[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2492-H2493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ED EILERT POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1524) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 12433 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the 
``Ed Eilert Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1524

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

     SECTION 1. ED EILERT POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 12433 Antioch Road in Overland Park, 
     Kansas, shall be known and designated as the ``Ed Eilert Post 
     Office Building''.
       (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 ``Ed Eilert Post Office Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. LaTOURETTE. 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 Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1524 designates this postal facility in Overland 
Park, Kansas, as the Ed Eilert Post Office Building. The four members 
of the Kansas State congressional delegation have all endorsed this 
legislation, and I join them in support of the bill.
  After more than a quarter of a century, Ed Eilert stepped down from 
being a leader in Overland Park government on Monday, April 11. Ed 
Eilert's public service career began when he was elected to the 
Overland Park City Council in 1977. In 1981, he was elected to the 
first of six terms as mayor of Overland Park that spanned 24 years. 
Overland Park has doubled in population and become Kansas' second 
largest city under Mayor Eilert's direction. Without question, Ed 
Eilert is a one-man institution in east central Kansas. This post 
office on Antioch Road is a natural and deserved commemoration of Mayor 
Eilert's legacy and distinguished leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Members of the House, I congratulate 
Mayor Ed Eilert on his tremendous tenure in local government and wish 
him the very best in retirement. I applaud the gentleman from Kansas 
(Mr. Moore) for working toward passage of H.R. 1524.
  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 Committee on Government Reform, I am 
pleased to join in the consideration of H.R. 1524, legislation 
designating a postal facility in Overland Park, Kansas, after Mayor Ed 
Eilert. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from Kansas 
(Mr. Moore) on April 6, 2005, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of 
the entire Kansas State delegation.
  Ed Eilert was first elected in 1981. As mayor of Overland Park for 24 
years, he worked hard to improve the condition of his city. The 
population has doubled, the number of projects tripled, and the number 
of hotels has increased dramatically. Business and opportunities have 
also grown. A convention center is now home to Overland Park, and more 
hospitals have been added. Overland Park is now Kansas' second largest 
city.
  The growth occurred under the leadership and vision of Mayor Eilert. 
This week Mayor Eilert steps down from his position, and what a 
wonderful way to honor the achievements of Ed Eilert. I join my 
colleagues in honoring Mayor Ed Eilert and urge the swift passage of 
this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Moore).
  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
legislation designating the United States Postal Service facility 
located at 12433 Antioch Road in Overland Park, Kansas, as the Ed 
Eilert Post Office Building. I was joined in sponsoring this 
legislation by the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt), the gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Ryun), and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran); and 
I am grateful for their support.
  Recently, an era came to an end in Overland Park. Mayor Ed Eilert 
stepped down as mayor, an office to which he was elected six times and 
held for a total of 24 years. Since he was sworn into office in 1981, 
Overland Park has grown to become Kansas' second largest city. Its 
population has nearly double to over 165,000. The number of people 
working within the city limits has more than tripled with roughly 
120,000 jobs in Overland Park today, and hotel capacity has increased 
from 800 rooms to 5,100 rooms.
  During his tenure, 21,000 single-family and 19,000 multi-family 
residences have been added in Overland Park, along with 23.7 million 
square feet of office, retail, and industrial space.

[[Page H2493]]

