[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 12, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H242-H245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TOM BLILEY POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1748) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 805 Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, as the
``Tom Bliley Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1748
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TOM BLILEY POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 805 Glen Burnie Road in Richmond,
Virginia, shall be known and designated as the ``Tom Bliley
Post Office Building''.
(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 Tom Bliley Post Office Building.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Putnam) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).
General Leave
Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.R. 1748.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 1748, introduced by the distinguished gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), a member of the freshman class, designates
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 850 Glen
Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, as the Tom Bliley Post Office
Building. Members of the entire House delegation from the Commonwealth
of Virginia are cosponsors of this legislation.
Madam Speaker, Tom Bliley began his political career in 1968 when he
was elected to the Richmond City Council and served as vice-mayor. In
1970 he was elected mayor and served in that capacity until 1977. He
returned to the family funeral home business until he announced his
candidacy for Congress in 1980. He began his service in this Congress
on the Committee on Commerce and would eventually become chairman after
the historic 1994 elections. He worked with his colleagues on both
sides of the aisle to enact major reforms of key industries, including
telecommunications, banking, securities, the Internet, and satellite
industries. I think that he would regard the Telecommunications Act of
1996 as his greatest accomplishment.
Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 1748.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague from Florida in
consideration of this resolution, H.R. 1748, legislation naming a post
office after former Representative Thomas Bliley. H.R. 1748, introduced
by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) on May 8, 2001, has met the
committee requirements and is supported and cosponsored by the entire
Virginia delegation.
Former Representative Bliley, who represented the 7th Congressional
District in Virginia, served with great distinction and honor in the
Congress from 1980 to 2000. Former Representative Bliley began his
political career in Richmond in 1968, first serving on the Richmond
City Council, then vice-mayor, and later as mayor. A Democrat in State
politics, Thomas Bliley switched to the GOP when he ran for Congress.
Prior to leaving Congress, Representative Bliley served as the chairman
of the House Committee on Commerce, whose agenda tackled such issues as
telecommunications, energy, and environmental matters.
Madam Speaker, he was truly an outstanding member of this body.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H243]]
Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the sponsor of this bill.
Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to speak today in favor of
legislation I have introduced to rename a post office building in
Richmond, Virginia, after my predecessor, Representative Tom Bliley.
Tom Bliley served in this body for 20 years before he retired at the
end of the 106th Congress. He served with distinction as a valued
member of the Republican Conference and as chairman of the prestigious
House Committee on Commerce for 6 years. He was also a man who knew how
to keep priorities in life. To those who know Tom Bliley, they know his
faith, family, Georgetown basketball, and tennis are important to him.
After graduating from Georgetown University, he entered the Navy as
an officer and would join the family funeral home business after his
naval service. Tom ran for Richmond City Council in 1968 and won. Two
years later, in 1970, he won a 2-year term as mayor of Richmond, a 2-
year term that lasted for 7 years.
After 1977, he left the mayor's office and returned to private life.
In 1980, Tom Bliley was elected to Congress on the same day as Ronald
Reagan. He secured his seat on the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and immediately began working to return power to the people
through competition and elimination of bureaucratic waste and
regulation. His biggest local accomplishment was securing Federal
funding of the Richmond floodwall. He worked with Members of both sides
of the aisle to achieve this important funding for the City of
Richmond. The floodwall helped revitalize the downtown economy and is a
lasting legacy to Tom Bliley's ability to work with various Members
with different political philosophies to accomplish a goal for the good
of the people.
Tom Bliley worked hard to advance many initiatives and was elevated
to the chairmanship of the prestigious House Committee on Commerce in
1994. It was during this time he achieved his greatest accomplishments.
He was able to find common ground with his colleagues to enact
telecommunications reform, safe drinking water and food safety
legislation, FDA reform, securities tort reform, and the Graham-Leach-
Bliley financial services modernization act.
However, his biggest accomplishment in Congress was the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, because it is the interstate highway
act of the digital age. As the author of this act, he spearheaded the
historic legislation bringing greater choice, lower price, and new
innovative technologies to consumers. It will go down in history as one
of the most important bills of the 20th century.
As an adoptive father, Tom cofounded the Congressional Coalition on
Adoption and sponsored over 1 dozen different adoption bills. Most
notably, he secured passage into law of the Adoption Awareness Act and
was the author of the Hope for Children Act.
{time} 1430
He was the author of the Hope for Children Act to increase the
adoption tax credits to $10,000. Tom truly stood up for children
without voices, and his leadership on adoption issues is missed by a
grateful Nation.
