[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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