[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 13 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H463-H464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RICHARD B. ANDERSON FEDERAL BUILDING

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4140) to designate the Port Angeles 
Federal Building in Port Angeles, Washington, as the ``Richard B. 
Anderson Federal Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4140

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

     SECTION 1. RICHARD B. ANDERSON FEDERAL BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The Federal building located at 138 West 
     First Street, Port Angeles, Washington, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     Federal building referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
     deemed to be a reference to the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Petri) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to 
revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on 
H.R. 4140.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4140 is a bill to designate the Federal building 
located at 138 West First Street, Port Angeles, Washington, as the 
Richard B. Anderson Federal Building.
  Private First Class Richard Anderson was born in 1921 in Tacoma, 
Washington. He joined the Marine Corps on July 6, 1942, and received 
his Marine Corps training in San Diego, California.
  He died at the young age of 22 during World War II and on Roi Island, 
part of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific. He was awarded the Purple 
Heart and the Medal of Honor. His heroism is marked by his actions on 
Roi Island when he hurled himself on a live grenade in a shell hole to 
save the lives of many people. He was severely injured and died of his 
injuries on February 1, 1944. He was buried at sea with full military 
honors.
  In 1945, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Richard B. Anderson was named in 
honor of Medal of Honor recipient Anderson.
  It is both fitting and proper to honor the life and courageous 
actions of Richard B. Anderson in this designation. I support this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The bill before us designates what is a Federal building in Port 
Angeles, Washington, as the Richard B. Anderson Federal Building.
  Richard Beatty Anderson served in the United States Marines during 
World War II in the Marshall Islands. He sacrificed his life to save 
three other marines by throwing his body on a live grenade and taking 
the full impact of the explosion. Private First Class Anderson was 
evacuated to a ship where he died of his wounds on February 1, 1944.
  His heroism and loyalty in the face of certain death earned him the 
Medal of Honor. The United States Navy destroyer USS Richard B. 
Anderson was

[[Page H464]]

named in his honor in 1945 and went on to serve in both the Korean and 
Vietnam Wars, earning 15 battle stars.
  This bill is a fitting tribute to Private First Class Anderson's 
sacrifice and service to his country. I support this measure and urge 
my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. DICKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4140, a bill to 
designate the Port Angeles Federal Building in Port Angeles, 
Washington, as the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building.''
  Private First Class Richard B. Anderson was born in Tacoma, 
Washington on June 26, 1921 and graduated from Sequim High School in 
Sequim, Washington. Private Anderson entered the Marine Corps in 1942 
and eventually joined his last unit, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 23rd 
Marines in San Diego, California. He departed for Roi-Namur, an island 
in the northern part of the Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands, 
with his unit in January 1944.
  While hunting enemy snipers on Roi-Namur, PFC Anderson, a member of 
the invasion force, hurled himself on a live grenade in a shell hole to 
save the lives of three Marines. Anderson was evacuated to a ship, 
where he died of his wounds on February 1, 1944. For his heroic 
actions, PFC Anderson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal 
of Honor and the Purple Heart.
  Mr. Speaker, the House is now considering legislation that will honor 
PFC Anderson for his heroic efforts on Roi Island. Specifically, this 
legislation would rename the Federal Building in Port Angeles, 
Washington after Richard B. Anderson. I urge the House to adopt this 
important legislation.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4140 designates the Port Angeles 
Federal Building located at 138 West First Street, Port Angeles, 
Washington, as the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building.''
  Private First Class, PFC, Richard B. Anderson was born on June 26, 
1921, in Tacoma, Washington. Anderson grew up in Port Angeles, 
Washington, and attended Sequim High School.
  On July 6, 1942, Anderson joined the United States Marine Corps. He 
received his basic and infantry training at the Marine Corps Recruit 
Depot in San Diego, California, and was promoted to the rank of Private 
First Class on April 12, 1943.
  Following his promotion, PFC Anderson was assigned to the East 
Company, 2nd Battalion, of the 23rd Marines. PFC Anderson's unit was 
deployed to the Marshall Islands in January 1944. On February 1, 1944, 
his company was part of an invasion force fighting to take control of 
Rio Island from the Japanese.
  During the assault, Anderson and three other Marines jumped into a 
shell crater to escape enemy flre. As Anderson prepared to throw a 
grenade from inside the crater, the grenade slipped from his hands and 
began to roll toward the other three marines in the crater. In an act 
of selfless heroism, Anderson lunged on top of the live grenade and 
absorbed the full impact of the blast, saving the lives of his fellow 
soldiers. Anderson died from his wounds shortly thereafter.
  After his death, PFC Anderson was awarded the Purple Heart and the 
Medal of Honor for his acts of bravery and service to his country.
  On October 26, 1945, the United States Navy commissioned a DD-786 
destroyer battleship as the USS Richard B. Anderson in honor of the 
fallen hero. The ship began active service in January 1947, and was 
used in combat for the Vietnam and Korean wars. The ship remained in 
active service until December 20, 1975.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4140.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests 
for time, and I yield back my time and urge passage.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4140.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the 
yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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