Madam Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not recognize another
individual who Tom would say is most important, and that is his dear
wife Mary Virginia, who now enjoys Tom even more as he is home that
much more often, and without her sacrifice over these many, many years
and decades, Tom could not have been the leader he was for the Richmond
area as well as the Nation.
Madam Speaker, at this time I urge my colleagues to support this
legislation.
It is an honor to speak today in favor of legislation I have
introduced to rename a post office building after my predecessor,
Representative Tom Bliley. Tom Bliley served in this body for twenty
years before he retired at the end of the 106th Congress. He served
with distinction as a valued member of the Republican caucus and as
Chairman of the prestigious House Commerce Committee for six years. He
was also a man who knew to keep priorities in life. To those who know
Tom Bliley, you know his faith, family, Georgetown basketball, and
tennis are important to him.
After graduating from Georgetown University, he entered the navy as
an officer and learned history doesn't offer many crystal lessons for
those who serve our nation's affairs but there were a few. The
strongest lesson he learned and the one most valuable in our roles as
House Members is that weakness on the part of those who cherish freedom
inevitably brings a threat to that freedom.
After his service in the Navy, he joined the family funeral home
business where he eventually assumed the role of President. During that
time, he gained important business experience that shaped his attitude
towards problems facing small business owners. One day, some community
leaders in Richmond came to him and asked him to run for city council.
Tom replied he didn't see how he could devote the time to it so they
called on his father, who headed the business. They said to him, ``This
community has been good to you. You can give something back by letting
Tom run for city council.''
His father agreed. Tom ran. It changed the course of his life, for he
was in public service for nearly 3 decades upon retiring in January of
this year. Two years later, in 1970, he won a two-year term as Mayor of
Richmond--a two year term that lasted for seven years. The seventies
were some of the most racially divisive years in our nation's history
and Richmond was no exception. During his tenure as mayor, Richmonders
were able to pull together and survive these troubled times.
Richmond survived because people worked together to find a common
good. His tenure as mayor taught him a lot--lessons that were
invaluable to him in the years that followed: understanding that the
other fellow has a point of view, understanding that compromise without
forsaking your principles is a good thing, and understanding that one
can always seek a common ground if you keep your eye on the greater
good.
After 1977, he left the mayor's office and returned to private life.
In surprising news to many people in 1980, the incumbent Congressman
from Richmond announced his retirement and Tom Bliley won the primary
and was elected to Congress on the same day as Ronald Reagan. He
secured a seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and
immediately began working to return power to the people through
competition and elimination of bureaucratic waste and regulation.
At the same time, he never forgot where he came from and would
dutifully mind the business of his constituents. His biggest local
accomplishment was securing federal funding of the Richmond flood wall.
He worked with Members of both sides of the aisle to achieve this
important funding for the city of Richmond. The flood wall helped
revitalize the downtown economy and is a lasting legacy to Tom Bliley's
ability to work with variouis members with different political
philosophies to accomplish a goal for the good of the people.
Tom Bliley worked hard to advance many initiatives and he would go on
to say that Republicans caught lightening in the bottle when they swept
control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40
years in 1994. This historic election elevated Tom Bliley to the
Chairmanship of the prestigious House Commerce Committee. It was during
this time he achieved his greatest accomplishments. He was able to find
common ground with his colleagues to enact telecommunications reform,
safe drinking water and food safety legislation, FDA reform, securities
tort reform, reform of the securities laws, Internet tax moratorium
legislation, International Satellite privatlization, Electronic
Signatures legislation, Satellite Home Viewer Act, and the Gramm-Leach-
Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act.
However, his biggest accomplishment in Congress was the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 because it is the Interstate Highway Act
of the Digital Age. As the author of the Telecommunications Act of
1996, he spearheaded historic legislation knocking down regulatory
barriers to competition in the telecommunications industry--bringing
greater choice, lower prices and new innovative technologies to
consumers. It will go down in history as one of the most important
bills of the 20th century. It is the vehicle that fueled the technology
revolution that is changing the way we live and work in the new
century. It is not just about copper wires and telephone companies. It
is about e-mail, wireless phones, satellite television, and lower local
phone bills.
As a result of the Telecommunications Act, consumers now have a
choice in their local phone company. Thanks to increased telephone
competition, there are new local phone operators in all 50 states.
