[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H357-H358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MASTER SERGEANT KENNETH N. MACK POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3988) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 3107 Altamesa Boulevard in Fort Worth, Texas, as the 
``Master Sergeant Kenneth N. Mack Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3988

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

     SECTION 1. MASTER SERGEANT KENNETH N. MACK POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 3701 Altamesa Boulevard in Fort Worth, 
     Texas, shall be known and designated as the ``Master Sergeant 
     Kenneth N. Mack 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 ``Master Sergeant Kenneth N. Mack Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Shays) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. 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 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. 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 colleagues in consideration of H.R. 
3988, which names the postal facility in Fort Worth, Texas, after 
Master Sergeant Kenneth N. Mack.
  H.R. 3988, which was introduced by Representative Kay Granger of 
Texas on October 29, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on 
December 12, 2007, by voice vote. This measure, which has been 
cosponsored by 31 Members, has the support of the entire Texas 
congressional delegation.
  Master Sergeant Mack was both a U.S. Marine and a postal employee for 
over 20 years before being killed in Iraq on February 5 during combat 
operations.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague and to urge the 
swift passage of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, today we honor the life of Marine Corps Master 
Sergeant Kenneth Mack, a soldier who strongly believed in the fight for 
freedom and was a true American hero.
  In 1982, shortly after graduating from Southwest High School, Master 
Sergeant Mack joined the Marines, where he served honorably for 23 
years. Master Sergeant Mack was a Postal Service mechanic and Master 
Sergeant in the Marine Reserve assigned to the

[[Page H358]]

Second Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
  In March of last year, this dedicated soldier was called to duty in 
Iraq for the second time and once again had to leave his family to 
serve his country. On the morning of May 5th of that year, a roadside 
bomb struck Master Sergeant Mack's vehicle in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. 
In a flash, an outstanding 23-year Marine Corps career was over and he 
was killed.
  A passionate family man, Sergeant Mack's wife remembers him as a 
person who put his family first and made sure the family participated 
in many activities together. His primary goal in life was to be a 
mentor for his children and to all children, according to his wife. He 
leaves behind his wife, mother and two children. I might just add, 
obviously he put his country first, too.
  Madam Speaker, in recognition of his service to his community and 
country as a Postal Service mechanic and Marine, we feel it is fitting 
to name the postal facility located at 3701 Altamesa Boulevard in Forth 
Worth, Texas, in honor of Master Sergeant Kenneth Mack.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I want to take note of the fact that this 
was probably a member of the Reserve or National Guard, because for 
over 20 years he had been a member of the Postal Service, which also 
comes under the jurisdiction of this committee.
  I think it bears underlining how much of the armed services of the 
United States today is made up of the post office, civil servants, 
first responders, often needed at home, but always willing to go where 
their country needs them. I find this a particularly deserving measure 
and urge passage of the bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3988.
  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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