[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 50 (Tuesday, May 2, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1928-H1930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              JOHN PAUL HAMMERSCHMIDT POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4811) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 215 West Industrial Park Road in Harrison, Arkansas, 
as the ``John Paul Hammerschmidt Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4811

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

     SECTION 1. JOHN PAUL HAMMERSCHMIDT POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 215 West Industrial Park Road in Harrison, 
     Arkansas, shall be known and designated as the ``John Paul 
     Hammerschmidt 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 ``John Paul Hammerschmidt Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Ms. FOXX. 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 
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4811, offered by the distinguished gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman), would designate the post office building in 
Harrison, Arkansas, as the John Paul Hammerschmidt Post Office 
Building.
  Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt represented the Third District of 
Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 90th Congress 
through the 102nd Congress. He was elected to 13 terms and served 26 
years during the administrations of six Presidents. During his years in 
Congress,

[[Page H1929]]

John Paul Hammerschmidt became known for his attention to individual 
constituent service and communication, his high voting and attendance 
record during congressional sessions during the business week, and 
routinely working weekends in Arkansas. Also, his legislative expertise 
in highways, airports, water supply and distribution systems, as well 
as veterans hospitals, will continue to benefit from his diligent 
stewardship long into the future.
  Since retiring from Congress, Hammerschmidt has continued to 
participate in Arkansas civil involvements as a private citizen, 
chairing the Northwest Arkansas Council and March of Dimes Arkansas 
Citizen of the Year Dinner. Because of his dedication to government at 
all levels, I ask all Members to honor his integrity and perseverance 
by passing H.R. 4811.
  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 my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4811, legislation 
naming a postal facility in Harrison, Arkansas, after John Paul 
Hammerschmidt. This measure was sponsored by the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) on February 28, 2006, and unanimously reported 
by our committee on March 30, 2006. The bill has the support and 
cosponsorship of the entire Arkansas delegation and 112 Members of 
Congress.
  A native of Arkansas, John Hammerschmidt was born in Harrison in 
1922.

                              {time}  1430

  He graduated from Harrison High School and attended the Citadel, 
University of Arkansas and Oklahoma State University. He served in the 
U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945, the U.S. Air Force Reserves from 
1945 to 1960, and the District of Columbia Army Reserves from 1970 to 
1981.
  After holding senior positions in the lumber and construction 
industry, John was elected to represent the 3rd Congressional District 
of Arkansas. He was subsequently elected to 13 terms, serving in 
Congress from 1967 until 1993.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of H.R. 4811, which seeks to honor 
the broad legacy of former Representative Hammerschmidt.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Shuster).
  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to be here to 
participate in this naming of the United States Post Office after John 
Hammerschmidt. It is a life that certainly is representative of a true 
American patriot and servant of the people.
  He was a member of the United States Army Air Corps during World War 
II, a member of the Air Force Reserves, a member of the District of 
Columbia Army Reserves, the first Republican Member to represent 
Arkansas since reconstruction, also a member of the Board of Directors 
of the Metropolitan Washington Airport. These are just a few of the 
roles in which Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt has served; and, as 
I said, it truly is a life of service to his country.
  First elected to the House of Representatives in 1966, John Paul 
Hammerschmidt was noted for his dedication and attention to constituent 
services. A native son of Harrison, Arkansas, Congressman Hammerschmidt 
went on to represent the region for 13 consecutive terms. In all of 
those elections, only two of Congressman Hammerschmidt's opponents were 
able to achieve more than one-third of the vote, and that included one 
candidate by the name of Bill Clinton.
  During his tenure in the House, Congressman Hammerschmidt was known 
for his expertise regarding infrastructure and veterans-related issues. 
As the ranking member of the Public Works Committee from 1986 to 1993, 
John was influential in many of the improvements that have taken place 
on our Nation's highways, airports and waterway systems. John was a 
true steward of our Nation's infrastructure; and users of roads, water 
systems and the airways will all long benefit from his efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, my father, Bud Shuster, had the pleasure of serving with 
Congressman Hammerschmidt both in the House and on the Public Works 
Committee for many years. I asked him to relate a few stories, 
reflections on John Paul Hammerschmidt, and he said he certainly was 
one of the experts on infrastructure in this country. And then he said 
quite simply, ``He is a gentleman's gentleman;'' and I think that is a 
very accurate assessment of Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the measure offered by my colleague, 
Mr. Boozman, to name the post office in Harrison, Arkansas, after 
Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he might 
consume to the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder).
  Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, once again I have to call attention to the 
fact, while Mr. Davis is here today in his role as a congressman from 
Illinois, he is an Arkansas native; and we are proud to have him always 
in this body but particularly on these bills involving Arkansans.
  I just want to take a minute and add my voice in praise of 
Congressman Hammerschmidt. This is not the first honor he has received. 
It will not be the last. He is a kind, intelligent man with good 
judgment, always very professional throughout his career in his 
dealings with everyone, regardless of party or class or financial 
status. He certainly had strong opinions and had his own sense of what 
was right and wrong, but he always worked in a bipartisan manner.
  After retiring from this body, he has continued to be very active 
both in Arkansas and nationally; and maybe with the passage of time, as 
buildings come and go and names come and go, at some point this 
facility may be renamed, or it may be torn down and a new facility 
built and some other name will be attached to it. But I can guarantee 
you it will not be anyone more professional or kind or with a better 
sense of treating people well than Congressman Hammerschmidt.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the State of Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I also would echo the fact that Congressman 
Davis is an Arkansan; and we are very, very proud of him and all that 
he has accomplished.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 4811, the John Paul Hammerschmidt 
Post Office Designation Act. No one understands my congressional 
district like the kind and thoughtful gentleman who represented much of 
Arkansas in the Congress from 1967 through 1993. I consider John Paul 
Hammerschmidt a mentor and a friend.
  During his 26 years in Congress, John Paul became known for his 
strong work ethic and attention to individual constituent service. His 
fellow Members came to rely on his legislative expertise in highways, 
aviation and waterway infrastructure. In fact, Congressman 
Hammerschmidt served as ranking member of the Public Works, now known 
as the Transportation and Infrastructure, Committee from 1986 through 
1993.
  During his tenure in office, Arkansas completed many of the 
infrastructure improvements, including highways and airports, that have 
allowed northwest Arkansas to become one of the major financial engines 
of our Nation.
  Congressman Hammerschmidt is also remembered for his work on behalf 
of our Nation's veterans. Particularly in Arkansas, our veterans 
hospitals and facilities still benefit from Congressman Hammerschmidt's 
service.
  Congressman Hammerschmidt served as ranking member of the House 
Veterans' Affairs Committee from 1975 through 1986, and all of our 
Nation's veterans had a tremendous advocate in this good man.
  As a combat pilot in World War II, Congressman Hammerschmidt flew 217 
missions with the Third Combat Cargo Group over ``the Hump'' in the 
China-Burma-India theatre.
  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf 
clusters, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, three Battle 
Stars, the China War Memorial Medal by the Republic of China, and the 
Meritorious Service

