[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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