[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1851-H1852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CODY GRATER POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 5168) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 19101 Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, 
Florida, as the ``Cody Grater Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5168

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

     SECTION 1. CODY GRATER POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 19101 Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, 
     Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Cody Grater 
     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 ``Cody Grater Post Office Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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.

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues, particularly the 
gentlewoman from the Sunshine State of Florida, in consideration of 
H.R. 5168, which names the postal facility in Brooksville, Florida, 
after a fallen hero, Army Specialist Cody Grater.
  Introduced on January 29, 2008, H.R. 5168 is offered by Congresswoman

[[Page H1852]]

Ginny Brown-Waite, Representative of Florida's Fifth Congressional 
District, and is cosponsored by the State's entire congressional 
delegation. Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite's measure, H.R. 5168, was 
reported from the Oversight Committee on February 26, 2008, by voice 
vote.
  This morning's postal naming bill honoring Specialist Grater brings 
to life the tragic yet heroic story of another American soldier who 
gave his life in service to this great country of ours.
  A native of Spring Hill, Florida, Specialist Cody Grater was 
tragically killed on July 29, 2007, when his guard position was struck 
by a rocket-propelled grenade near Baghdad in Iraq. Specialist Grater 
was only 20 years old when he lost his life in the line of duty as a 
member of the 407th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 
82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
  The son of Anita Lewis and Larry Decker, Cody Grater joined the Army 
in April of 2006, and for his service, although short-lived, he has 
been awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. It is reported 
that during his burial service at Florida National Cemetery in 
Bushnell, Florida, the streets were lined for miles with well-wishers 
and people waving flags, saluting and crying in tribute to a true 
American hero.
  Mr. Speaker, let us also join that host of well-wishers, loved ones 
and friends of Specialist Cody Grater and pass H.R. 5168, designating 
the Cortez Boulevard Post Office Building in Brooksville, Florida, in 
his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the author of this legislation, the gentlewoman from Florida 
(Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite).
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the gentleman for 
recognizing me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 5168, which 
will rename the post office on Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, 
Florida, after Private First Class Cody Grater. Cody was a resident 
from my district who lived in Spring Hill. He gave the ultimate 
sacrifice, his life, for his country while serving in Iraq.
  Cody Grater joined the Army in 2006 when he was only 19 years old. 
Actually, my grandson went to high school with him, so this tragedy 
certainly did hit home with our family. Cody was proud to be serving 
his country and hoped to make a career out of his service in the Army. 
By the time of his death in July 2007, Cody had received the Purple 
Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Action Badge and many other 
honors.
  While serving on guard duty in Baghdad, the rooftop where Cody stood 
guard was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. Just two weeks earlier, 
Cody been on leave in Florida with his family, where he was telling 
people about his previous experiences in Iraq, sharing it with his 
friends, family and former high school mates. Even though he was just 
at the halfway point of his tour of duty, Cody expressed plans to 
reenlist after his initial service in the Army was completed.
  I hope that this act of renaming the post office will memorialize 
Cody's brave and selfless life. Cody Grater epitomizes the courage and 
patriotism of our volunteer military, and we must never forget his 
great sacrifice to our Nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill, which rightfully honors 
Cody Grater.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation to rename 
the post office located at 19101 Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, 
Florida, in honor of Private First Class Cody Grater.
  Private First Class Grater's love for his country can't be disputed, 
of course. He joined the U.S. Army as soon as he finished Springstead 
High School in Florida, and then made the ultimate sacrifice, laying 
down his life for the country he held dear.
  Growing up in Hernando County, Florida, Cody enjoyed working with 
cars and reading military-themed books. This, of course, led him to 
join the Army in April of 2006, where he was assigned to the 40th 
Brigade Battalion, 2nd Brigade Command Team, and then reassigned to the 
82nd Airborne Division.
  On July 29, 2007, Private First Class Grater was standing post on a 
rooftop of an outpost in Baghdad when he and a fellow comrade were 
struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. Tragically, 20-year-old Pfc. 
Grater was killed.
  Among his many awards and decorations for his remarkable achievements 
were the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, 
Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon 
and the Combat Action Badge.
  Pfc. Grater loved serving his country and firmly believed he was 
making a difference. With gratitude for his bravery and sacrifice to 
our country, I ask all Members to join me in voting to rename the post 
office located at 19101 Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville, Florida, in 
his honor.
  I want to thank Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite for bringing this legislation 
forward, and Chairman Waxman and Chairman Davis for their assistance in 
moving this to the floor today.
  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. 5168.
  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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