[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 16, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H1085-H1086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MYRON V. GEORGE POST OFFICE

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 3733) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 410 Huston Street in Altamont, Kansas, 
as the ``Myron V. George Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 3733

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

     SECTION 1. MYRON V. GEORGE POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 410 Huston Street in Altamont, Kansas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Myron V. George Post 
     Office'' .
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other

[[Page H1086]]

     record of the United States to the facility referred to in 
     subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the Myron 
     V. George Post Office.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. 
Slaughter) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform and 
the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Ryun), the sponsor of the bill, I rise 
in support of H.R. 3733 that designates this postal facility in 
Altamont, Kansas, as the ``Myron V. George Post Office.'' This is a 
well-deserved honor for Congressman Myron George, who, despite passing 
away more than 30 years ago, remains one of Kansas's favorite sons to 
this day.
  Congressman George served four terms in the House representing the 
people of southeast Kansas.

                              {time}  1430

  His respected career in the Congress followed his service in the 
United States Army during World War I, and when he returned safely home 
from the war, he learned the printing trade on the staff of his 
father's newspaper, the Altamont Journal. George ultimately became the 
owner and the publisher of the Edna Sun in Edna, Kansas, and he 
published that newspaper for 17 years until 1941.
  While he still owned the Edna Sun, Myron George became an officer 
with the Kansas State Highway Commission in 1939 and, as a result of 
his decade of work with the Commission, he was elected to the first of 
his four terms to the United States House of Representatives in 1950. 
During his tenure in the House, Congressman George was known for his 
modesty and effectiveness. His greatest achievement was using his 
experience on the Kansas Highway Commission to work with President 
Dwight Eisenhower to implement the Federal Interstate Highway System 
for which the Eisenhower administration was famous.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly urge every Member of the House to support 
this legislation that honors Congressman Myron George, and I certainly 
congratulate the gentleman from Kansas for shepherding H.R. 3733 
through the committee process. I look forward to hearing his words.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 3733, 
legislation naming a postal facility in Altamont, Kansas after Myron 
George. This measure was introduced by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
Ryun) on January 27, 2004 and unanimously reported by the Committee on 
Government Reform on February 26, 2004.
  Myron Virgil George was born in Kansas in 1900 and attended grade 
school and high school in Altamont, Kansas. He served in the United 
States Army for 2 years before he learned the printing trade at the 
Altamont Journal.
  After serving as an officer with the Kansas State Highway Commission 
for 11 years, Myron George ran for Congress in 1950 in a special 
election. He served in the United States Congress until 1959. He 
returned to his home State and engaged in public relations in the 
transportation and construction fields until his death in 1972.
  Madam Speaker, I urge the swift adoption of H.R. 3733.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
Ryun).
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I rise as the sponsor of H.R. 
3733, a bill to honor the memory of former southeast Kansas Congressman 
and favored son, Myron George.
  First of all, I want to thank the entire Kansas delegation for their 
cosponsorship and support of this bill. I also want to offer my thanks 
to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Waxman) for their efforts.
  This proposal has widespread support throughout the Altamont and 
surrounding communities. I have received letters of support from the 
Labette County Board of Commissioners, the mayor and city council 
members of Altamont, as well as the owner of the post office building.
  Born at the turn of the century, Congressman George grew up in 
Altamont, Kansas. He was a World War I veteran, stationed in Panama, 
and a newspaper publisher. George served as an officer of the local 
American Legion post, a member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a 
member of the local Methodist church.
  In 1939, Congressman George turned to official public life. For over 
10 years, he served on the Kansas State Highway Commission, followed by 
8 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his time in 
Congress, his first priority was to provide excellent constituent 
services. Legislatively, he is best remembered for his continued 
efforts on behalf of transportation issues. He worked with another 
great Kansan, President Eisenhower, to develop and implement the 
Federal Interstate Highway System.
  Congressman George also worked towards securing local funds for water 
projects. He helped establish an Army ROTC unit at Kansas State 
Teachers College, and he fought for continued operation of the Kansas 
Ordnance Plant in Parsons.
  In 1959, Congressman George returned to southeast Kansas where he 
lived until his death in 1972.
  Madam Speaker, renaming the Altamont Post Office in honor of 
Congressman George is a fitting reminder of his role and dedication to 
his community and to all Kansans. I urge my colleagues to support this 
measure.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I urge that all Members 
support the passage of H.R. 3733.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3733.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. 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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