798 redesignates the building of the United States Postal 
Service located at 2419 West Monroe Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the 
Nancy B. Jefferson Post Office Building.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is 
here, and I certainly look forward to his comments, and I am sure he 
will detail what is a very interesting and, I think, a very admirable 
life. But I would simply note that many times when we come to the floor 
of this House to extend this honor, the bills are brought on behalf of 
individuals who are known to their communities but often on a more wide 
basis as well.
  The first two examples today, fully meritorious, of course, but did 
provide the opportunity to honor two gentlemen who, through their 
really unselfish actions in this House, were known way beyond the 
borders of their home communities.
  We have before us today in these last two bills the opportunity to 
honor people who, perhaps, were not known over a wide geographic area 
but who made remarkable impacts in their communities, people who I 
think really do embody the spirit of this great country and tell the 
tale in many ways about how America has become the greatest democracy 
that the world has ever known.
  Nancy Jefferson was a community organizer, one who is affectionately 
known as the Mother of the West Side. She led the fight to ensure equal 
rights for all people, the disabled, welfare recipients, single 
parents, the widowed, and the poor.
  As I know we will hear, she acted from the time she overcame rather 
impressive obstacles as a young girl to her later years in public 
service some amazing challenges to be, in the lives of many, an 
inspiration and truly the kind of person, I think, that this House can 
be proud in bestowing the honor of a postal naming upon.
  I have a great deal of pride and I thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Davis) for allowing us to share in this moment.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me again thank the chairman of the subcommittee for 
his cooperation in these matters. H.R. 2798 is a naming bill that 
should enjoy the unanimous support of this House, for it does in such a 
very real way represent the naming of a facility in honor of someone 
who has improved the life chances of so many through her work and 
through her actions as a community organizer.
  I want to use the time that I will exercise here really to thank the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), my colleague, for bringing this 
matter to our attention; for it was through his extraordinary 
leadership and persistence that the House now today will consider this 
naming bill and the one that will follow.
  It is, as the chairman mentioned, quite easy sometimes for us to 
proceed along a course when we are naming a facility after someone who 
all of us know or whose work that we are all familiar with, but the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), serving as the representative of 
the people of the Chicago and of the West Side, really worked 
tirelessly to have our committee act on this bill.

[[Page H3997]]

  Mr. Speaker, I yield whatever time that may be necessary to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for him to express the importance 
of this legislation prior to the House's final action on it.
  (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this moment 
to express my appreciation to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh), 
the subcommittee chairman, and to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Fattah), the ranking member, not only for the outstanding work that 
they do with this committee but also for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a heroine, a great 
``shero'' in my district, Ms. Nancy B. Jefferson, who meant a great 
deal to the City of Chicago and to the State of Illinois.
  Prior to her death on October 18, 1992, Nancy B. Jefferson was 
recognized as one of the premier grassroots community organizers in the 
Nation. She served as president and chief executive officer of the 
Midwest Community Council, a nonprofit grassroots community 
organization for more than 25 years.
  She spent a lifetime helping others. She became a friend to the 
friendless and provided hope for the hopeless, which led to her being 
affectionately called the Mother Theresa of the West Side.
  While serving as CEO of the Midwest Community Council, Ms. Jefferson 
led efforts to ensure equal rights and equal protection and equal 
justice for all people.
  Her extensive exposure to social concerns as a nurse in a West Side 
clinic compelled her to do something about the ills of a community. She 
served as a champion for welfare recipients, the disabled, the poor, 
single parents, and those who were disenfranchised.
  She dreamed of a day where the least and the left out of society 
would have a voice and adequate representation. To that end, she put 
together a network of more than 100 block clubs where there was not 
only an exchange of ideas but support for spiritual and physical 
development of the community.

                              {time}  1515

  She sought to rebuild and transform decaying and dying communities. 
She developed several social service programs which are currently in 
place, including the Chicago Parent Union, and Crime and Parent 
Intervention.
  Her commitment, dedication, and zeal for excellence netted her an 
appointment to the Chicago Police Board by former Mayor Jane Byrne. 
Governor Jim Edgar saw her talents and appointed her to the Illinois 
Human Rights Commission in 1990. She was also a confidante of the late 
Mayor Harold Washington.
  She was, indeed, an individual who walked with kings and queens but 
never lost the common touch. She left a legacy that raised standards 
and ensured that the poor had equal rights and equal opportunity. Hers 
was a light that shines bright with the words that there was hope, even 
in the midst of hopelessness.
  She was the essence of what democracy is all about. I am delighted to 
have introduced this bill to name a United States post office in her 
honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I again thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) 
and the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah).
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it should be clear that, along with the rules and 
precedents set by our subcommittee, that this has been a piece of 
legislation that has been jointly cosponsored by all of the members of 
the Illinois delegation.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would, first of all, note the addition to my comment 
about Mother Teresa. I think that is even more appropriate, although 
certainly the accolade of being a mother to a community is high praise, 
indeed. But that even, it seems to me, reflects more clearly the high 
regard, the respect and admiration that this community held this great 
woman in. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). 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. 2798.
  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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