[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 155 (Monday, October 15, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11509-H11510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WALLACE S. HARTSFIELD POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3572) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 4320 Blue Parkway in Kansas City, 
Missouri, as the ``Wallace S. Hartsfield Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3572

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

     SECTION 1. WALLACE S. HARTSFIELD POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 4320 Blue Parkway in Kansas City, 
     Missouri, shall be known and designated as the ``Wallace S. 
     Hartsfield 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 ``Wallace S. Hartsfield Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks.

[[Page H11510]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the sponsor of this legislation, 
Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.
  Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I very proudly stand here today to 
recommend the Reverend Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, a minister in the 
Fifth Congressional District, which I very proudly serve, be given the 
honor of having a postal facility named in his honor at 4320 Blue 
Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri. All nine members of the Missouri 
delegation have signed on to this bill, and they signed on for one real 
reason. It is this:
  Rev. Hartsfield is an American story. He was born in Atlanta, 
Georgia, on November 12 in 1929. He was raised by his mother. He was 
the only child and yet she worked and struggled and pushed him. He 
eventually graduated from high school and then served a 3-year tour of 
duty with the United States Army. He returned to this country and 
attended Clark College, which is now called Clark Atlanta University. 
He received a bachelor's degree, and then he went on to receive a 
Master's of Divinity at Gammon Theological Seminary, which is known as 
the Interdenominational Theological Seminary today. He's received a 
number of honorary doctorate degrees, and he is recognized in our 
community as a man who is always going to be where something good is 
happening.
  He has been a strong worker in the field of diversity. He is a man 
who has been able to bring the clergy together from across racial and 
even religious lines. He's known as the dean of preachers in our 
community, and I dubbed him the ``Godfather of Preachers'' because of 
the respect he receives from members of the clergy. Anytime anything in 
our community is going on that is productive and meaningful, you can 
expect to see Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield present.
  This postal designation is the first I've ever introduced, and one of 
the reasons that I feel strongly about this is the post office delivers 
mail to everyone, and if you look at the life and work of the Reverend 
Wallace S. Hartsfield, that is exactly what he's done. He has delivered 
ministry, friendship and civic concern to everyone in our community, 
and so a post office, I think, is very, very appropriate to bear his 
name.
  And so, Madam Speaker, it would be my hope that this body would allow 
our community to celebrate fully his retirement at a November 9 
banquet, during which time I would like to proudly announce that the 
United States Congress has named a post office in his honor.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today to pay tribute to Rev. Wallace S. Hartsfield, a family 
man, community activist, and man of God.
  Rev. Hartsfield was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 12, 1929. 
After a 3-year tour of duty with the United States Army, he went on to 
receive a bachelor of arts degree from Clark College, now Clark Atlanta 
University. Three years later, in 1957, he received a Master of 
Divinity degree.
  The list of honorary degrees Rev. Hartsfield has earned is long and 
distinguished. They include a Doctor of Divinity from both Western 
Baptist Bible College in Kansas City, Missouri, and Virginia Seminary 
and College of Lyncher, Virginia.
  While his list of academic accomplishments is impressive, the work he 
has done since the end of his formal education is even more so. His 
first pastorate was in Pickens, South Carolina, and he served in the 
States of Kansas, Florida, and Georgia before settling into a position 
at the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church located in Kansas City, 
Missouri, a place he has preached for over 40 years.
  Rev. Hartsfield will retire on January 1, 2008, as senior pastor. 
During his long service to the church, he became affectionately known 
as the dean of Kansas City Ministers; and the cosponsor of this bill, 
Mr. Cleaver, has nicknamed him the Godfather of Preachers because of 
the knowledge he possesses and his impressive oratory skills. He has 
become a mentor not only for those in the local ministry, but for 
community leaders as well.
  His steadfast dedication to Kansas City and the surrounding area have 
helped solidify the community and shape it into what it is today. 
However, his leadership and influence have extended well beyond the 
boundaries of his duty as a minister. He has fought to promote, 
protect, and ensure civil liberties for all races, not only at home but 
across the Nation. And he served as president of the greater Kansas 
City chapter of Operation PUSH, an organization dedicated to the 
promotion of religious and social development and human rights.
  He is a former chairman of the Congress of National Black Churches 
that represents over 65,000 churches. He has also served in many 
positions within the National Baptist Convention of America.
  The reverend was appointed by the Governor to serve as commissioner 
on the Missouri Highway Commission and was at the forefront of efforts 
to construct the Metropolitan Homes, a 60-unit low-income housing 
development.
  Despite all of his work and the demands for his time and attention, 
they did not detract from his love for his family. The reverend just 
celebrated his 50th anniversary with his wife, Matilda Hopkins. They 
are the proud parents of four children.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me, Mr. Cleaver, and all 
of the members of the Missouri delegation in congratulating Rev. 
Hartsfield on his retirement, wish him well in his new endeavors, and 
join us in supporting the naming of the post office facility on Blue 
Parkway in Kansas City in his honor.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 
3572, which names a postal facility in Kansas City, Missouri, after 
Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr.
  H.R. 3572, which was introduced by Representative Emanuel Cleaver on 
September 18, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on 
October 4, 2007, by voice vote. This measure has the support of the 
entire Missouri congressional delegation.
  Madam Speaker, Rev. Dr. Wallace S. Hartsfield, Sr.'s dedication and 
service to the people of Kansas City goes back many years. He is a 
committed community activist, civil servant, and has served as the 
senior pastor of the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church since 1972. 
He is the vice president-at-large of the Economic Development 
Commission of the National Baptist Convention of America, Incorporated. 
He is a former chairman of the Congress of National Black Churches and 
past president of the General Baptist State Convention of Missouri, 
Kansas, and Nebraska. He has served as an adjunct professor and guest 
lecturer at numerous colleges and universities.
  Rev. Hartsfield is a well-respected man of faith, and on January 1, 
2008, he will retire as senior pastor of the Metropolitan Missionary 
Baptist Church.
  So, Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague, the Reverend 
Representative Emanuel Cleaver, for introducing this legislation. I 
enthusiastically support this legislation and urge its passage.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H.R. 3572.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capps). 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. 3572.
  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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