[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 136 (Thursday, October 26, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H11354-H11355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EDDIE MAE STEWARD POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4400) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1601-1 Main Street in Jacksonville, Florida, as the 
``Eddie Mae Steward Post Office Building,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4400

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

     SECTION 1. EDDIE MAE STEWARD POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1601-1 Main Street in Jacksonville, 
     Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Eddie Mae 
     Steward Post Office''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the Eddie Mae Steward Post Office.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) 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. 4400.
  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.
  Mr. Speaker, as we heard just previously, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Brown) has once again brought to us a postal designation 
that I think is certainly meritorious and deserves the support of every 
Member of this House of Representatives. And I thank her and commend 
her for that work and also for bringing with her the Members of the 
House delegation in its entirety from the State of Florida for support 
of this legislation.

[[Page H11355]]

  Again, to fill in the record, Mr. Speaker, the bill is indeed 
amended, a technical amendment only to designate the facility as the 
``Eddie Mae Steward Post Office'' rather than ``post office building'' 
for the simple fact that the facility is leased by the United States 
Postal Service and is not owned.
  Here, too, Mr. Speaker, we are fortunate that the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Brown) is with us. And I am certain she will want to make 
more complete remarks with respect to this individual's contributions. 
But we have an example again of someone who leads their lives in ways 
to which I think all Americans can look for inspiration and for lessons 
and courage how to overcome.
  Simply put, Ms. Steward was a leader of the civil rights movement. 
Her really single-handed efforts led to the court-ordered desegregation 
of the schools in Duval County, Florida. She thereafter dedicated her 
life to the achievement of civil rights for all Americans.
  She served as the Florida State president of the NAACP. She served as 
the Secretary of the Duval County Democratic Executive Committee and, 
as I mentioned previously, simply led her life in a way that is indeed 
an inspiration.
  So, again, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) for her 
efforts and express my appreciation for bringing to us such a 
distinguished individual.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, once again I want to thank the chairman 
for his help in moving this bill forward with the amendment and his 
kind words about Mrs. Eddie Mae Steward.
  Eddie Mae Steward was my friend, a community leader, and single-
handedly launched the effort that led to the court-ordered 
desegregation in Duval County's public schools. She was the first 
female president of the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP and served as 
the State NAACP president from 1973 to 1974.
  She also served as the secretary of the Duval County Democratic 
Executive Committee. Mrs. Steward was a graduate of Edward Waters 
College in Jacksonville, and she was truly a dedicated civil rights 
activist.
  It has been said that the face of the civil rights movement in 
Jacksonville belongs to Eddie Mae Steward. She single-handedly took on 
the fight for decent school accommodations for children attending 
Boylan Haven, which was a three-story building declared by the Florida 
Times-Union as ``unfit by any standards as a place to send children to 
school.'' Three weeks later, the school board backed down and the 
students were sent to another school.
  Much like those before her who struggled against the injustice of the 
status quo, she was referred to as a ``troublemaker.'' However, it was 
fundamental fairness, strong principles, and the strength of her 
convictions that led her to become a courageous leader.
  Eddie Mae Steward was born in Callahan, but resided in Duval County, 
Florida for more than 55 years. She was a graduate of Douglas Anderson 
High School and Edward Waters College. She passed away on March 5th of 
this year, succumbing to heart disease. She was 61. She is survived by 
her six children: Venetia Steward, Ervin Steward and Jerry Mims, Carla 
Purdyl, Alta and Angela, four grandchildren and two great-
grandchildren. I am honored to recognize Eddie Mae Steward with this 
Post Office designation and I urge strong support for this measure, as 
amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, a word of thanks to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Brown) for her good work on this issue and for bringing us such a 
distinguished individual.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to join us in the 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. 4400, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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