[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2564-H2565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MARISOL HEREDIA POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4185) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 11151 Valley Boulevard in El Monte, 
California, as the ``Marisol Heredia Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4185

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

     SECTION 1. MARISOL HEREDIA POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 11151 Valley Boulevard in El Monte, 
     California, shall be known and designated as the ``Marisol 
     Heredia 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 ``Marisol Heredia 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. 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 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 from the State of 
California in the consideration of H.R. 4185, which names the postal 
facility in El Monte after Specialist Marisol Heredia, a distinguished 
and heroic American servicewoman.
  H.R. 4185, which was introduced by Representative Solis of California 
on November 11, 2007, was considered by and reported from the Oversight 
Committee on March 13, 2008, by a voice vote. The measure has the 
support of the California delegation, and provides us with yet another 
opportunity to pay tribute to a member of our country's Armed Services.
  Specialist Marisol Heredia was only 19 years old when, on September 
7, 2007, she died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio as a 
result of complications suffered from a noncombat-related injury she 
received on July 18 in Baghdad, Iraq. Specialist Heredia was assigned 
to the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st 
Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
  Described as a strong-willed and perceptive young woman, Specialist 
Heredia held the rank of Specialist 4, and had served for months in 
war-torn Iraq before being badly burned on July 18 while refilling a 
generator. Although this special young lady was only 19 years old when 
she lost her life, her service and faithful commitment to preserving 
the liberties and freedoms for which our Nation is built upon are sure 
to live on forever.
  And so, Mr. Speaker, let us remember and pay tribute to the ultimate 
sacrifice made by Specialist Marisol Heredia and pass this measure at 
hand.
  I urge passage and reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage of H.R. 4185, to designate 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located in El Monte, 
California, as the Marisol Heredia Post Office Building.
  Mr. Speaker, Army Specialist Marisol Heredia of the 15th Brigade 
Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division, Fort 
Hood, Texas, was a young woman with a promising future. Specialist 
Heredia's life was tragically taken from her at the age of 19, while 
dutifully serving in the United States Army. She was deployed in 
Baghdad, Iraq, where she sustained noncombat-related injuries, which 
eventually led to her passing. Her injuries were sustained on July 18, 
2007, during the performance of a routine duty, the refueling of a 
generator. After a long and hard-fought battle, she ultimately 
succumbed to those injuries on September 7.
  Before enlisting, this young lady was a gifted student, who graduated 
from Mountain View High School with a GPA in the 3.5 range. During her 
time in high school, she developed an affinity for the French language 
and culture, becoming the vice-president of the school's French club. 
Joining the Army shortly after her high school graduation, she wanted 
to follow in her sister Claudia's footsteps.
  Enlisting to serve our great Nation is a selfless and brave 
vocational choice. Specialist Heredia served as an example of how 
military service is inherently dangerous and that those dangers are not 
limited solely to those in the battlefield. She's survived by her 
sisters, Claudia and Carolina; her mother, Rosa Heredia; her 
stepfather, Jose Dominguez; and her fiance, Travis Beaumont, a fellow 
United States Army soldier.
  With gratitude for her bravery and sacrifice to her country, I ask 
all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 4185, which will rename the 
post office in El Monte, California, in her honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our 
time, and urge passage of this legislation.

[[Page H2565]]

  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. 4185.
  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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