[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8324-H8325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  JACOB M. LOWELL POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 6681) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 300 Vine Street in New Lenox, 
Illinois, as the ``Jacob M. Lowell Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6681

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

     SECTION 1. JACOB M. LOWELL POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 300 Vine Street in New Lenox, Illinois, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Jacob M. Lowell 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 ``Jacob M. Lowell Post Office Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam 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. Madam Speaker, I now yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I stand with my colleagues from my home State of 
Illinois in consideration of H.R. 6681, which renames the postal 
facility in New Lenox, Illinois, in honor of Jacob M. Lowell.
  H.R. 6681 enjoys the support of the entire House congressional 
delegation from Illinois and was introduced by Representative Jerry 
Weller back on July 30, 2008. The measure was taken up by the Oversight 
Committee on September 10, 2008 and was passed by the panel by a voice 
vote.
  H.R. 6681 calls for honoring Jacob M. Lowell's service to this 
country. Jacob M. Lowell of New Lenox, Illinois, was assigned to the 
1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Air Assault), 173rd Airborne 
Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy, when he died on June 2 near Gowardesh, 
Afghanistan. He died of wounds suffered when his unit came into contact 
with enemy forces using a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. 
This heroic son of Illinois was just 22 years old when he passed away.
  Army Specialist Lowell played football for Lincoln-Way Central High 
School in New Lenox, Illinois.

                              {time}  1400

  He graduated in 2003 and 2 years later enlisted in the Army. 
According to his family, Jacob joined the Army because he wanted to 
serve his country.
  Madam Speaker, in honor of Jacob M. Lowell's service, I urge that we 
pass without reservation H.R. 6681 and rename the postal facility on 
Vine Street in New Lenox, Illinois, after this great American 
serviceman.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise this afternoon to pay tribute to a remarkable 
American and true

[[Page H8325]]

hero, Army Specialist Jacob Michael Lowell, from New Lenox, Illinois.
  It was June 2, 2007, and he was on his first patrol of his first tour 
in Afghanistan with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, working as a gunner 
when his Humvee was ambushed. To the surprise of no one who knew him, 
Jacob moved immediately to protect his comrades but was shot and 
killed. Jacob Michael Lowell was 22.
  Madam Speaker, it is appropriate that we rename the post office in 
his home town in his honor. It will serve as a reminder to those who 
loved him of his courage and to those who come after him of his 
character and dedication to his country and fellow citizens.
  Army Specialist Lowell was a 2003 graduate of Lincoln-Way Central 
High School where he played on the offensive line for the school's 
football team. He was one of those ``110 percent guys'' who always gave 
all he had and more.
  From there, he went to college at Saint Xavier University and from 
there, in 2005, he enlisted in the Army. He was assigned to the 173rd 
Airborne in Vicenzia, Italy. It was there he learned to love to jump 
form planes. He would call home to Illinois and tell his friends and 
family when and where he would take his next jump.
  He was a man who loved doing his job, serving his country and 
protecting the freedom we hold dear. And that's why I urge all members 
to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, we are here this afternoon to pay tribute to a 
remarkable American and true hero, Army Specialist Jacob Michael Lowell 
from New Lenox, Illinois. And to do that, I yield such time as he may 
consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Illinois, the 
author of this bill, Mr. Weller.
  Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 6681, legislation I introduced in honor of Jacob M. Lowell to 
name the New Lenox Post Office in his honor. I also want to thank 
Chairman Waxman, Ranking Member Tom Davis, my very good friend, 
Chairman Danny Davis, a member of our Illinois delegation, as well as 
Ranking Member Kenny Marchant for their support and assistance today.
  Army Specialist Jacob Michael Lowell is a national hero who gave his 
life for his country on June 2, 2007, near Gowardesh, Afghanistan, 
while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. Today the House will be 
voting on legislation I introduced with the cosponsorship of the entire 
Illinois delegation which will designate the New Lenox Post Office the 
``Jacob M. Lowell New Lenox Post Office Building.'' I urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  Army Specialist Jacob Lowell of New Lenox, Illinois, graduated from 
Lincoln-Way Central High School in 2003. He attended St. Xavier 
University before heeding the call to serve his country and enlist in 
the Army in 2005. Specialist Lowell was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 
503rd Infantry Regiment (Air Assault), 173rd Airborne Brigade, Camp 
Ederle, Italy. He is remembered by his fellow soldiers for being an 
avid football fan and expressing his support by shouting ``Go Bears'' 
at nearly any time.
  On June 2, 2007, Jacob Lowell heroically defended his convoy. And as 
his company commander said, he did his duty all the way up until the 
end. After already having been hit by small arms fire and facing 
enemies using rocket-propelled grenades, Specialist Lowell manned a 50-
caliber machine gun in defense of many members of his platoon. The 
wounds he suffered proved to be fatal to Specialist Lowell, but they 
were not enough to keep him from doing his heroic duty. Those present 
that day credit Jacob with saving lives.
  Hearing such actions reminds us just how brave our men and women in 
uniform are.
  Lowell was awarded the Bronze Star with ``V'' for valor and the 
Combat Infantryman's Badge for his actions during the firefight, and on 
May 12, 2008, his fellow soldiers renamed a combat outpost in Nuristan 
Province after their beloved, fallen comrade.
  Local veterans have always reminded me that it's important to honor 
our soldiers and veterans each and every day. By naming the New Lenox 
Post Office after Jacob, we effectively honor all of them. It should be 
in the hearts and minds of all those who visit this post office that 
heroes like Jacob both founded our Nation and stand ready to protect it 
each and every day.
  Our sincerest thanks to Specialist Lowell and to his family, and the 
honor of renaming this post office could never match the gift which 
Jacob has given our Nation. This honor merely represents that we should 
never forget the sacrifice which he and all who have sacrificed their 
lives serving our Nation have made for each and every one of us.
  I know that we will all keep the family of Specialist Lowell and 
those of his fallen comrades in our prayers. I ask again that you will 
join me in honoring and remembering this extraordinary man whose 
heroism exemplifies everything that America stands for, and I ask you 
to support H.R. 6681, the Jacob Lowell New Lenox Post Office 
Designation Act.
  In closing, I would like to thank Joseph Eannello for his hard work 
on this legislation and for his work in my office over the past 2 
years. He has been an asset in my office and done excellent work for 
the people of the 11th Congressional District of Illinois.
  Madam Speaker, I urge bipartisan support of this important 
legislation to honor someone who has sacrificed for our freedoms.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H.R. 6681, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time, and I 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. 6681.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  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.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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