[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 17, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3467-H3468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        LANCE CORPORAL MATTHEW P. PATHENOS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1216) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1100 Town and Country Commons in Chesterfield, 
Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1216

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

     SECTION 1. LANCE CORPORAL MATTHEW P. PATHENOS POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1100 Town and Country Commons in 
     Chesterfield, Missouri, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos 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 ``Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CLAY. 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 Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLAY. I now yield myself such time as I may consume.
  On behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 
I stand and join my colleagues from my home State of Missouri for the 
consideration of H.R. 1216, which names a postal facility in 
Chesterfield, Missouri, after Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos.
  As stated, H.R. 1216 has the support of the entire House 
congressional delegation from Missouri but is sponsored by my friend, 
Representative Todd Akin. The bill was introduced on February 26 of 
2009 and was considered by and reported from the Oversight Committee by 
voice vote on March 10.
  As a member of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine 
Division, Marine Forces and Reserve out of Bridgeton, Missouri, 
following in the footsteps of his older brother, Matthew Pathenos 
enlisted in military service with the hope of helping those who could 
not help themselves.
  Unfortunately, on February 7, 2007, Lance Corporal Matthew Pathenos 
was killed while conducting combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq. In 
recognition of Corporal Pathenos' commitment to country and the concept 
of freedom, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues join me in commemorating 
the life of this brave Marine by supporting the passage of H.R. 1216.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bill designating 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1100 Town 
and Country Commons in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the Lance Corporate 
Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building.
  Marine Lance Corporal Pathenos was a selfless patriot. He was a 
loving brother, son and friend. As one of his comrades in arms once 
reflected, ``The best thing about Matt was his ability to wake up every 
day with a smile and hold it all day long.'' Even through the hardships 
of war, Matt strove to bring joy to his friends.
  A native of Ballwin, Missouri, Matt was an avid golfer and 
accomplished pilot, earning his flying license at age 14. After 
graduating from high school in 2003, Matt followed in the footsteps of 
his older brother and mentor, Marine Sergeant Christopher Pathenos, who 
had enlisted in the Armed Forces in the wake of September 11.
  In the words of one relative, ``For Matty, the motivation was more 
about Christopher, seeing how the Corps treated him.''
  As a member of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, Matthew was one of 80 
Marine members of his unit that were attached to a sister unit, the lst 
Battalion, 24th Marines, for deployment to Iraq in September of 2006.
  Tragically, on February 6, 2007, Lance Corporal Pathenos lost his 
life near Fallujah when his Humvee was struck by an improvised 
explosive device. His family will always remember him as a smiling 
young man who ``sang as though no one could hear him and danced as 
though no one was watching him.''
  In a release shortly after the tragic loss, the family captured the 
sentiments of a grateful Nation. ``Like his brother, Christopher, 
Matthew was proud to be a Marine and volunteered to serve his country. 
Matthew paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and the future 
generations of this country. He loved his country and family, and we 
will miss him terribly.''
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join the chairman and myself in 
support of this courageous young man and the sacrifice he gave by 
naming the post office in his honor.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Again, I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Mr. 
Akin, for introducing such a thoughtful measure.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of renaming the Town and 
Country Commons Post Office in Chesterfield, Missouri, after Lance 
Corporal Matthew Pathenos by passing H.R. 1216.
  I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this resolution, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1216, a bill I 
introduced to honor the life of Matthew P. Pathenos by designating the 
post office in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Matthew 
P. Pathenos Post Office Building.'' A resident of Ballwin, Missouri, 
Lance Corporal Matthew Pathenos was part of the 3rd Battalion, 24th 
Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, of the Marine Forces Reserve. On 
February 7th, 2007, Lance Corporal Pathenos was killed during combat 
operations in the Anbar province of Iraq. Matthew was often described 
by family and friends as a friendly young man who always had a joke to 
tell and a smile on his face. Matthew decided to join the military in 
order to follow his older brother into his country's service with the 
hope of helping those who could not help themselves. Matthew's then 
girlfriend, Erin, calls Lance Corporal

[[Page H3468]]

Pathenos her hero, and wishes she might one day, ``posses a fraction of 
his bravery and discipline.''
  As the father of two Marines, one of whom has served in Iraq; it is a 
privilege to stand here today to honor one of our fallen soldiers. 
Matthew's commitment and dedication to his country is a shining example 
of how our military men and women are the finest our nation has to 
offer. His and his family's sacrifice should serve as a reminder to all 
that the freedom we enjoy as Americans is not free but the result of 
the tremendous bravery and selfless service of men and women willing 
put themselves in harms way for freedom's cause.
  Our nation will be forever indebted to Lance Corporal Matthew 
Pathenos.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring Lance 
Corporal Matthew Pathenos.
  Vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1216.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1216.
  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. CLAY. Mr. 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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