[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 147 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11043-H11044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          LAURENCE C. AND GRACE M. JONES POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3233) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at Highway 49 South in Piney Woods, Mississippi, as the 
``Laurence C. and Grace M. Jones Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3233

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

     SECTION 1. LAURENCE C. AND GRACE M. JONES POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at Highway 49 South in Piney Woods, 
     Mississippi, shall be known and designated as the ``Laurence 
     C. and Grace M. Jones 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 ``Laurence C. and Grace M. Jones Post 
     Office Building''.


[[Page H11044]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CLAY. Madam 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 Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in 
consideration of H.R. 3233, which names a postal facility in Piney 
Woods, Mississippi, after Laurence C. and Grace M. Jones.
  H.R. 3233, which was introduced by Representative Charles Pickering 
on July 31, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on 
September 20 of 2007 by voice vote. This measure has the support of the 
entire Mississippi congressional delegation.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Laurence Clifton Jones was born on November 21, 
1882, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He attended the University of Iowa and 
graduated in 1907. Due to racial oppression and widespread poverty 
among African Americans, he decided to establish a school in Piney 
Woods, Mississippi, to educate young people. He started the Piney Woods 
School with just $2 and three students.
  Dr. Jones married Ms. Grace M. Allen in 1912. She became a pivotal 
helpmate to her husband by performing fund-raising activities for the 
Piney Woods School. Mrs. Jones was an educator and taught courses in 
domestic science.
  Laurence and Grace Jones were dedicated educators who left a legacy 
in keeping with their principles, ``educating the head, hearts and 
hands'' of young people. The school they built continues to this day on 
a 60-acre campus among a 2,000-acre wooded site with an enrollment of 
275 students.
  Piney Woods School is the largest of four remaining historically 
black boarding high schools in the United States. It is a college 
preparatory high school with grades 9-12, where many students graduate 
and go on to college.
  I commend my colleague, Representative Charles ``Chip'' Pickering, 
for introducing this legislation and urge the swift passage of this 
bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I am pleased to support today H.R. 3233, naming the postal facility 
in Piney Woods, Mississippi, the Laurence C. and Grace M. Jones Post 
Office Building.
  Laurence Jones was well-known in Mississippi history for founding the 
Piney Woods School in 1909. After graduating from the University of 
Iowa, he returned to his home State of Missouri, where he was sought 
out by a local Baptist church to create a school for black children.
  Jones found himself by himself in an abandoned sheep shed with no 
students, but one day a small barefoot boy arrived seeking a lesson. 
The next day, this young boy came back with two friends. This simple 
and small beginning grew over the years to what is now a premier 
educational institution, teaching 300 high school students on a 300-
acre campus. Piney Woods is the country's largest African American 
boarding school and the oldest continually operating African American 
boarding school.
  Laurence's wife, Grace, was also an educator. They met in Iowa, where 
she had established a similar school for black children. Upon moving to 
Mississippi, she helped raise funds for Piney Woods and also taught 
classes. They believed in the importance of providing these youths with 
the educational opportunity they deserved.
  Laurence and Grace Jones were pioneers in the education system in the 
early 1900s. Their historic achievements are worthy of this 
recognition, and I am pleased to support H.R. 3233.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I urge the swift passage of H.R. 3233 and 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3233.
  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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