[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H8272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BILL MONROE POST OFFICE

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4968) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 25 McHenry Street in Rosine, Kentucky, as the ``Bill 
Monroe Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4968

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

     SECTION 1. BILL MONROE POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 25 McHenry Street in Rosine, Kentucky, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Bill Monroe Post 
     Office''.
       (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 Bill Monroe Post Office.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. 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 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, most Americans know that the heart of bluegrass music 
country is accordingly located in the Bluegrass State of Kentucky. This 
bill, H.R. 4968, names this Rosine, Kentucky, post office after the 
father of bluegrass music, Bill Monroe. Bill Monroe is credited with 
almost singlehandedly creating the musical art form of bluegrass. In 
1939, Mr. Monroe started a band called the Bluegrass Boys, which became 
one of the most popular musical groups in the Nation during that era. 
The highly decorated Monroe was ultimately inducted into the Country 
Music Hall of Fame, and he remains a musical legend to this day.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Lewis) for 
sponsoring this honor for Bill Monroe. I support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am pleased to urge support for H.R. 4968, to designate the facility 
of the United States Postal Service located at 25 McHenry Street in 
Rosine, Kentucky, as the Bill Monroe Post Office. As we have already 
heard, Mr. Monroe was an outstanding musician and is known as the 
father of bluegrass. His music can be heard all over the world. I must 
confess that I am indeed a fan. I think it is proper that we name a 
postal facility in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Lewis), the sponsor of this legislation.
  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. I thank the gentleman from Tennessee for 
allowing me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Tom Davis) for allowing the swift consideration of a bill to honor 
a proud part of Kentucky's heritage, the founder of bluegrass music, 
Bill Monroe. This is but a small tribute to the legacy of Mr. Monroe. I 
along with my Kentucky colleagues in this Chamber am proud to name a 
post office in the community of Rosine, Kentucky, for him.
  The history of bluegrass music begins with Bill Monroe. His influence 
can be seen extensively in contemporary bluegrass, inspiring new 
generations of musicians and fans to appreciate his unique style. Today 
his musical art form is preserved through events like the annual 
Bluegrass Jamboree in Ohio County that show the fine tradition that 
makes bluegrass music synonymous with Kentucky.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4968.
  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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