[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S5043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. McCASKILL (for herself and Mr. Bond):
  S. 3082. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1700 Cleveland Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, as 
the ``Reverend Earl Abel Post Office Building''; to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mrs. McCASKILL. Mr. President, when I was a local elected official in 
Kansas City, MO, I had the distinct honor of getting to know many of 
the dedicated community leaders whose sole purpose for being involved 
was to improve the lives of their fellow citizens. One of the best and 
most beloved of these leaders was the Reverend Earl Abel.
  Reverend Abel was born on September 12, 1930. He attended University 
of Kansas and went on to receive his Doctor of Divinity Degree from 
Western Baptist Bible College. Reverend Abel worked as a U.S. Postal 
Service mail carrier until he organized the Palestine Missionary 
Baptist Church in 1959.
  Under Reverend Abel's leadership, what started out as a modest church 
of 11 members grew into a thriving ministry, touching the lives of 
thousands of community members across Kansas City, Missouri. While he 
was pastor, Palestine Church built two senior citizens residences, a 
Senior Activity Center, and a church camp for both youth and adults. 
Even as he worked tirelessly to reach out through these programs, 
Reverend Abel's involvement in the community did not end with his 
efforts at Palestine Church. Reverend Abel served as Chaplain for the 
Kansas City Police Department, President of the Baptist Ministers 
Union, member of the Kansas City Council on Crime Prevention, and 
authored a book entitled If a Church is to Grow. In 1999, Missouri 
Governor Mel Carnahan appointed Reverend Abel to the Appellate Judicial 
Commission.
  On May 17, 2005, Reverend Abel passed away after 46 years of service 
at Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ and more than 48 
years as a minister of God.
  Today I rise to offer a bill to honor this man by naming a post 
office facility in Kansas City after him. Given his early career as a 
mail carrier, it is only fitting for the location at 1700 Cleveland 
Avenue, in the heart of Kansas City, to carry his name. It is my hope 
that this small gesture helps ensure that the legacy of Rev. Abel lives 
on. A companion bill in the House of Representatives will be filed 
today by Rep. Cleaver, a fellow minister and selfless public servant 
who represents Kansas City.
  I hope my fellow colleagues will join me and my colleague Senator 
Bond in recognizing Reverend Earl Abel for his loving ministry and 
limitless dedication to serving the Kansas City, MO, community.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3082

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

     SECTION 1. REVEREND EARL ABEL POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1700 Cleveland Avenue in Kansas City, 
     Missouri, shall be known and designated as the ``Reverend 
     Earl Abel 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 ``Reverend Earl Abel Post Office 
     Building''.
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