Over the years, the city has seen the arrival of the Sprint campus, 
three new hospitals, the University of Kansas Edwards campus, the 
Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College, and a city 
convention center.
  Additionally, under Ed Eilert 's leadership, the city added the 
landmark Clock Tower Plaza and the Farmers Market in the downtown area, 
a neighborhood conservation program, and Arboretum and Botanical 
Gardens, the International Trade Center, the W. Jack Sanders Justice 
Center, and interchanges at I-435 at both Nall Avenue and Quivira Road.
  Mayor Eilert also supported construction of the Fire Training Center 
which has been used by many other cities and county fire departments in 
the Kansas City metropolitan area, and he worked with Johnson County 
Community College to create a training facility for Burlington Northern 
Santa Fe Railway employees on the college campus.
  And during Mayor Eilert's tenure, the city's land area expanded by 36 
percent to nearly 62 square miles. Finally, Overland Park enjoys a top 
rating for a solid financial condition. It has received numerous awards 
as an outstanding city. For years, Overland Park has had the lowest 
property tax rate of any first-class city in Kansas.
  Ed Eilert was first elected to Overland Park City Council in 1977 and 
became council president in 1980. He formerly taught at Shawnee Mission 
North High School and knows firsthand how Overland Park has benefited 
from its nationally recognized school systems.
  He made his first visit to the city in 1960 because it was the home 
of Jan Bush, whom he met while studying at Emporia State University and 
would marry 2 years later. The Eilerts moved to Overland Park in 1965 
when he completed graduate school. In 1977, he began his first campaign 
for political office and has been a public servant since then. He has 
also been a financial consultant with A.G. Edwards & Sons and serves on 
the board of directors of Metcalf Bank.
  When we consider the array of challenges that Ed Eilert faced in his 
24 years as mayor of Overland Park, Members cannot help but agree with 
Bob Sigmund, the opinion page editor of the Johnson County Sun who 
recently wrote that ``Ed Eilert provided the vision and leadership in 
shaping Overland Park's success as an ideal place to live, work and 
raise a family. Eilert's political skills have been especially useful 
in easing tensions and maintaining an acceptable balance between the 
older, established neighborhoods in northern Overland Park and the 
rapidly expanding new subdivisions in the south.''
  I am proud to call Ed Eilert my friend. While we are members of 
different political parties, I have always been impressed by his sound 
judgment, diligence, and dedication to his community and to the public 
welfare. When he sought the Republican nomination for the House in 
1996, he lost narrowly to then-State Representative Vince Snowbarger 
for the nomination to succeed Representative Jan Meyers. I often tell 
third district residents that I would have not sought election to 
Congress myself had Ed Eilert been elected 2 years before I became a 
candidate for the office.
  Dedication of this postal service facility in Overland Park is a 
small, but fitting, tribute to a man who has dedicated most of his 
adult life to public service at the community level. He has worked 
tirelessly to bring people together while ensuring quality economic 
development and competence in the delivery of local services. I commend 
Mayor Ed Eilert and again thank my colleagues in the Kansas House 
delegation for their support. I urge my colleagues to approve this 
legislation today, and I hope the other body will follow suit quickly 
so we can see it signed into law.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1524. I 
thank my colleague, Mr. Moore, for sponsoring this legislation to name 
the post office at 12433 Antioch Road in Overland Park after long-time 
Mayor Ed Eilert.
  The job of mayor is a challenging position. Each day they are tasked 
with the responsibility of making their community, their home, a better 
place to live. They do this with the eye of the public always on them 
as they live and work in that community. The fact that May Eilert was 
re-elected six times speaks volumes of his dedication and character. 
During his over 24 years in office, Mayor Eilert worked hard to improve 
Overland Park, and his leadership is well respected.
  Mr. Moore spoke of the infrastructure improvements that Mr. Eilert 
helped bring to Overland Park--the Clock Tower Plaza, KU's Edwards 
Campus and the Fire Training Center, to name a few. I want to emphasize 
that these centers and buildings are much more than physical 
structures. They are symbols of economic development, job creation and 
improvements in quality of life. During the time Ed served as Mayor, 
Overland Park grew to be the second-largest city in Kansas. Ed's vision 
helped to ensure that the city is both bigger and better for the 
businesses, individuals and families who are proud to call Overland 
Park their home.
  Mayor Eilert's commitment to Overland Park extended beyond his role 
as mayor. He was an active member of many civic organizations including 
the League of Kansas Municipalities and the National League of Cities. 
He has also served as secretary and treasurer of the Johnson/Wyandotte 
Counties Council of Mayors. He currently serves as a commissioner of 
the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Cultural District, a board member 
of Services for Seniors and Advocates for Citizens with Retardation, a 
member of the advisory council for Emporia State University's school of 
business and a member of the advisory council for United Community 
Services and Temporary Lodging for Children.
  Mayor Eilert is a charter member of the South Overland Park Rotary 
Club, the Overland Park Historical Society, the Overland Park Arboretum 
and Friends of Johnson County Developmental Supports. He also is a 
member and elder, and a former chairman of the board, of Overland Park 
Christian Church. I commend Ed for his service to the community and his 
contributions to improving the quality of life in Overland Park.
  I recognize that Kansas is home to many leaders who work to make our 
state a great place to live and work. I also acknowledge that our 
growth and prosperity is possible because of the efforts of local 
leaders like Mayor Eilert who are willing to serve our communities. 
Mayor Eilert touched lives every day. He directly affected the 
residents of Overland Park in a positive way. I am grateful for his 
hard work and dedication, and I join with my fellow Kansas 
representatives in honoring Mayor Eilert.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
Moore) for his reflections of his friend, urge passage of the bill; and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1524.
  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.

                          ____________________