[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H9693-H9694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  LIEUTENANT JOHN F. FINN POST OFFICE

  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2693) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 1475 Western Avenue, Suite 45, in Albany, New 
York, as the ``Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2693

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

     SECTION 1. LIEUTENANT JOHN F. FINN POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1475 Western Avenue, Suite 45, in Albany, 
     New York, shall be known and designated as the ``Lieutenant 
     John F. Finn 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 Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. PLATTS. 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 S. 2693.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation designates the postal facility located 
at 1475 Western Avenue in Albany, New York, as the Lieutenant John F. 
Finn Post Office.
  Lieutenant John Finn, a 12-year veteran of the Albany Police 
Department, was shot three times while chasing a robbery suspect on 
December 23, 2003.
  Amazingly, he endured in spite of his wounds for nearly 7 weeks, 
before sadly passing away on February 12 of this year.
  Last month, on October 6, the House passed H.R. 5053, an identical 
bill that memorialized Lieutenant Finn's service and bravery to his 
grateful Nation. With passage of the Senate bill here today, the House 
can ensure that the Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office will soon be 
established in Albany.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty) for 
advancing H.R. 5053, and Senator Schumer of New York for shepherding 
today's bill, S. 2693, through both Chambers.
  Lieutenant Finn and his family greatly deserve this honor, and I urge 
passage of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty), the sponsor of 
this legislation in the House of Representatives.
  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Speaker, I simply want to thank Senator Schumer, 
Senator Clinton, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), and all the 
members of the New York delegation, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, and 
all of those who worked so hard to bring this legislation to the floor 
today.
  John Finn was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. He 
literally laid down his life for his friends. Mr. Speaker, we consider 
this bill today in memory of all of his service through the years to 
the Albany Police Department, and also for his wife, Maura, his 
children, Clara and Molly, and all of his fellow police officers and 
friends.
  I ask all of my colleagues to approve this legislation as a small 
tribute to a true American hero, Lieutenant Finn.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time to 
comment on S. 2693, which designates the United States Post Office at 
1475 Western Avenue in Albany, New York as the ``Lieutenant John F. 
Finn Post Office.''
  This bill was introduced by our former colleague, my good friend from 
New York, Senator Chuck Schumer.
  I was pleased to introduce the House companion to this legislation, 
HR 5053, which passed the House unanimously on October 6th of this 
year.
  I would also like to thank the gentleman from New York, Mr. Sweeney, 
for his steadfast support of this legislation and his leadership on 
issues of importance to the law enforcement community.
  And I also thank Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings for his steadfast 
support for the entire Finn family.
  Mr. Speaker, John Francis Finn was born in Port Jefferson on Long 
Island. He was the son of Bill and Mary Finn, and he was a great 
brother to Bill, Michael, Mary and Rose. He graduated from Smithtown 
High School, also on Long Island, and the University of Albany.
  He joined the Albany Police Department on January 31, 1991. He had a 
13-year career with the Albany Police Department with many diverse 
assignments. He completed them all with exemplary commitment, 
dedication, and compassion.
  He was named a detective in the juvenile unit in 1993, promoted to 
sergeant in 1996, and promoted to lieutenant in 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, on December 23, 2003, Lt. Finn responded to an armed 
robbery at a convenience store. Although he was wearing a protective 
vest, the suspect, armed with a semiautomatic weapon, struck Lt. Finn 
three times in the lower abdomen and leg.
  Overe the next few weeks, John underwent numerous surgeries and 
received exceptional care at the Albany Medical Center.
  He passed away 51 days later, on February 12th of this year, becoming 
the ninth member of the Albany Police Department to be killed in the 
line of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, over 5,000 officers and mourners from around the 
northeastern United States attended the memorial service in February at 
the Pepsi Arena in Albany. The service recalled John's distinguished 
career and life of service and sacrifice. He had received two 
lifesaving awards from the Albany Police Department.
  In 2000, the Kiwanis Club named him Officer of the Year, and the 
Albany County Youth Recognition Awards have been renamed in honor of 
Lt. Finn.
  Governor Pataki named Lt. Finn Police Officer of the Year in 2003 and 
presented that award to Lt. Finn's wife, Maura McNulty-Finn, and to his 
two daughters, Clara and Molly.
  Maura was the love of his life, and Clara and Molly were his pride 
and joy. He brought his daughters to work with him when he volunteered, 
as he frequently did.
  He was also instrumental in creating the Children and Family Services 
Unit in the Albany Police Department.
  Mr. Speaker, at John's memorial service, I quoted scripture in 
saying, ``No greater love can one man have than that he lay down his 
life for his friends.'' That is what John Finn did.
  At this particular time, when we have many service personnel serving 
overseas, we are mindful of their sacrifice. We remember their service 
on a daily basis, as well we should.
  We should always remember that had it not been for all the men and 
women who wore the uniform of the United States military, the rest of 
us would not have the privilege of going around bragging, as I often 
do, about how we live in the freest and most open democracy on the 
Earth. Freedom is not free. We paid a tremendous price for it.
  I think we sometimes neglect to remember the sacrifices made by those 
protecting the homeland, who put themselves at risk every single day, 
just like John Finn did on December 23, 2003, when he gave his life for 
his friends.
  So I am honored to be here today, Mr. Speaker, to recall John's life 
of service and sacrifice, to pay this small tribute to him, and to do 
what I know he would really like--to thank all police officers across 
the Nation who put their lives on the line for us every single day.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H9694]]

  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, 
I am pleased to join with my colleagues in the consideration of S. 
2693, legislation designating the postal facility in Albany, New York, 
after Lieutenant John F. Finn.

                              {time}  1445

  This measure, which was sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer, passed 
the Senate unanimously on October 10, 2004. S. 2693 is identical to 
H.R. 5053 which passed the House by a voice vote on October 6, 2004.
  A 12-year veteran of the Albany, New York, Police Department, 
Lieutenant John F. Finn was shot while pursuing a robbery suspect. 
Sadly, Lieutenant Finn passed away last year from his wounds.
  Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the enormous sacrifice paid by Lieutenant 
Finn for protecting his community. Therefore, I join with all of those 
who would seek to honor his life, his work and his memory and urge 
swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I again urge support for passage of Senate 
2693. We are blessed by the courageous service of individuals such as 
Lieutenant Finn who went into harm's way for the safety and security of 
all of us fellow citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2693.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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