[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 112 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6375-H6376]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 12, 2006 (House)]
[Page H6375-H6376]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr12se06-99]                         



 
            JOSHUA A. TERANDO PRINCETON POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 5428) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 202 East Washington Street in Morris, 
Illinois, as the ``Joshua A. Terando Princeton Post Office Building'', 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5428

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

     SECTION 1. JOSHUA A. TERANDO MORRIS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 202 East Washington Street in Morris, 
     Illinois, shall be known and designated as the ``Joshua A. 
     Terando Morris 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 ``Joshua A. Terando Morris Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. 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 Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5428, as amended, offered by the distinguished 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller), would designate the post office 
building in Morris, Illinois, as the Joshua A. Terando Post Office 
Building.
  By all accounts, Joshua Terando's love for his country was second to 
none, and his patriotism was evident in his service to our United 
States Army. After completing basic training, Joshua graduated from 
Ranger school and went on to become the leader of his platoon.
  He completed his third year of active duty in 2001 and had just 18 
months left in the Reserves when he was called back to serve in Iraq in 
June 2005. Twenty-seven year-old Joshua Terando was killed in November 
of that year when his tank was attacked by enemy forces.
  His family and friends remind us that Joshua believed our country is 
worth fighting and dying for. It is with great gratitude that we thank 
him for his service. We thank him for his bravery and sacrifice and for 
the sacrifice of those who loved him.
  I ask all Members to join me in naming the Morris, Illinois, postal 
facility in honor of Joshua A. Terando.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee I 
am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 5428, which 
names the postal facility in Morris, Illinois, after the late Joshua A. 
Terando. H.R. 5428 was introduced by my colleague from Illinois (Mr. 
Weller) on May 19, 2006.
  This measure, which was unanimously reported by the Government Reform 
Committee on June 8, 2006, was cosponsored by the entire Illinois 
Congressional delegation. U.S. Army Sergeant Joshua A. Terando, age 27, 
a Reservist assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat 
Team, 28th Infantry Division, based in Washington, Pennsylvania, was 
killed on November 10, 2005. He died at Al Taqaddum, Iraq, of injuries 
sustained when his tank was attacked by enemy forces.
  Sergeant Terando had completed 6 years of active duty in 2001 when he 
was called back. He had just over a year to serve in the Army Reserves. 
Joshua was remembered by his family as quick-witted, easygoing and 
loving.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the 
sacrifice of soldier Joshua Terando by designating a postal office in 
his name in his hometown. No greater gift can one give than their life 
in the service and protection of others.
  I strongly support this measure and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume 
to my distinguished colleague from the State of Illinois (Mr. Weller), 
the author of this resolution.
  Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5428, 
legislation I introduced to honor Joshua Adam Terando by naming the 
Morris Post Office Building in his honor. I also want to thank my good 
friend from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) as well as my good friend from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their help on floor today.
  Joshua Terando is a local hero from Morris, Illinois. He gave his 
life for his country when he was killed on November 10, 2005, while 
serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today this House will be voting on 
legislation I introduced, along with the cosponsorship of the entire 
Illinois delegation, including the Speaker of this House, which 
designates the Morris Post Office the Joshua A. Terando Post Office 
Building. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Army Sergeant Joshua A. Terando was born and raised in Spring Valley, 
Illinois, until his family moved to Morris in 1990. Sergeant Terando 
graduated from Morris Community High School in 1996, and after his 
graduation, Sergeant Terando pursued work as a welder and went on to 
enlist in the United States Army in 1998, where he served his country 
for 3 years.
  After Sergeant Terando finished his enlistment with the Army, he 
joined Boilermaker Union Local One in Chicago and worked as a 
boilermaker apprentice from 2001 to 2005.
  In June of 2005, Sergeant Terando returned to the United States Army 
and was deployed to Iraq. He served as a sergeant, lst Battalion, 110th 
Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division.
  His other service duty included HHC 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger 
Regiment; HHC 3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, HHC 1st Battalion, 
110th Infantry; and 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division.

                              {time}  1430

  He was affectionately nicknamed ``Scrumpy'' by members of his platoon 
who were very fond of their comrade and leader.
  In October of 2005, Sergeant Joshua Terando showed all of us the true 
meaning of being a hero when his unit was sent to help evacuate fellow 
soldiers caught in enemy fire. Accounts by members of Sergeant 
Terando's unit hold that he saved at least one life on that mission, 
that of a fellow sergeant whose body Sergeant Terando shielded with his 
own until the man was evacuated by medical personnel. It is actions 
like these that make our men and women in uniform some of the bravest 
individuals in the world.
  On November 10, 2005, according to accounts, Sergeant Joshua 
Terando's unit, which was a quick response unit, was sent in to provide 
security for a mission to retrieve a disabled M1A1

[[Page H6376]]

Abrams tank near Khalidiyah, Iraq, a town approximately 40 miles west 
of Baghdad. An enemy sniper was preying on that tank crew and Sergeant 
Terando's tank crew was disbursed to clear the sniper. After a 
successful evacuation of the tank crew, Sergeant Terando was fatally 
wounded in the course of this engagement and gave the ultimate 
sacrifice for his country.
  Grundy County is my home county and Sergeant Terando was Grundy 
County's first casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was honored 
during his service with the National Defense Service Medal; the Global 
War on Terror Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Combat Infantry Badge 
for heroism in the line of fire; the Armed Forces Reserves Medal with 
M-Device; the Army Service Ribbon; Parachute Badge; Ranger Tab; and a 
Weapons Qualification Badge, Expert Rifle. Posthumously, Sergeant 
Terando was honored with the Bronze Star for bravery in combat; the 
Purple Heart; the Meritorious Service Award; and a Good Conduct Medal.
  Sergeant Terando's heroism was honored by the presentation to his 
parents, Jerry and Jeanine Terando, of the Gold Star, signifying that 
their son gave his life in combat.
  Sergeant Terando left many friends in Morris, Illinois, and this 
legislation will honor his memory and his patriotic service to our 
Nation. Local veterans have always reminded me that it is important to 
honor our soldiers and veterans every day. By naming our post office in 
our hometown of Morris, Illinois, after Sergeant Joshua Terando, we 
effectively honor all of them.
  Our thanks to Sergeant Terando and his family, and the honor of 
renaming this post office can never match the gift which Joshua has 
given our Nation. This honor merely represents that we will never 
forget the sacrifice which he and all who have died serving our Nation 
have made for all of us. We are eternally grateful.
  I know that we all maintain the family of Sergeant Terando and those 
of his fallen comrades in our prayers. I ask again that you join me in 
honoring and remembering this extraordinary young man, whose heroism 
exemplifies everything that America stands for. I ask for your support 
for H.R. 5428, the Joshua A. Terando Morris Post Office Designation 
Act.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 5428, as amended, the Joshua A. Terando Princeton Post 
Office Building, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5428, as amended.
  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. ROS-LEHTINEN. 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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