[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 79 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H4193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SERGEANT JACOB DAN DONES POST OFFICE

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 5540) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 217 Southeast 2nd Street in Dimmitt, Texas, as the 
``Sergeant Jacob Dan Dones Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5540

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

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT JACOB DAN DONES POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 217 Southeast 2nd Street in Dimmitt, 
     Texas, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant Jacob 
     Dan Dones 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 ``Sergeant Jacob Dan Dones Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) 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 as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5540 offered by the distinguished gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Neugebauer) would designate the post office building at 217 
Southeast 2nd Street in Dimmitt, Texas, as the Sergeant Jacob Dan Dones 
Post Office Building. All members of the Texas delegation have 
cosponsored this legislation.
  Sergeant Dones was born in Dimmitt, Texas, in 1984. He was educated 
in the local school district, and graduated from Dimmitt High School in 
2002. Upon graduation, Dones enlisted in the United States Army and 
served his country valiantly with the armed services from 2002 to 2005 
in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was 
a member of the 2nd Squadron, 11th Calvary Regiment based out of Fort 
Irwin, California.
  While serving in Iraq, Sergeant Dones, an expert infantry rifleman, 
was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and a service ribbon for 
his efforts in battle. He was also awarded the Global War on Terrorism 
Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the 
National Defense Service Medal.
  Sergeant Dones was killed in the line of duty on October 25, 2005, 
while defending his fellow soldiers from an oncoming attack on their 
base in Iraq. I urge all Members to pay homage to a great patriot and a 
dedicated member of the community by passing H.R. 5540.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join 
my colleague in consideration of H.R. 5540, a measure sponsored by 
Representative Randy Neugebauer.
  H.R. 5540 names the postal facility in Dimmitt, Texas, after Sergeant 
Jacob Dan Dones. Sergeant Dones was killed in Iraq on October 20, 2005. 
This measure has the support and cosponsorship of the entire Texas 
delegation, and was unanimously reported by the Government Reform 
Committee on June 8, 2006.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests at this time, and yield back 
the balance of my time asking for support of this bill.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the State of Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).
  (Mr. NEUGEBAUER asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation, H.R. 5540, to designate the post office in 
Dimmitt, Texas, as the Sergeant Jacob Dan Dones Post Office. I would 
like to give a special thanks to the distinguished chairman of the 
Government Reform Committee, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) 
and the distinguished ranking member of that committee, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Waxman) for their prompt assistance in marking up 
this legislation and sending it to the floor so quickly.
  As we have learned about Sergeant Dones is that he was a leader, he 
was a hero, he served his country with great distinction, and he gave 
the ultimate gift that any American can give our country: He gave his 
life.
  As I read about Sergeant Dones, it was interesting to hear what his 
commanders and the people that worked with him said. One of the quotes 
was, ``I wish we had more men like Sergeant Dones to serve this 
country.'' He was awarded many medals for his service, including the 
Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the 
Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service 
Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He also was classified 
as an expert infantry rifleman. Unfortunately, on October 20, 2005, he 
was killed in the line of duty.
  One of the interesting things is just a few days before his life was 
taken, he served as an election support team for the referendum of the 
Iraqi Constitution, something that he was fighting alongside the Iraqis 
to bring a new government, a free government to this country. According 
to the people that served alongside him, he was happy, and he shouted 
out to the Iraqi people, and I am probably mispronouncing this, but 
``Abebe, Abebe.'' He was saying to them, ``I love you. I love you.'' He 
was known as a great ambassador for our country, and the Iraqi people 
loved him. Whenever there was a call for a volunteer, Jacob was always 
the first to volunteer.
  He leaves behind a large extended family, including his parents Danny 
and Rosa Dones, his daughter Alyssa. And I would like to thank his 
cousin Joe Alvarez, who has been extremely helpful in making this idea 
of renaming the post office a reality.

                              {time}  1415

  He was a greatly loved family man, a community leader; and he will be 
sorely missed. I cannot think of a better way to show a small token of 
our appreciation than to rename this post office after a brave 
American.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote for the passage of 
H.R. 5540, and 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. 5540.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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