[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2159-H2160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045


                             General Leave

  Mr. MARCHANT. 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 H.R. 1001.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Graves). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1001 is an important piece of legislation that 
names this Pflugerville, Texas, Post Office as the Sergeant Byron W. 
Norwood Post Office Building.
  I am proud the House is considering this bill today because Sergeant 
Byron Norwood is, without question, an American hero.
  Mr. Speaker, Byron Norwood grew up in Pflugerville, a small town 
outside of Austin, and enjoyed playing the trumpet in the high school 
jazz band and marching band. He was a star in several high school 
theater productions. After graduation, he joined the Marines, following 
in the footsteps of both of his grandfathers who served with the Marine 
Corps during World War II. He ultimately became a sergeant assigned to 
the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division in Camp 
Pendleton, California.
  Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Norwood bravely served two tours of duty in 
Iraq. During his second tour he was tragically killed by a sniper in 
the Anbar province of Iraq on November 13 of 2004. In the trying days 
that followed, Byron's mother, Janet Norwood, wrote a letter to 
President Bush to say how dedicated her son was to his country. Mrs. 
Norwood said in the letter that in spite all that the family had been 
through, they still supported the war. Afterwards, the White House 
invited Mr. and Mrs. Norwood to the State of the Union speech.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. McCaul), for introducing this legislation and seeing it to 
the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, 
I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of the H.R. 1001, 
legislation naming a U.S. postal facility in Pflugerville, Texas, after 
Sergeant Byron Norwood.
  H.R. 1001 was introduced by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) on 
March 1, 2005 and unanimously reported by our committee on April 13, 
2005. The bill enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Texas 
delegation.
  Sergeant Byron W. Norwood died on November 13, 2004, as a result of 
enemy action in Fallujah. Sergeant Norwood was assigned to the 3rd 
Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine 
Expeditionary Force, in Camp Pendleton in California before being 
deployed to Iraq.
  Sergeant Norwood was recognized by the President posthumously during 
his State of the Union address for his bravery and sacrifice to our 
country. The President also recognized Sergeant Norwood's parents, 
Janet and Bill, for the tremendous grace they displayed in the wake of 
their son's death.
  A native of Texas, Byron was well liked by his fellow soldiers 
because not only was he an exemplary soldier, but he was also a 
terrific person. He was described by members of his regiment as a 
person who was not afraid to show his emotions, and was always there to 
listen and lend support to his friends during difficult times.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important that during times of war we take time to 
remember its human cost, that people as loving and caring as Sergeant 
Byron Norwood are sacrificing their lives to protect ours.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) 
for introducing this legislation. It is a wonderful tribute to a great 
man and an extraordinary soldier. I urge swift adoption of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul).
  Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague 
and fellow classmate, the gentleman from Coppell, Texas (Mr. Marchant), 
for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, this morning I rise in support of this bill which I 
introduced to name the Pflugerville Post Office after Marine Sergeant 
Byron Norwood.
  I am honored to come before the House and the American people to tell 
them of the sacrifice of the family and the heroics of a Marine who 
embodies all who are engaged in helping keep this world safe.
  You may remember one of the high points of President Bush's State of 
the Union address is when he honored the memory of Sergeant Norwood, 
who was killed last November during the assault on Fallujah in Iraq.
  There the President said, ``We have said goodbye to some very good 
men and women who died for our freedom, and whose memory this Nation 
will honor forever. One name we honor is Marine Corps Sergeant Byron 
Norwood. Ladies and gentlemen, with grateful hearts we honor our 
military families represented here this evening by Sergeant Norwood's 
mom and dad, Janet and Bill Norwood.''
  The President read from a letter Byron's mother wrote to him. She 
said, ``When Byron was home the last time, I said that I wanted to 
protect him like I had since he was born. He just hugged me and said, 
`You've done your job, Mom. Now it's my turn to protect you.' ''
  He protected not only his mother, but the Nation.
  President Bush honored Sergeant Norwood's parents, Bill and Janet, 
who stood up to represent all of the families who have found themselves 
paying the ultimate price for freedom. And we all remember the embrace 
between Janet and Safia from Iraq right here in the Chamber of this 
House, up there. It was truly the defining moment of the State of the 
Union.
  The cameras panned towards the Norwoods seated behind First Lady 
Laura Bush. The Members of the Congress, the Cabinet and assembled 
dignitaries turned and recognized Mr. and Mrs. Norwood with applause. 
With the eyes of the Nation on the Norwoods, a woman seated next to 
Mrs. Bush named Safia, an Iraqi refugee and activist against Saddam 
Hussein's terrible regime, turned and embraced Mrs. Norwood. It was 
truly a remarkable moment of gratitude that was seen around the world. 
And it was one of the most emotional experiences in the long history of 
State of the Union speeches.
  In some of the fiercest fighting since the fall of Saddam Hussein, 
Sergeant Norwood and his fellow Marines waged an assault to liberate 
Fallujah from the evil that impeded our efforts to free and liberate 
the people of Iraq. During the fighting, Sergeant Norwood found himself 
positioned outside of a house where seven of his fellow Marines were 
being held captive by the insurgents. A trained and experienced Marine, 
Norwood stormed the residence and freed his band of brothers from their 
captors. Tragically, during his efforts to liberate his buddies, 
Sergeant Norwood was mortally wounded.
  But by his actions Sergeant Norwood embodied the verse found in the 
Gospel of John, Chapter 15:13, ``Greater love

