[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 133 (Monday, September 10, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10331-H10332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1245
                     ROBERT MERRILL POSTAL STATION

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2778) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 3 Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle, 
New York, as the ``Robert Merrill Postal Station''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2778

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

     SECTION 1. ROBERT MERRILL POSTAL STATION.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 3 Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle, New 
     York, shall be known and designated as the ``Robert Merrill 
     Postal Station''.
       (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 ``Robert Merrill Postal Station''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Sali) 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.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as she might consume to the distinguished gentlelady from New 
York, who is the author of this legislation, Representative Nita Lowey.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation, which would rename the Wykagyl Post Office in New 
Rochelle, New York after Robert Merrill.
  I want to thank Chairman Waxman for his support of this bill and for 
placing it on the suspension calendar today.
  Born on June 4, 1919, Robert Merrill spent his life performing from 
the grand stages of the world's opera houses to Broadway and music and 
television. He set the standard for theatrical and musical excellence.
  Robert Merrill was a favorite of U.S. Presidents, performing at the 
invitation of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Ronald 
Reagan. He was the only singer to perform before Congress, the Cabinet 
and the Supreme Court, and Mrs. Roosevelt at the Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt memorial service held in the U.S. Capitol.
  In 1968, President Johnson appointed him to the National Council on 
the Arts, and President Clinton awarded him the National Medal of Arts 
in 1993.
  Throughout his career, Merrill performed as a soloist with every 
major orchestra in the United States and many of the world's great 
conductors, including Arturo Toscanini, Leonard Bernstein and Herbert 
von Karajan. His annual coast-to-coast recitals included performances 
at such venues as Wolf Trap, the Hollywood Bowl, Philadelphia's Mann 
Music Center.
  Often referred to as ``America's Star Spangled Baritone,'' he was 
well known for singing the ``Star Spangled Banner'' at Yankee Stadium. 
In 1969, Merrill began singing the national anthem on opening day for 
the New York Yankees, a tradition that continued for over 25 years.
  In addition to his dedicated singing career, Robert Merrill also lent 
his talent and presence to community and local charities, including 
volunteer work at the New Rochelle Hospital and New Rochelle Public 
Library.
  For over 50 years, Robert and his wife, Marion, made New Rochelle, 
New York their home and were active supporters of West Chester 
Community College, the West Chester Arts Council and the New Rochelle 
Arts Council.
  Mr. Speaker, Robert Merrill spread his talents and love for the arts 
all over the country, enriching all who experienced his performances. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this great American by 
passing this legislation.
  Mr. SALI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  We do rise today to honor a truly great artist in the field of opera. 
Robert Merrill, the highly acclaimed baritone singer was well known for 
his remarkable career with the Metropolitan Opera.
  He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, son of Polish 
immigrants, and he was first inspired to perform as a singer after 
watching a performance of Il Trovatore as a teenager. His mother guided 
him through his early musical training, which he paid for by working as 
a semiprofessional baseball pitcher.
  An avid baseball fan, he became widely known for his annual singing 
of the national anthem at Yankee Stadium on opening day and for special 
events, a tradition he carried on for over 30 years.
  His legendary performances at the Metropolitan Opera brought him 
national fame and recognition in the arts and the opportunity to 
perform with other notable singers and entertainers.
  He performed for numerous presidents, including Franklin D. 
Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. 
Throughout his career, he performed as a soloist with some of the 
world's greatest conductors, made numerous recordings, and appeared at 
several worldwide music festivals. Outside of the stage performances, 
he also ventured into radio and television.
  Robert Merrill enjoyed a successful career in performing music for 
over 30 years. His velvety smooth voice was said to have improved with 
every performance. He retired from the opera in 1976, and made one 
final performance in 1983 for its centennial.
  In 1968, he was appointed to the National Council on the Arts by 
President Johnson and was awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 
1993.
  He died at the age of 85 while watching his favorite pastime, 
baseball, at his home in New Rochelle, New York. It is appropriate that 
we honor him with the naming of a post office in his beloved hometown.
  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 Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleague in the 
consideration of H.R. 2778, which names the postal facility in New 
Rochelle, New York after Robert Merrill.
  H.R. 2778, which was introduced by Representative Nita Lowey on June 
19, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on August 1, 2007, 
by voice vote. This measure has the support of the entire New York 
congressional delegation.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Robert Merrill was born on June 14, 1917, in the New 
York City borough of Brooklyn. As a teenager, he dreamed of either 
playing professional baseball or becoming one of America's top singers. 
In 1944, he made his professional debut singing Amonasro in ``Aida'' on 
a Trenton, New Jersey stage. A year later, he signed with the 
Metropolitan Opera, where he would sing more than 500 performances over 
the course of 3 decades.
  Throughout Mr. Merrill's career, he sang with popular stars ranging 
from Frank Sinatra to Louis Armstrong and appeared worldwide at music 
festivals. He performed as a soloist with many of the world's great 
conductors, including Leonard Bernstein.
  Mr. Merrill performed for several presidents, including President 
Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Harry S. Truman, President Dwight D. 
Eisenhower and President John F. Kennedy.

[[Page H10332]]

He died on October 23, 2004, at the age of 85.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Nita Lowey, for 
introducing this legislation that highlights the career of one of 
America's most talented artists. I commend her for this introduction 
and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SALI. 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 Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2778.
  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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