[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 115 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6417-H6418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              BISHOP RALPH E. BROWER POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 5506) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in 
Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Bishop Ralph E. Brower Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5506

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

     SECTION 1. BISHOP RALPH E. BROWER POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey 
     City, New Jersey, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Bishop Ralph E. Brower 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 ``Bishop Ralph E. Brower Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) 
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.
  As a Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 
5506 which names the postal facility in Jersey City, New Jersey, after 
Bishop Ralph E. Brower. H.R. 5506, which was introduced by 
Representative Albio Sires of New Jersey on February 27, 2008, was 
reported from the Oversight Committee on June 12, 2008, by voice vote.
  This measure has the support of the entire New Jersey delegation and 
provides this body a chance to recognize the contributions and 
accomplishments of a distinguished and highly respected gentleman from 
the Garden State of New Jersey, the admirable Bishop Ralph E. Brower.

                              {time}  1430

  Unfortunately, Representative Sires is unable to join us on the floor 
today, but nonetheless, he asked that his statement of support be 
submitted for the Record.
  Born into humble beginnings in North Carolina as the eldest of six 
children, Bishop Brower's educational aspirations led him to attend 
Laurinburg Institute and Kettle College of North Carolina. He received 
his master's degree from Kings College in Briarcliff Manor, New York, 
his master's in divinity from Florida State University, and his Ph.D. 
from Grambling State University.
  Bishop Brower began to make his mark on New Jersey and the community 
of Jersey City in the early 1950s when he took the helm of St. 
Michael's Methodist Church. Over the years, he has overseen the growth 
of the congregation from six members to the thousands that now worship 
at St. Michael's.
  Largely responsible for helping the church and its congregation 
blossom into a positive force for change in the community, Bishop Ralph 
E. Brower undoubtedly deserves the honor of having a United States 
postal facility named after him.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in support 
of this measure by voting in favor of H.R. 5506.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 5506, a resolution to designate the post 
office located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New 
Jersey, as the ``Bishop Ralph E. Brower Post Office Building.''
  Bishop Ralph E. Brower, a Methodist pastor and native of North 
Carolina, has been a vital presence in the religious and civic 
communities of northern New Jersey for over five decades.
  A community leader and accomplished intellectual, Bishop Brower is, 
above all, a devoted family man. Married to his loving wife, Alberta, 
for over 60 years, the bishop has been the guiding force in the lives 
of his three wonderful children and 18 grandchildren and great-
grandchildren.
  His dedication to his denomination and community is exemplary, and it 
is fitting to name the post office in Jersey City, New Jersey, in his 
honor.
  Generous and compassionate, Bishop Brower's passion for religious and 
civic duties is fueled by a personal commitment to intellectual 
development. After receiving his B.A. from Kettle College, he went on 
to earn an M.A. from Kings College, and finally a Ph.D from Grambling 
State University.
  Academic accolades only scratch the surface of a man who has devoted 
so much of his life to improving the lives of the people surrounding 
him. He served in numerous positions including as the Commissioner for 
the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and 4 years as the Deputy Mayor of 
Jersey City. His service demonstrates that he truly is a man of the 
people. This devotion has not gone unnoticed. Over the years, the 
Bishop has received a number of accolades for his civic devotion by 
organizations such as the New Jersey Urban League and NAACP.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5506 which would 
designate the U.S. Postal Service building located at 369 Martin Luther 
King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey as the ``Bishop Ralph E. 
Brower Post Office Building.''
  Bishop Ralph E. Brower has dedicated more than 50 years of his life 
in service to the community of Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1954, he was 
called to build the St. Michael Methodist Church. He started the church 
with only six members, and served their parish as pastor for over 54 
years.
  In addition to his role as pastor, Bishop Brower served the Jersey 
City community in

[[Page H6418]]

many ways. His professional and ministerial accomplishments also 
include being president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance 
for 25 years; Hudson County Chaplain for 25 years; commissioner for the 
Jersey City Redevelopment for 5 years; and deputy mayor for 4 years.
  With his lifetime of dedication to public service and ministry, 
Bishop Ralph E. Brower consistently illustrates his caring and 
commitment to the Jersey City community.
  I am thrilled to celebrate this dedicated community leader through 
this legislation. I cannot think of better way to honor Bishop Brower's 
work then to designate a U.S. Postal Office in his name.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time and urge passage.
  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. 5506.
  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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