[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H3651-H3652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TIMOTHY MICHAEL GAFFNEY POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1596) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 2318 Woodson Road in St. Louis, 
Missouri, as the ``Timothy Michael Gaffney Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1596

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

     SECTION 1. TIMOTHY MICHAEL GAFFNEY POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2318 Woodson Road in St. Louis, Missouri, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Timothy Michael 
     Gaffney 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 Timothy Michael Gaffney Post Office 
     Building.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. 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. 1596.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 1596, introduced by the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Clay), designates the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 2318 Woodson Road in St. Louis, Missouri, as the Timothy 
Michael Gaffney Post Office Building. The entire delegation from the 
State of Missouri has cosponsored this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, it is my hope that today this House will honor one of 
the most devoted and distinguished members of the U.S. Postal Service 
community by naming one of its facilities after him. Timothy Michael 
Gaffney worked for the Post Service in St.

[[Page H3652]]

Louis since 1967, when he began his career as a substitute city letter 
carrier. He served the Postal Service in many capacities before 
reaching the rank of Customer Service Manager at St. Louis' Overland 
postal facility.
  Sadly, the St. Louis area and all of America suddenly lost Mr. 
Gaffney on December 26 at the age of only 54. I commend the gentleman 
from Missouri (Mr. Clay) for introducing this meaningful measure that 
celebrates the life and career of Mr. Gaffney. His outstanding resume 
includes the position of Superintendent of Branch Operations, Network 
Planning Specialist, and Manager of Customer Service for several USPS 
branches in St. Louis. He will be missed, and I hope that the Gaffney 
family will take some comfort in the likelihood that soon a postal 
facility in Mr. Gaffney's hometown will be named after him.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 1596 
to honor the legacy of Timothy Michael Gaffney's career with the United 
States Postal Service.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise as a sponsor of H.R. 1596, a bill to honor the 
memory of U.S. Postal Service employee Timothy Michael Gaffney, and 
would like to thank the membership of the entire Missouri delegation 
for their cosponsorship on this measure.
  Mr. Gaffney, while a manager at the Overland Post Office for 2 short 
years, made a huge impact on the employees there. In the words of one 
co-worker, Leslie Beck, ``He was a personable manager who managed with 
a huge heart. He continued to help his employees with their personal 
problems, such as death of elderly parents. We had an employee pass 
away with cancer, another employee's wife who passed away with cancer 
at age 49, and yet another employee's daughter who passed away at age 
10 with a brain tumor. This was all in the year 2002. It was a very 
emotional year for all of us, but he was there as support to all of us.
  ``Then Tim's passing in December 2002 was devastating to all of us. 
We are working through our grief by planting a tree, purchasing a nice 
bench and putting it in a peaceful area at the Post Office, and 
purchasing a memorial plaque for Tim. We have raised almost $600 from 
just our employees for these projects. We have not asked for or would 
take money from anywhere else. This had to be all from just us. We are 
his `Postal Family'. He was there for us, and we are there for him.''
  Madam Speaker, renaming the Overland Post Office in honor of Mr. 
Gaffney would appear to be a fitting reminder of his role and 
dedication to the community.
  I would be remiss if I did not share the full scope of Mr. Gaffney's 
life both on the job and in his private life. Born on October 30, 1948, 
Mr. Gaffney was the son of Joseph and Lorayne Gaffney, both deceased as 
well. A sister Jill Delonjay, and a brother, Mark Gaffney, both live in 
the St. Louis area, as does a nephew, Tom Harris, who also works for 
the U.S. Postal Service. Divorced, Mr. Gaffney had no children.
  As a youngster, he attended Buder Elementary School and Christian 
Brothers College High School. It was shortly after high school 
graduation that he began working part-time at a local Post Office in 
the St. Louis area. In 1972, Mr. Gaffney received a teaching degree 
from the University of Missouri at St. Louis. Also, he served proudly 
and honorably in the Missouri Army National Guard from 1970 to 1976.
  He remained active in alumni activities at the Christian Brothers 
College High School and an avid golfer; he supported the school's 
charitable golf tournaments, as well as being a great supporter of 
CBC's football team. Mr. Gaffney showered other organizations with his 
support, including the Backstoppers and their support for firefighters 
and police officers. Working with the Combined Federal Campaign in the 
Postal Service, Mr. Gaffney helped the Overland Station rank number 5 
in the St. Louis area for donations to charities. It was very important 
to him to support charities.
  Finally, a big Rams football fan, he was a season ticket holder. I 
urge Members to support this measure in tribute to a man whose life 
meant so much to his co-workers and his community.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) for introducing this legislation, and 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. Turner) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1596.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

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