[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H2619-H2620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1315
            COLONEL JOHN H. WILSON, JR. POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 234) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 2105 East Cook Street in Springfield, 
Illinois, as the ``Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                 S. 234

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

     SECTION 1. COLONEL JOHN H. WILSON, JR. POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2105 East Cook Street in Springfield, 
     Illinois, shall be known and designated as the ``Colonel John 
     H. Wilson, Jr. 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 ``Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. 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 Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction 
over the United States Postal Service, I am pleased to present for 
consideration Senate bill 234, which will designate the United States 
postal facility located at 2105 East Cook Street in Springfield, 
Illinois, as the ``Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. Post Office Building.''
  Notably, this legislation was introduced by Senator Richard Durbin on 
January 14, 2009, and was passed by the Senate under unanimous consent 
on February 12, 2009. Our own colleague Representative Phil Hare of 
Illinois has introduced House companion bill H.R. 516, and I should 
note that the House measure enjoys the support of the entire Illinois 
congressional delegation and has been reported favorably by the House 
Oversight Committee.
  A lifelong native of Springfield, Illinois, Colonel Wilson proudly 
spent 14 years on active duty in the United States Army, during which 
he served as a first lieutenant under General George S. Patton in World 
War II. As a result of his distinguished wartime service, Colonel 
Wilson subsequently received the Silver Star, a military distinction 
awarded to those members of the United States Armed Forces who have 
demonstrated ``gallantry in action.''
  Colonel Wilson followed his active duty service by spending 17 
additional years in the United States Army Reserve as a member and 
ultimately group commander of Springfield-based 303rd Ordinance 
Ammunition Group. In 1965 upon his promotion to colonel, he became the 
first African American resident of Illinois to obtain this 
distinguished military commissioned officer rank in the Army Reserve, 
which is an honor worthy of being celebrated today during Black History 
Month and throughout the year.
  However, the designation of the East Cook Street postal facility in 
honor of Colonel Wilson is not only fitting in light of Colonel 
Wilson's combined 31 years of military service but also given his 57 
years of dedicated civilian service as an employee of the United States 
Postal Service and a proud member of the American Postal Workers Union.
  Regrettably, Colonel Wilson passed away in August of last year in his 
beloved hometown of Springfield, Illinois. He was 89 years old. Mr. 
Speaker, let us also show our gratitude for the service rendered by 
Colonel John Wilson by passing Senate 234.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of this bill to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 2105 East Cook Street in 
Springfield, Illinois, as the ``Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. Post Office 
Building.''
  Born on December 18, 1918, in Springfield, Illinois, Colonel Wilson 
was a true American hero and a pioneer who fought bravely under General 
George Patton in France during World War II. For his bravery during the 
war, he was awarded the Silver Star.
  An outstanding U.S. Postal Service employee in Springfield for 57 
years, Wilson became the first African American Reservist from Illinois 
to achieve the rank of colonel. Wilson retired from the military in 
1973 as group commander of the now-deactivated Springfield-based 303rd 
Ordinance Ammunition Group after serving for 14 years in active duty 
and another 17 years in the Reserves.
  Sadly, on August 3, 2008, Colonel Wilson died in Springfield, 
Illinois, in the same Spring Street home in which he was born 89 years 
before. He leaves behind his wife, Lydia, and their two children.
  This honor is appropriate, and by placing his name on the Springfield 
Post Office where he served for so many years, the memory of his 
service to his country and community will live on.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield such time 
as he may consume to the chief sponsor of this resolution, the 
distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare).
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend Mr. Lynch for yielding.
  I rise today in strong support of S. 234, a bill to name the Cook 
Street Post Office in Springfield, Illinois, after Colonel John H. 
Wilson, Jr.
  I am deeply honored to have been allowed to introduce H.R. 516, the 
companion bill to the legislation before us today with the support of 
the entire Illinois delegation.
  Colonel John H. Wilson answered the call to serve not once but twice 
in his life before he passed last year. During World War II, he joined 
the segregated United States Army and received the Silver Star for 
Gallantry. Mr. Wilson later served in the U.S. Army Reserves, and in 
1965 he was promoted to colonel, the first African American from 
Illinois to achieve this rank.
  Assistant Secretary to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Tammy 
Duckworth, praised Colonel Wilson's distinguished military career 
saying, ``If it wasn't for the brave men and women like Colonel Wilson, 
we would not have the same freedoms we do today. America would just not 
be the same.''
  Following his military retirement in 1973, Colonel Wilson joined the 
United States Postal Service. For 57 years, 6 days a week, through 
rain, sleet, and snow, Colonel Wilson worked at the Cook Street Post 
Office and was an active member of the American Postal Workers Union. 
Ron Smith, President of the Lincoln Land Area Local, remembers Colonel 
Wilson as a dedicated employee. He said to me, ``John always

[[Page H2620]]

sought to bring honor and integrity to the postal service through his 
words and his actions and recognized the ever important role that the 
postal service has played in the everyday lives of everyone.''
  Mr. Speaker, bestowing Colonel Wilson's name to the post office where 
he served his community for so many years is only a small tribute to a 
man who dedicated his entire life to the service of others. As we 
celebrate Black History Month, it is fitting that we honor this great 
American hero and pioneer. I ask my colleagues to support S. 234.
  To his wife of 63 years, Lydia, and their two daughters and two 
grandsons, it is my privilege to share Colonel Wilson's story today. I 
know he made you proud as he has made the people of Illinois proud.
  Thank you to my good friend and Illinois colleague Senator Dick 
Durbin for introducing this legislation. I would also like to thank 
Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for working with me to bring 
this bill to the floor.
  Mr. JORDAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of S. 234, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, again I urge my colleagues to join me and 
Representative Hare. It is not every day that we are able to dedicate a 
postal building in memory of a career postal clerk and member of the 
American Postal Workers Union. So for that reason I ask our colleagues 
to join us in supporting Senate 234.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 234.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

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