[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13798-S13799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 1847. A bill to redesignate the Federal building located at 701 
South Sante Fe Avenue in Compton, California, and known as the Compton 
Main Post Office, as the ``Mervyn Malcolm Dymally Post Office 
Building''; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.

[[Page S13799]]

  Redesignation of the Compton Main Post Office as the Mervyn Dymally 
                          Post Office Building

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today, I am introducing legislation 
to pay tribute to a former colleague of mine and a fellow Californian, 
former Congressman Mervyn Malcolm Dymally, by renaming the post office 
located at 701 South Santa Fe Avenue in Compton, California, currently 
known as the Compton Main Post Office, as the Mervyn Dymally Post 
Office Building.
  Mr. Dymally came to this country in 1945 from Cedros, Trinidad, 
British West Indies. In 1960, he began his political career by working 
as a field coordinator for John F. Kennedy during the Presidential 
campaign. Mr. Dymally's own service as an elected official began when 
he was elected to the California State Assembly in 1963 and then to the 
State Senate in 1967, where he served for eight years. Next, he was 
elected Lieutenant Governor of the State of California and was the 
State's highest ranking black elected official.
  Building on a career of political success, Mervyn Dymally was elected 
to the United States House of Representatives in 1981. During his six 
terms in office, he served on several committees, including the Post 
Office and Civil Service Committee; the Committee on the District of 
Columbia, where he chaired its Subcommittee on Judiciary and Education; 
and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where he was the Chair of 
the Subcommittee on International Operations.
  As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Mr. Dymally's passion 
became immediately evident when he visited 20 African countries in his 
first year. He worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the plight of 
Africans and to monitor U.S. assistance levels to African and Caribbean 
nations. Throughout his distinguished career, he was recognized for his 
leadership in humanitarian efforts.
  Since retirement from Congress in 1992, Mr. Dymally is busier than 
ever. He serves as President of the Grace Home for Waiting Children and 
as Chairman of the Caribbean Action Lobby. In addition, he is the 
President of a consulting firm and a Professor at the Central State 
University in Ohio. He still travels frequently, serving as Honorary 
Consul to the Republic of Benin, West Africa and Vice President of the 
Pacific Century Institute.
  Designating the Compton Main Post Office as the Mervyn Dymally Post 
Office Building is an honor befitting his service to his community and 
to the State of California.
  Mr. President, I ask that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The bill follows:

                                S. 1847

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

     SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION.

       The Federal building located at 701 South Santa Fe Avenue 
     in Compton, California, and known as the Compton Main Post 
     Office, shall be known and designated as the ``Mervyn Malcolm 
     Dymally Post Office Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference document, paper, or other record of the 
     United States to the Federal building referred to in section 
     1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the Mervyn Malcolm 
     Dymally Post Office Building.
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