[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1137-H1138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CAPTAIN COLIN P. KELLY, JR. POST OFFICE

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1666) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service at 200 East Pinckney Street in Madison, Florida, as the 
``Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr. Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1666

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
     200 East Pinckney Street in Madison, Florida, is hereby 
     designated as the ``Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr. Post 
     Office''. Any reference to such facility in a law, 
     regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the 
     United States shall be considered to be a reference to the 
     ``Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr. Post Office''.

  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).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 1666.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd) is to be credited today for his 
initiative and his work in introducing this bill which has just been 
noted designates the facility of the United States Postal Service at 
200 East Pinckney Street in Madison, Florida, as the Captain Colin P. 
Kelly, Jr. Post Office.
  For the record, Mr. Speaker, I would note the Congressional Budget 
Office has reviewed the legislation and has determined that the 
enactment of this bill would have no significant impact on the Federal 
budget. Spending by the Postal Service is classified as off-budget and 
thus is not subject to pay-as-you-go procedures. As well, the bill 
contains no intergovernmental or private sector mandates as defined in 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and, as such, would impose no costs on 
State, local, or tribal governments.
  I would also, Mr. Speaker, like to thank the gentleman from 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), the ranking member of the 
subcommittee, for his continuous cooperation, certainly on this bill, 
but on all of these initiatives that we have tried to develop through 
the subcommittee and for his work on behalf of his side; and the 
support of the full committee; and the chairman of that full committee, 
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), as always is greatly 
appreciated.
  I should say that this legislation continues what I think is a very 
admirable record of the subcommittee and of this House of expressing 
its admiration through these designations for individuals and citizens 
who have served their communities and have served their countries well.
  Today, we are marking a gentleman who has really put forward heroic 
efforts and a gentleman who has been widely recognized as our Nation's 
first World War II hero and, in fact, Time Magazine, in its issue of 
December 22 of 1941 stated, ``If heroism can be compared, the most 
illustrious of America's first heroes was Captain Colin Kelly, Jr. His 
citation was recorded in a single pregnant sentence of a communique 
issued by General Douglas MacArthur who said, `General MacArthur 
announced with great sorrow the death of Captain Colin Kelly, Jr., who 
so distinguished himself by scoring three direct hits on the Japanese 
capital battleship Haruna, leaving her in flames and in distress.' ''
  It is indeed fitting that the Post Office in Madison, Florida, be 
named after Mr. Kelly, who was born in that community in the year of 
1915. He graduated from that community's high school in 1932. 
Thereafter, he entered West Point in 1933, graduated, and was assigned 
to B-17 fighter group. He was the first Army officer to fly the Boeing 
Flying Fortress in the Far East.
  At the time of his early demise on December 10 of 1941, Colin Kelly 
was survived by his wife and his young son, Colin P. Kelly, III.
  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, we are indebted to our friend and 
colleague for bringing this legislation forward. I know that the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd) is here on the floor and will wish to 
make some comments, but he has our gratitude and our admiration in 
making this effort to identify a gentleman who has done his Nation, his 
community, and his family so much good, and we appreciate that.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to join with my colleague, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McHugh). Not only have we worked together on these 
initiatives, I still remain hopeful that we are going to work together 
and find a way to provide some modernization for our postal services. I 
want to thank him for his efforts legislatively leading this Chamber in 
that direction.
  Let me say that in terms of the bill in front of us, I rise in 
support of H.R.

[[Page H1138]]

1666, authored by my friend and colleague from the great State of 
Florida (Mr. Boyd). It honors a gentleman who is a true American hero, 
someone who faced adversity, found himself and stood and provided the 
leadership that was required, sacrificing himself in so many ways to 
help those members of his crew. We are going to hear more about this 
story of Colin P. Kelly, Jr.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Boyd), the prime sponsor and author of this bill and 
a member of my caucus and someone who wants to bring this story and 
make it live in the naming of this postal facility in Madison, Florida.
  Mr. BOYD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Fattah), my friend and the ranking member of the subcommittee; and I 
thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) for shepherding this 
legislation to the floor of the House of Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak in support of this legislation, 
which I introduced to honor a fellow North Floridian who earned the 
distinction of becoming World War II's first hero. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 
1666 would designate the post office building in Madison, Florida, the 
Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr. Post Office.
  Colin Kelly was born in Monticello, Florida, my hometown, on July 11, 
1915, as the chairman said. He was raised in Madison, Florida, where he 
attended Madison High School, receiving his diploma in 1932. The 
following summer, young Colin accepted an appointment to the United 
States Military Academy at West Point. After graduating in 1937, he was 
assigned to the Army Air Corps flight school and became a Boeing B-17 
Flying Fortress pilot.
  At the outbreak of World War II, Captain Kelly, along with several 
other B-17 crews, was stationed at Clark Field in the Philippines. Once 
his unit was deployed to Clark Field, he became the first Army officer 
to fly the Boeing Flying Fortress in the Far East.
  Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, 
Captain Kelly and his crew received orders to attack the Japanese 
invasion fleet that was threatening the Philippines. After completing 
their bombing run, Captain Kelly's plane was attacked by two Japanese 
fighters and was badly damaged while returning to Clark Field.
  Realizing that his plane would not make it back to base, Captain 
Kelly gave the order to abandon the aircraft, but he remained at the 
controls to maintain the plane's altitude so his crew could safely bail 
out. Because of his heroic efforts, because of Captain Kelly's heroic 
efforts, six of his crewmen survived. Unfortunately, this courageous 
act meant that he did not have time to bail out himself, and he went 
down with his plane and was killed in the line of duty on December 10, 
1941.
  At that time, America was experiencing the attack at Pearl Harbor and 
the outbreak of World War II and was in search of an American hero. 
Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr. became that first American hero of World 
War II.
  According to Major Kenneth Gantz in a memo to General William Hall 
dated November 21, 1945, Kelly became a hero by circumstances at a time 
when his country desperately needed a hero. In recognition of his 
bravery and honor, President Roosevelt awarded Captain Kelly the 
Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for his actions; and many 
popular publications of the day highlighted his heroism. Because of 
this, again, he is often considered America's first hero of World War 
II.
  Captain Kelly is survived by one son, Colin P. ``Corky'' Kelly, III. 
In 1956 Colin Kelly, III received an appointment to West Point, was 
finished there, became an Army officer, finished a stellar career in 
the Army and currently serves in the ministry in New Mexico. His 
sister, Captain Colin P. Kelly Jr.'s sister, is surviving in Madison 
today, and she and her children are personal friends of this Member.
  Captain Kelly's courage and sacrifice in the line of duty stands as a 
lasting example for the citizens of Madison County and for all 
Americans. He deserves both the respect and admiration of everyone for 
his dedication to our country. The naming of the post office in his 
hometown of Madison as the Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr. Post Office will 
be a wonderful and lasting tribute to this patriot, his family, and his 
legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring this 
American hero, and I urge passage of H.R. 1666.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, fully and enthusiastically supporting this 
bill, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, there is little I can add to the sponsor's 
very eloquent words, but again I would just like to express our 
appreciation to him for helping this House today in recognizing an 
extraordinary man with this very, very due and owing honor. I urge 
passage of this bill.
  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. 1666.
  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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