[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4923-H4924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HARRIETT F. WOODS POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1617) to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 561 Kingsland Avenue in University
City, Missouri, as the ``Harriett F. Woods Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1617
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. HARRIETT F. WOODS POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 561 Kingsland Avenue in University City,
Missouri, shall be known and designated as the ``Harriett F.
Woods 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 ``Harriett F. Woods Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jackson of Illinois). Pursuant to the
rule, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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 Illinois?
There was no objection.
{time} 1245
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such
time as he may consume to the sponsor of this legislation,
Representative Russ Carnahan from the State of Missouri.
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
1617, which would name a post office after a true pioneer in Missouri
politics and especially for women in politics, Harriett F. Woods.
Ms. Woods passed away in February. It would be a fitting tribute to
name a post office in her honor in the very town where her storied
political career began, University City, Missouri. This was also the
post office that Ms. Woods used for over 50 years.
Her political career began in the 1960s as a member of the University
City Council where she became the first woman appointed to the State
Highway Commission. She was elected to the Missouri State Senate in
1976, where she sponsored an equal rights amendment to the State
Constitution. While in the State Senate, she also passed landmark
legislation which led to drunk driving laws and nursing home reform
which became national models adopted throughout the country.
In 1984, she was elected Lieutenant Governor, becoming the first
woman elected to statewide office in Missouri history. She was a
trailblazer for women in politics even after she left elected office.
She served 4 years as President of the nonpartisan National Women's
Political Caucus. During her tenure, the number of women elected to
Congress increased dramatically, including the historic ``Year of the
Woman'' election of 1992.
Vivian Eveloff, Director of the nonpartisan Sue Shear Institute for
Women in Public Life in St. Louis, described Ms. Woods as a strong
advocate ``to encourage women of all ages, walks of life and political
views to step forward and take on policymaking positions.''
Harriett Woods was a role model and inspiration to young people, but
especially young women. I am proud to have introduced this legislation
to name her hometown post office in her honor, ensuring that her memory
and inspiration will continue to be a visible part of our community.
The last time I saw our former Lieutenant Governor Woods was in
Washington. She was here this past January. Even though she was not
feeling well, she made an extraordinary effort to be here for the
historic occasion of our new female U.S. Senator, Senator McCaskill,
when she was sworn in, and also see the historic occasion of the first
woman Speaker sworn into this House. It was very fitting she was here
as part of those historic events.
I want to make a special thanks to the many cosponsors of this bill
honoring Lieutenant Governor Woods, including nearly all women Members
of Congress from both sides of the aisle and the Missouri delegation.
I urge all Members of this body to support the legislation.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Harriett Woods, a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, politician,
author and community activist, passed away at her home in University
City, Missouri, this February of leukemia. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and
raised in Chicago, Illinois, she went on to attend the University of
Michigan. It was there that she became the first female editor of the
school's highly esteemed student newspaper.
In later years, her career and political life proved to be an uphill
battle
[[Page H4924]]
against more popular-known male politicians. Her political career began
as a stay-at-home mom. She went to the city council with a complaint
about a noisy manhole cover. When they ignored her, she pushed forward
launching a successful petition to have the street closed. Causing the
attention of the local press, she earned a job to run a community
public affairs panel. Soon after, she was elected to the University
City Council where she served for 8 years. She followed that up with
two terms in the Missouri State Senate.
Harriett Woods ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1982, but her
name became well known throughout the State. It helped her 2 years
later to become the first female elected to statewide office in
Missouri when she held the office of Lieutenant Governor. It was a post
she held until 1989.
She remained active in politics and her local community throughout
the rest of her life, focusing primarily on women's issues. From 1991
to 1995, she was President of the National Women's Political Caucus.
Her dedicated work even earned her a spot on the St. Louis Walk of
Fame.
It is with great pleasure that we honor her today with this post
office naming, and I ask all Members to support H.R. 1617 in honor of
this great lady.
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 House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, I am pleased to join with my colleague in
consideration of H.R. 1617, which names a postal facility in University
City, Missouri, after Harriett F. Woods.
H.R. 1617, which was introduced by Representative Russ Carnahan on
March 21, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on May 1,
2007, by a voice vote. This measure has been cosponsored by 74 Members
and has the entire support of the Missouri delegation.
Ms. Harriett F. Woods was elected from the 13th District of Missouri
in St. Louis County to the Missouri State Senate in November of 1976.
She was reelected for a second term in November of 1980. She was the
first woman to win statewide offices in Missouri, becoming Lieutenant
Governor in 1984. She ran for the U.S. Senate twice in the 1980s, and
while both attempts failed, it inspired other women to run for and win
political office. Ms. Woods was an activist who promoted women
politicians. She served two terms as President of the National Women's
Political Caucus and led the Clinton administration's Coalition for
Women Appointments in 1993.
Before becoming an elected official, Ms. Woods was an independent
film producer and served 10 years as the Public Affairs Director at
KPLR-TV in St. Louis. At KPLR, she produced many noted documentaries,
among them the award-winning film on child abuse, ``Broken Children,''
``Don't Go to Jail in Missouri'' and ``Piedmont UFO.''
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague Russ Carnahan for introducing
this legislation and urge its swift passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, I urge all
my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1617, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me share my support for legislation to
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at
561 Kingsland Avenue in University City, MO, as the ``Harriett F. Woods
Post Office Building.'' Harriet Woods will long be remembered as a
pioneer in American politics.
Born in Cleveland, OH, Harriet Woods received a bachelor of arts
degree in philosophy from the University of Michigan. She married Jim
Woods on January 2, 1953. Before beginning her career in politics,
Woods worked as a journalist and television producer.
Woods' political career began in 1962, when she became a member of
the University City Council. In 1976, she was elected to the Missouri
State Senate and was re-elected in 1980. Dedicated to women's
participation in government, Woods was the first woman to win statewide
office in Missouri when she was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1984.
While she was not successful in the two Senate races in which she was a
candidate, her actions and leadership inspired hundreds of women
nationwide to participate in politics.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I simply join with my colleague from Georgia in urging
passage of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1617.
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.
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