Consumers have access to new, innovative technologies. Companies are
now offering a bundled package of voice, video, and high-speed Internet
access. Consumers can now purchase a variety of wireless phones at
affordable prices.
The Virginia gentlemen served with distinction but I would be remiss
not to talk about his wonderful wife, Mary Virginia, his two children,
and four grandchildren. He reserved Sunday for family time and always
turned down interviews on Sunday because that is when he
[[Page H244]]
took his wife to Mass. His commitment to setting aside time on the
weekends for his family gave him peace and solitude away from the
nation's business in Washington, D.C.
As an adoptive father, Tom co-founded the Congressional Coalition on
Adoption and sponsored over one dozen different adoption bills. Most
notably, he secured passage into law the Adoption Awareness Act and was
the author of the Hope for Children Act to increase the adoption tax
credit to $10,000. I am very pleased to say that my friend, Jim DeMint,
reintroduced the Hope for Children Act this year and it was signed into
law by President Bush. Tom truly stood up for children without voices
and his leadership on adoption issues is missed by a grateful nation.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
Mr. SCOTT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Davis) for yielding me time.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of our former congressional
colleague and former Virginian, Tom Bliley, for his many years of
public service to Virginia and to the Nation. I am, therefore, proud to
join my other Virginia colleagues in cosponsoring this bill to name a
post office in Richmond, Virginia, in his honor.
Tom Bliley dedicated over 32 years of public service, and 20 of those
years have been as a Member of Congress representing the Seventh
Congressional District of Virginia culminating in his chairmanship of
the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Before coming to Congress he served on city council and as mayor of
Richmond, Virginia. In addition, Tom is the former president of Joseph
Bliley Funeral Homes, where he gained an appreciation of the problems
facing the small businessman. During his lengthy career he gained
respect of Members from both sides of the aisle and from his
constituents in the Seventh District. Tom and I both represented parts
of Richmond, Virginia, for 8 years, and I was fortunate to be able to
work with him on many issues important to the capital of the
Commonwealth and, indeed, the Nation.
He was instrumental in ensuring the resources of the James River were
efficiently utilized for commerce and recreation. The floodwall
mentioned by my colleague from Virginia was part of that effort. He and
I worked together to see that the James River and Kanawha Canal
riverfront project became a reality. This project restored a portion of
the historic canal through the city of Richmond, which is a main hub
for revitalization of the historic riverfront. He even sponsored
legislation to ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers maintained the
James River as a navigable waterway so the commercial and trade
enterprises would not be compromised.
I am particularly grateful for his work on the Richmond National
Battlefield Park legislation which included recognition of the Battle
of New Market Heights as a premier landmark in African American
military history.
With his many accomplishments Tom worked across party lines and with
his Virginia delegation colleagues to best represent the issues in
interest to the Seventh Congressional District. It is a fitting tribute
to his career of public service to honor him with the naming of this
post office in Richmond, Virginia.
Madam Speaker, I therefore urge my colleagues to support this
legislation.
Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished and
learned gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).
Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Putnam) for his generous introduction. I appreciate that.
Madam Speaker, we serve here in the people's House with dozens of
people who represent a wide array of constituents. Some Congressmen
stand out as particularly prominent. Tom Bliley is one of these. My
staff always referred to him as the Virginia gentleman. He is indeed
the Virginia gentleman, bow tie and all.
When grading or rating elected officials, Madam Speaker, certain
qualifications surface; integrity, accessibility, willingness to work,
among others. Tom Bliley passes these tests with flying colors.
I have spent a good amount of time in their Richmond, Virginia, home,
and I came to know Mary Virginia, his wife, well. She has offered him
continuous and consistent support during his time in public life.
I have observed Tom Bliley responding to his constituents, expressing
care, concern, sensitivity as he went about helping them resolve their
various problems. He served that beautiful historic city on the banks
of the James River as its mayor, as has been previously stated, prior
to his having been elected to serve in the people's House where he
served for two decades.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased, indeed, to heartily endorse the proposal
to have the post office which serves the West Hampton area in Richmond
as the Tom Bliley Post Office, the inimitable Virginia gentleman.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I would urge swift passage of
this measure.
Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
the Commonwealth of Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute
to my friend and former colleague from Virginia's Seventh Congressional
District, Tom Bliley, and also to support H.R. 1748, to designate the
U.S. Post Office on Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, in the
chairman's honor. This represents an important way of saluting his
service to the Commonwealth and to the country.
