[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H10566-H10567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 MARJORY WILLIAMS SCRIVENS POST OFFICE

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5068) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 5927 Southwest 70th Street in Miami, Florida, as the 
``Marjory Williams Scrivens Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5068

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

     SECTION 1. MARJORY WILLIAMS SCRIVENS POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 5927 Southwest 70th Street in Miami, 
     Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Marjory 
     Williams Scrivens Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other

[[Page H10567]]

     record of the United States to the facility referred to in 
     subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     Marjory Williams Scrivens Post Office.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette).


                             General Leave

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. 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. 5068.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, our colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), 
has introduced this piece of legislation. This legislation designates 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5927 
Southwest 70th Street in Miami, Florida, as the Marjory Williams 
Scrivens Post Office. All members of the Florida delegation to the 
House have cosponsored this legislation, as required by the rules of 
our subcommittee.
  Marjory Williams Scrivens started working for the United States 
Postal Service in 1970, and in 1972 she was one of the first women to 
deliver mail in the Miami-Dade County area in Florida. Sadly, she 
succumbed to bone cancer a year ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5068, which was introduced by my friend and 
colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), on July 27, 2000, 
would name a postal facility in Miami, Florida, as the Marjory Williams 
Scrivens Post Office building. Ms. Scrivens began her postal career in 
1970 as the first woman carrier working from the South Miami branch. 
She delivered along her Coral Gables route for more than 20 years.
  Ms. Scrivens is remembered for helping to take the ``man'' out of 
postman and having mail carriers referred to as ``letter carriers.'' 
So, in addition to carrying the mail, we also owe Ms. Scrivens a debt 
of gratitude for moving us to another level in our thinking about 
gender and about the work that people do.
  She loved her job and worked long hours serving postal customers on 
her route. Sadly, Ms. Scrivens passed on November 15, 1999.
  In addition to the comments that I have made, and that I know that 
the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) had hoped to be here, but 
could not make it, there is a letter from the South Florida Letter 
Carriers, which I will include for the Record.
         South Florida Letter Carriers, Branch 1071, National 
           Association of Letter Carriers,
                                         Miami, FL, July 10, 2000.
     Hon. Carrie Meek,
     Member of Congress,
     Miami, FL.
       Dear Congresswoman Meek: It has come to my attention there 
     is an effort being made to rename the South Miami Post Office 
     at 5927 SW 70th Street in memory of deceased Letter Carrier 
     Marjory Williams Scrivens.
       This letter is to advise you NALC Branch 1071 endorses and 
     supports this effort.
       Marjory was a personal friend who served for more than two 
     decades as a letter carrier in South Florida.
       The Miami News reported on September 8, 1972 that she was 
     the only female carrier working out of the South Miami Office 
     and one of only four female carriers in the Country.
       Ms. Scrivens' postal employment was instrumental in 
     correcting identification of those who carry the mail from 
     postman or mailman to letter carrier.
       Marjory Scrivens loved her job. She worked hard and long to 
     get on with the Postal Service and worked long hours serving 
     postal patrons on her route.
       I can think of no greater honor than to have the South 
     Miami Post Office renamed the ``Marjory Williams Scrivens 
     Branch''.
           Sincerely,
                                        William E. Burroughs, Jr.,
                                                        President.

  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) 
for honoring such a lady letter carrier, and I certainly want to thank 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) for the opportunity to share 
this time with him.
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House is 
considering my bill H.R. 5068 to name the Post Office in South Miami, 
Florida, after the late Marjory Williams Scrivens. I think that this 
recognition is well deserved and long overdue.
  Mrs. Scrivens was one of this nation's first female letter carriers. 
She was a very popular trail blazer, who during her 22 years of 
exemplary service to the postal service was very instrumental in 
correcting the identification of those who carry the mail from postman 
to mailman to letter carrier.
  Her colleagues fondly remember her as one who was very proud of her 
job. ``We would always point to Marjory as a good example of a job well 
done,'' said a former supervisor.
  Mrs. Scrivens was motivated for public service, she wanted a 
challenge and kept dropping by the federal building to check on 
government jobs. ``When I saw clerk-carrier listed, I took the test and 
passed,'' she said.
  She was not afraid of boldly taking on assignments that not many 
women had done before. It did not bother her that she was a pioneer, 
and charting unexplored territory. What mattered most to Marjory was 
providing her friends and neighbors on her postal router with high-
quality service and a warm smile.
  So today, it is fitting that we honor Marjory Williams Scrivens not 
only because of who she was, but for all that she did.
  I'm pleased that the entire Florida delegation has co-sponsored this 
bill. It has widespread bi-partisan support for all across our state. 
This effort has received widespread community support including 
endorsements from the South Florida Letter Carriers Association, the 
Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Miami Times newspaper, and over 
1,000 signatures on more than 63 pages.
  Mr. Speaker, Marjory Williams Scrivens was not only a trail blazing 
letter carrier, but a dedicated public servant who served her community 
and the people of this country well.
  I am pleased to support the naming of the U.S. Post Office at 5927 SW 
70th Street, in South Miami, Florida, the Marjory William Scrivens Post 
Office.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. 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 Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5068.
  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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