[[Page H1930]]

Award. He retired from the Air Force Reserve as a major. Furthermore, 
he has been awarded the highest honors by eight national veterans 
service organizations.
  Since retiring, Congressman Hammerschmidt has been named Arkansas 
Citizen of the Year; and he has remained incredibly active in the 
fields of business, education, aviation, community service, and his 
local church.
  Many of Congressman Hammerschmidt's close friends continue to serve 
in Congress today, and several will be submitting statements that were 
unable to be here today.
  Finally, I want to take a moment to honor Ginny Hammerschmidt, who 
served the people of Arkansas alongside John Paul during his many years 
of service. We lost Ginny last year, but this bill, in recognizing the 
service of Congressman Hammerschmidt, also recognizes the sacrifices 
and service of Ginny and the rest of the family.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at this point. I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to actually close, and I 
have no further requests for time.
  But, in closing, let me just say, first of all, that I appreciate the 
kind comments and remarks made by my colleagues from Arkansas. As you 
can see, there is a tremendous amount of affinity for those of us who 
grew up in the land of opportunity.
  But, also, I note that Representative Boozman's wife came from the 
town where my family lived, and her uncle was actually the postmaster, 
and my father used to visit in the post office, along with many other 
people, and that was kind of like a neighborhood gathering place. That 
is one of the reasons that we hope that many of the small post offices 
will be able to remain intact, because they are more than just letter-
dispensing areas in many of these communities.
  So I commend Representative Boozman for seeking to honor this 
outstanding American.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my strong support for this 
bill to name a post office in Harrison, Arkansas, in honor of the 
Honorable John Paul Hammerschmidt, and I am pleased to be an original 
cosponsor.
  I had the distinct honor and privilege of serving for many years with 
John Paul on what was then known as the Public Works and Transportation 
Committee--now known as the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee. He completed his 26 years of service in the House as the 
ranking minority member of the Committee--and he provided steady 
leadership as we worked together to build the roads, airports and 
waterways needed to keep America competitive and prosperous.
  He was the ranking member during the legendary ISTEA transportation 
bill in 1991, which moved us beyond the Interstate construction era and 
provided a new vision for transportation in the U.S. For many years he 
was ranking on the Aviation Subcommittee and has always had a keen 
interest in aviation issues. In 1998, after his retirement from the 
House, President Clinton nominated him to serve as a Member of the 
Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. 
John Paul led many Committee trips to his district in Northwest 
Arkansas--and that usually entailed having your photo taken sporting 
the famous Arkansas Razorback hog hat.
  While many of us are familiar with his Congressional career, some may 
not know of his heroic service to our country during World War II. A 
member of the Third Combat Cargo Group in the China-Burma-India theater 
from 1942 to 1945, John Paul flew 217 combat missions--primarily in 
Burma and China. These missions included drop missions where he dropped 
supplies to our troops in the jungle, all in an unarmed plane flying 
low over the jungle in some of the worst weather conditions imaginable 
while frequently coming under enemy fire. He also ``flew the hump'' as 
it was called, dangerous missions high over the Himalayas.
  Giving constant support to John Paul was his beloved wife Virginia, 
who sadly passed away earlier this year. Known to all as Ginny, she was 
recognized for her compassionate and gentle nature. Together Ginny and 
John Paul served their district well.
  Through John Paul's decades of service to our country, first in the 
Army Air Corps in World War II, here in the House of Representatives, 
and even today as he remains active in his community, he is thoroughly 
deserving of this honor. He served this House with distinction and 
worked effectively with Members of both parties to move important 
initiatives forward. He is a true gentleman, and I am proud to call him 
a friend.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H.R. 4811.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4811.
  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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