Mr. Bliley served as chairman to the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce for three terms ending in 2000. He was hand-picked by then-
Speaker Gingrich over more senior Members, and his agenda during those
6 years was quite simply to promote commerce.
As chairman, Mr. Bliley was a pragmatist, willing to broker deals
behind doors with ideological friends and foes alike. As a result, the
committee became one of the most constructive in Congress, promoting
free and fair markets, standing for consumer choice and common-sense
safeguards for our health and our environment, and keeping a watchful
eye on the Federal bureaucracy.
The pleasant, soft-spoken mortician, once dubbed in a magazine's
cover story as the most influential funeral director on Earth, started
his political career in 1968 when civil leaders sought him to run for
the Richmond City Council. He served the city for almost a decade, not
only on the council, but also as vice mayor, and then becoming mayor
until 1977 when he retired to devote more time to his funeral home
business. However, the chairman was not out of politics for long. He
enthusiastically reentered when Democrat David Satterfield announced
his retirement from Congress in 1980.
Since his first election to Congress, the chairman was recognized by
many organizations for his work. He served in various roles with the
NATO Parliamentary Assembly. From November of 1994 to October of 1998,
he was chairman of its economic committee, and in November 1998, he
became one of four Vice Presidents, and with the resignation of its
President in 2000 of May, the chairman became acting President.
His commitment to balancing the Federal budget earned him the
National Watchdog of the Treasury's ``Golden Bulldog Award'' every year
since 1981. He was named a Guardian of Small Business by the NFIB. He
has been called the most powerful Virginian since Harry Byrd, and the
National Journal cited him as Mr. Smooth.
Madam Speaker, I join with my fellow Virginia colleagues in honoring
Tom Bliley, thanking the chairman for his service to our Commonwealth
and to our Nation. He has been a friend and mentor to me and many
others. His presence in this Chamber has been missed, and I urge
passage of this bill.
Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, it is clear that the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr.
Bliley, whom we honor today, has earned the respect of his colleagues
on both sides of the aisle and is highly deserving of this honor.
Therefore, Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure.
Mr. FORBES. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this
legislation, I wanted to
[[Page H245]]
offer my strong support for this bill and to express my admiration for
Congressman Tom Bliley and his distinguished career.
Even before his election to Congress in 1980, Congressman Bliley had
already accomplished what many would consider a lifetime of service to
his country. He was born just south of the James River in Westover
Hills. After graduating from Georgetown University, Tom Bliley joined
the Navy as an officer where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. Between
1970 and 1977 Congressman Bliley served as Mayor of Richmond. It was
his steady hand and wisdom that were credited for guiding the city
through some of its most turbulent times.
Many of us here in Congress came to know Congressman Bliley during
his twenty years of service in the House of Representatives.
Congressman Bliley retired at the end of the 106th Congress as the
distinguished Chairman of the House Commerce Committee. While I did not
have the honor of serving with Tom Bliley in Congress, I did have the
opportunity to work closely with Congressman Bliley on many occasions
during my time in the Virginia General Assembly and have always admired
his demeanor and dedication to making Virginia and America a better
place.
We often see in politics today elected officials that come to
Washington to serve themselves rather than their constituents. We often
see politicians that cannot resist the temptation to engage in
destructive politics. After all, we are all human. However, during his
time in Congress Tom Bliley never forgot the people who sent him to
Washington and why they sent him in the first place. During every
minute of his time in Congress Tom Bliley always had the respect and
admiration of his colleagues. Few can make such a claim.
Madam Speaker, I hope the soon to be Tom Bliley Post Office Building
will serve as bold tribute to a distinguished Virginian and a noble
statesman.
Mr. SCHROCK. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today in
support of H.R. 1748, which will honor our good friend, Congressman Tom
Bliley. For over thirty years, Tom served the people of Richmond and
the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
As a Vice Mayor and Mayor of Richmond and as the Congressman
representing Virginia's Third and Seventh Districts, Tom worked to
bring opposing sides together on issues of contention. As Chairman of
the House Committee on Commerce, Chairman Bliley brought together
lawmakers with very differing views to find consensus on some of the
most important laws regulating telecommunications, capital markets,
energy, and healthcare. At the same time, Tom stuck to his guns and
remained a staunch conservative.
Tom took the helm of the Commerce Committee when we were beginning to
see the first stages of the Information Age in the late 1990s. In the
six years that he was chairman, the Internet grew exponentially and the
telecommunications industry made many important developments. Chairman
Bliley avoided knee-jerk reactions to regulate these growing
industries, allowing them to grow and flourish.
