[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 26 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1442-H1443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MIGUEL ANGEL GARCIA MENDEZ POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 414) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 60 Calle McKinley, West in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as 
the ``Miguel Angel Garcia Mendez Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 414

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

     SECTION 1. MIGUEL ANGEL GARCIA MENDEZ POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 60 Calle McKinley, West in Mayaguez, 
     Puerto Rico, shall be known and designated as the ``Miguel 
     Angel Garcia Mendez 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 ``Miguel Angel Garcia Mendez Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in this House in the 
consideration of H.R. 414, legislation naming a postal facility in 
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico after the local politician, Miguel Angel Garcia 
Mendez.
  Mr. Garcia Mendez proudly served the territory of Puerto Rico as the 
youngest Speaker of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives, serving 
between 1932 and 1940. He later was elected senator and founded the 
newspaper, El Imparcial.
  Born in the town of Aguadilla on November 17, 1902, Mr. Garcia Mendez 
became an attorney and successful businessman. During his political 
career, he helped start the Republican Statehood Party, which was the 
predecessor of today's New Progressive Party, in 1948.
  Up until his death, he advocated for Puerto Rico statehood in the 
hope that they would gain the right as American citizens to vote for 
President and to have a counted vote in the U.S. Congress.
  Mr. Garcia Mendez passed away in November of 1998, and his dedication 
to service for all Puerto Ricans should be remembered and celebrated 
with this small tribute.

[[Page H1443]]

  Mr. Speaker, together with my colleagues in the House, I urge the 
swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 414. It is an appropriate 
naming of a post office on behalf of a gentleman who for 96 years was a 
champion of statehood for Puerto Rico.
  Puerto Rico is not just a territory, Puerto Rico is in fact the 
largest of all the territories, having a population that would give it 
at least four Members of Congress if it were to become a State.
  Although he never succeeded in bringing statehood to Puerto Rico, he 
kept the hope alive and the belief alive by the Puerto Rican people 
that in fact they were Americans, and that as Americans one of their 
options would be statehood.
  As a prominent businessman, he founded the Western Bank and was the 
owner of a very prominent newspaper in Puerto Rico.
  He was born on November 17, 1902, and throughout his career he 
championed many activities beyond statehood. He was one of the founders 
of the New Progressive Party. He served in the Puerto Rico House of 
Representatives from 1932 to 1940, where he became the youngest Speaker 
and later was elected to the Senate.
  We remember Mr. Mendez here today, and name this post office on 
behalf of him at the request of our Delegate from Puerto Rico, Luis 
Fortuno, who unfortunately could not be here today, but who in fact 
found this to be the most appropriate person to name the post office 
after because of his long years of service to the territory of Puerto 
Rico and to the aspirations of the Puerto Rican people.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. 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 Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 414.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________