[[Page H2160]]

hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.''
  Sergeant Byron Norwood loved his country, and we as a Nation can do 
something to honor the sacrifice he made in saving the lives of those 
seven Marines. Today I ask my colleagues' support for legislation to 
name the post office in Pflugerville after Sergeant Byron Norwood.
  When I approached Bill and Janet Norwood with the idea of naming the 
post office in Pflugerville after their son, they were humble; but they 
wanted to make sure that this bill would honor not only Byron but all 
of our fallen heroes, and today we can honor their request.
  In a letter sent to me by Sergeant Norwood's mother, Janet, they 
wrote a very compelling and powerful message to me. This is a picture 
of Sergeant Byron Norwood and she wrote to me, ``Representative McCaul, 
we wanted you to know how much we have appreciated your visits to our 
home. It was a pleasure to meet you and Linda and to be able to share 
more about Byron with you. Knowing that you and so many other Americans 
honor and respect his sacrifice helps greatly to ease our sorrows.
  ``Thank you also for the flag, the one that was flown over the 
Capitol on the day that Byron died, which will always have a special 
place in the beautiful display box with his other treasures from his 
Marine Corps service.
  ``He would be so amazed and so proud. The whole idea of naming the 
post office is such a stunning honor. One of the things we worried 
about was that people would soon forget about Byron. If your bill 
passes, that will never happen and that is such a great comfort.''
  No, we will not forget about Byron and we will not forget about the 
other fallen heroes defending freedom. As with all the parents I have 
met with who have lost a loved one in this war, they all say the same 
thing, ``Finish the job.''
  We must realize that while this Federal building will bear his name, 
it will also stand as a symbol for all those who have died in the name 
of America's freedom and security by showing the world Americans never 
forget their heroes. Today we can honor those heroes through Sergeant 
Byron Norwood by giving the post office in his hometown his name.
  Mr. Speaker, naming the Pflugerville, Texas, Post Office for Marine 
Sergeant Byron Norwood is the very least we can do for the memory and 
the family whose son paid the ultimate sacrifice.
  May God bless Janet and Bill Norwood and may He hold Byron in the 
palm of His hand.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be a cosponsor of House Resolution 
1001 that honors Sergeant Byron Norwood. I urge all Members to support 
this legislation.
  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 Texas (Mr. Marchant) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1001.
  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.

                          ____________________