[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1243-H1244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CYNDI TAYLOR KRIER POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4774) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 10250 John Saunders Road in San 
Antonio, Texas, as the ``Cyndi Taylor Krier Post Office Building,'' as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4774

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

     SECTION 1. CYNDI TAYLOR KRIER POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 10250 John Saunders Road in San Antonio, 
     Texas, shall be known and designated as the ``Cyndi Taylor 
     Krier 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 ``Cyndi Taylor Krier Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) 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, I now yield myself such time as I 
may consume.

[[Page H1244]]

  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I join Representative Lamar Smith and his fellow colleagues 
from the Lone Star State of Texas in considering H.R. 4774, as amended, 
which renames the postal facility in San Antonio, Texas, after the 
Honorable Cyndi Taylor Krier. As stated, the measure at hand was first 
introduced by Congressman Smith on December 18, 2007, and is 
cosponsored by all members of the Texas congressional delegation. The 
measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, where it was amended and then passed by voice vote on February 
26, 2008.
  H.R. 4774 would help to recognize the life and service of Cyndi 
Taylor Krier by renaming the post office on John Saunders Road in San 
Antonio, Texas, in her honor. A remarkable public servant, Ms. Krier 
has given over 25 years of her life in government service, with 
positions on the Federal, State and local levels in the executive, 
legislative and judicial branches of government.
  Born July 12, 1950, in Beeville, Texas, Cyndi Taylor Krier became the 
first woman ever elected as Bexar County judge, where she represented 
1.4 million people in the metropolitan area of San Antonio, Texas. She 
was reelected as county judge in 1994 and 1998 without opposition.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that we pay tribute to the contributions made by 
this great American citizen and pass H.R. 4774, as amended.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my colleague from 
Texas (Mr. Smith), the sponsor of the bill, such time as he may 
consume.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. First of all, I thank my friend from Indiana (Mr. 
Burton), the former chairman of the Government Reform Committee, for 
yielding me time. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis) for bringing this bill to the House floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, today we honor Cyndi Taylor Krier, a distinguished 
public servant who has spent more than a quarter of a century in local, 
State and Federal public office in the executive, legislative and 
judicial branches of government.
  Cyndi Krier began her public service career when she became the first 
woman from Bexar County elected to the Texas senate. She represented 
Bexar County in the State senate from 1985 to 1992, serving on the 
Finance, Education, Jurisprudence, and Natural Resources Committees. 
She then became the first woman elected Bexar County judge. She served 
as county judge from 1992 to 2001, representing more than 1.4 million 
people in the San Antonio metropolitan area.
  Cyndi Krier also was a regent for the University of Texas system from 
2001 to 2007, overseeing the University of Texas' nine academic and six 
health campuses, and serving as vice chairman of the board and as 
chairman of the academic affairs committee.
  Cyndi Krier's family has strong ties to the United States Postal 
Service. Her grandfather served as postmaster in Dinero, Texas, until 
his death in 1956, and was succeeded by her grandmother, who served as 
postmaster for more than 20 years. Her mother served the United States 
Postal Service in Beeville, Texas, for more than 30 years as a clerk, 
rural route delivery person, and civil service examiner.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 
accomplishments of a good friend, Cyndi Taylor Krier, by supporting 
H.R. 4774, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 10250 John Saunders Road in San Antonio, Texas, as 
the Cyndi Taylor Krier Post Office Building.
  Mr. Speaker, again, it gives me great pleasure to have introduced 
this bill and to see it considered by the House today.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today to urge passage of this bill honoring a tremendous 
citizen of the great State of Texas for her continued dedication to 
improving her region, state, and country--the Honorable Cyndi Taylor 
Krier.
  A native of Texas, Cyndi Krier has proudly followed in the footsteps 
of a long line of public servants. Her grandfather served as the 
postmaster in Dinero, Texas, until his death in 1956 and was succeeded 
by his wife, Cyndi's grandmother, who served as postmaster for an 
additional 20 years. Additionally, Cyndi's own mother served the USPS 
in Beeville, Texas, for more than 30 years.
  Earning both her bachelor's and law degrees from the University of 
Texas, Austin, Mrs. Krier was elected to the State Senate in 1984 and 
went on to serve two terms, until 1992.
  In 1992, Mrs. Krier became the first woman and first Republican ever 
elected as Bexar County Judge. In this capacity she worked to ``Build a 
Better Bexar County.''
  Throughout her career as judge, she focused on youth education 
programs, broad-based ethics reform, recycling and conservation, 
competition for country and contracts and controlling government 
spending. She was successfully reelected twice in 1994 and 1998.
  In 2001, Governor Rick Perry appointed her to a six-year term on the 
University of Texas System Board of Regents. She served in various 
capacities on the board including as vice chairman and as Chairman of 
the Academic Affairs Committee.

  Throughout her career, Mrs. Krier has remained active in the 
community outside of her professional duties. Whether through her work 
with the United Way, serving as Chairman of the UT Austin Ex-Student 
Association or the number of statewide task forces helping to plan for 
the future of Texas, Judge Krier has consistently demonstrated her 
commitment to improving others' lives.
  I urge swift passage of this bill designating the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 10250 John Saunders Road in San 
Antonio, Texas, as the ``Cyndi Taylor Krier Post Office Building,'' to 
honor this dedicated, passionate, and tireless public servant.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
fitting tribute.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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. 4774, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. 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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