[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 126 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6855-H6856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ROBERT WAYNE JENKINS STATION

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4851) to redesignate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 6910 South Yorktown Avenue in Tulsa, 
Oklahoma, as the ``Robert Wayne Jenkins Station.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4851

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

     SECTION 1. ROBERT WAYNE JENKINS STATION.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 6910 South Yorktown Avenue in Tulsa, 
     Oklahoma, and known as the Southside Station, shall be known 
     and designated as the ``Robert Wayne Jenkins Station''.

[[Page H6856]]

       (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 Robert Wayne Jenkins Station.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. SULLIVAN. 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. 4851.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider H.R. 4851, a 
bill to designate the postal facility located at 6910 South Yorktown 
Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the Robert Wayne Jenkins Station. I would 
like to thank my colleagues from Oklahoma for co-sponsoring this 
legislation.
  On December 21, 2001, Robert Wayne Jenkins left his home to go to 
work at the Southside Postal Station in Tulsa, leaving his wife Amber 
and daughter Caitlyn safely at home. He arrived at work in his usual 
quiet, but friendly, demeanor and proceeded to prepare his mail route.
  Before leaving the office to deliver his route, he told a fellow 
letter carrier, ``Be safe,'' and then he left to deliver his own route. 
He was shot at about 2:45 in the afternoon by an armed assailant and 
died instantly.
  Robert was in his sixth year of service and had just turned 30 years 
old and had recently become a father. He had gained the respect and 
admiration of his colleagues for his professionalism and devotion to 
his wife and daughter. My heart goes out to his wife, Amber, and 
daughter, Caitlyn.
  His co-workers began working towards this honor for him immediately 
after the tragedy, and I was notified of the request from Dick 
Schweitzer of the Oklahoma division of the U.S. Postal Service. I am 
happy to introduce this bill because I believe that it is most 
appropriate to honor a man who asked for so little but gave so much to 
his family, his friends, the U.S. Postal Service and the Tulsa 
community.
  I think it is right to remember Robert Wayne Jenkins, the victim of a 
horrific senseless crime, by renaming the facility he worked for after 
him. Postal workers work through many tough conditions every day 
throughout our country, and I believe we honor both Robert Wayne 
Jenkins and all of his honorable public servants by passing this bill. 
Therefore, I urge all Members to support the adoption of H.R. 4851.
  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, as a Member of the House Committee on Government Reform, 
I rise to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 4851, which 
names a postal facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after Robert Wayne Jenkins.
  H.R. 4851, which enjoys the support and co-sponsorship of the entire 
Oklahoma delegation, was introduced by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Sullivan) on May 23, 2002. Mr. Jenkins was a postal letter carrier who 
was delivering mail on his route when he was shot to death for no 
reason. A 9-year career letter carrier, Mr. Jenkins was a dedicated and 
trusted postal employee who went about his job in an efficient and 
effective manner. Sadly, he leaves behind a wife, Amber, and her 
infant, Caitlyn.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the support of naming a post office after Mr. 
Robert Wayne Jenkins, slain postal letter carrier. But I am deeply 
disappointed and saddened that we were unable to also consider 
additional naming postal legislation today. Let me explain.
  Last week two postal naming bills were placed on the postal naming 
list for floor consideration and subsequently removed from 
consideration. Those bills were H.R. 5340, sponsored by the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Sherman), which names a post office after the late 
great broadcaster Francis Dayle ``Chick'' Hearn, and H.R. 2578, 
sponsored by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), which names 
a postal facility after former Representative Augustus F. Hawkins. 
These bills too have met the Committee on Government Reform policy and 
have been co-sponsored by the entire California delegation.

                              {time}  1715

  They, too, deserve prompt consideration and name postal facilities 
after deserving individuals. Both H.R. 5340 and H.R. 2578 deserve 
immediate consideration on the House floor.
  While we will not object to today's bill, we will object to future 
bills if the Republican leadership does not schedule Democratic postal-
naming bills for a House vote so that there can be equity and fairness 
in the process.
  Mr. Jenkins was a letter carrier, one of a proud group of employees 
who performed a valuable service to our country. In serving his 
country, Mr. Jenkins could not have paid a higher price. I believe that 
we should honor him by naming a postal facility after him. I shall 
indeed vote for H.R. 4851 and urge my colleagues to take similar 
action. However, I reiterate and urge the Republican leadership to 
schedule votes on H.R. 5340, H.R. 2578, and other Democratic postal-
naming bills so that we can honor these deserving individuals by naming 
postal facilities after them.
  I commend the gentleman from Oklahoma for introducing this 
legislation, urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4851.
  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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