In addition to serving as a powerful committee chairman, Tom was an
ardent advocate for his constituents, making no apologies for working
to gain federal support for important projects in his district. From
the floodwall along the James River in Richmond to renovation of Main
Street Station, Tom looked after his district very closely.
Perhaps Tom's most valuable achievements in Congress were in the area
of adoption advocacy and legislation. The adoption tax credit
legislation that he shepherded became known as the Tom Bliley Adoption
Tax Credit and I am pleased that Congress was able to include expansion
of the tax credit in the tax relief legislation passed last year.
Though he has retired from Congress, Tom has not ended his service to
the Commonwealth of Virginia. He now sits on the Board of Visitors for
the University of Virginia and Affiliated Schools, working to improve
higher education quality and expand educational opportunities in
Virginia.
I am pleased to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 1748, which will recognize
Chairman Bliley for his service to Virginia and his country. His record
of distinguished service demonstrates to us all his commitment to the
values and principles of freedom and public service. The Tom Bliley
Post Office Building will be a testament to his service and dedication,
and I urge passage of this legislation.
Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1748, a
bill to designate the United States Postal Service building located at
805 Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, as the ``Tom Bliley Post
Office Building.''
Before his departure from the House of Representatives at the
conclusion of the 106th Congress, Tom Bliley and I had served together
for two decades on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. As
Chairman of the Committee on Commerce during the 104th, 105th, and
106th Congresses, Tom worked to address difficult topics across the
vast range of the Committee's jurisdiction.
Tom reached out in a bipartisan manner to move important legislation
through the Committee, including the Telecommunications Act of 1996,
the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, the State Children's
Health Insurance Program, the Food and Drug Administration
Modernization Act of 1997, and Digital Signatures legislation. I note
that this bipartisanship on the Committee came during a time of intense
partisanship in the House.
When we were adversaries, Tom remained a gentleman and a friend. I
value his friendship and thank him for his.
I congratulate Tom on his two decades of worthy service to his
constituents, the Committee, and the House of Representatives, and can
think of no more fitting way to honor him and his fine public service
than by dedicating this U.S. Post Office building in his honor.
Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today and join
fellow members of the Virginia delegation and other colleagues in
support of H.R. 1748, to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 805 Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia,
as the ``Tom Bliley Post Office Building,'' and to pay tribute to our
former Virginia colleague who retired from this House at the end of the
106th Congress.
Tom Bliley is a true Virginia gentleman who epitomizes the highest
ideals of public service. He came to Congress with me in 1981. It was
an honor to serve side by side with him for 20 years. Tom was a perfect
match for Virginia's 7th District which includes the city of Richmond,
as this is a district replete with a tradition of true statesmen.
Tom left the Congress, having served as chairman of the Commerce
Committee, a responsibility he took seriously and performed with
incredible legislative skill and expertise. He showed an amazing
ability to deal with such complex issues as the electric utility grid
and Medicaid formulas to home medical services and drug discounts for
veterans.
Tom had a diverse political career before even making his way to
Capitol Hill. He was first elected to the Richmond Council as a
conservative Democrat in 1968, then as mayor of Richmond from 1970-77,
and eventually to the House of Representatives--this time as a
Republican. His unique background enabled him to work to achieve
bipartisan results while never losing sight of the issues which were
important to his district and his constituents.
It is a fitting tribute that a postal facility in his hometown of
Richmond will bear his name and will honor his years of service to the
Commonwealth of Virginia and to the nation.
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this
effort to honor my friend Tom Bliley.
Tom Bliley was first elected to this body in 1980, after a successful
career as a businessman and serving on the City Council and later as
Mayor of Richmond. Throughout his service in Congress, Tom Bliley was a
strong advocate of fiscal responsibility, the free market and consumer
choice. As Chairman of the House Commerce Committee for three terms, he
steered some of the most significant legislation through Congress in
recent years.
Chairman Bliley also served as the dean of the Virginia delegation
and, true to this role, he was a leader to all of our Members. We all
enjoyed his friendship, and great sense of humor. Tom fought hard to
represent the interests of his congressional district, constantly
attending to the needs in his local community. Virginia has benefitted
enormously from Congressman Bliley's lifetime of public service. A
master in the art of bipartisan compromise, bold leadership, and
legislative vision, Tom Bliley is an example to all of us. Honoring his
tenure in the House of Representatives by designating the Tom Bliley
Post Office is a fitting farewell.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1748.
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.
____________________