[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H5113-H5114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ELIJAH PAT LARKINS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1271) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 2351 West Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach, 
Florida, as the ``Elijah Pat Larkins Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1271

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

     SECTION 1. ELIJAH PAT LARKINS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2351 West Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano 
     Beach, Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Elijah 
     Pat Larkins 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 ``Elijah Pat Larkins Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) 
will each 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 days within 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.
  I am pleased to present H.R. 1271 for consideration. This legislation 
will designate the United States postal facility located at 2351 West 
Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach, Florida, as the ``Elijah Pat 
Larkins Post Office Building,'' in honor of a man who dedicated over 25 
years of his life to public service.
  Born to farm worker parents in the then-segregated city of Pompano 
Beach, Florida, on April 29, 1942, Elijah Pat Larkins graduated from 
Blanche Ely High School in 1960, and subsequently attended Tennessee 
State University.
  In 1962, Mr. Larkins embarked on a career as a community housing 
activist, first serving as a housing director with a Pompano community 
action agency. In 1969, Mr. Larkins was one of the two honorees in the 
State of Florida to receive the prestigious Ford Foundation Fellowship, 
which afforded him the opportunity to attend the National Housing 
Institute in Washington, D.C., and become a federally-certified housing 
development specialist.
  In 1972, Mr. Larkins brought his new expertise back to his community 
by creating the Broward County Minority Building Coalition, an 
organization dedicated to ensuring the participation of minority-owned 
companies in south Florida's construction sector.
  In 1982, Mr. Larkins first won elected office, becoming only the 
second African American elected to the Pompano Beach City Commission, 
and only the eighth African American local elected official in Broward 
County. He proceeded to serve 19 consecutive years.
  Notably, Mr. Larkins served an unprecedented seven terms as the first 
African American mayor of Pompano Beach. He also served three terms as 
vice mayor, elected by his fellow city commissioners.
  Under Mr. Larkins' leadership, the city of Pompano Beach initiated a 
variety of successful efforts to advance modern affordable home 
development and promote the growth of small and minority-owned 
businesses.
  In addition to elected service, Mr. Larkins played an active role in 
a variety of social and religious organizations, including the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Broward County 
Boys and Girls Club, the United Way, and the Urban League.
  Regrettably, illness forced him to retire from public service in May 
of 2008. In February of 2009, he passed away at the age of 66, after a 
16-month battle with brain cancer.
  As noted by Mr. Larkins himself, he always had a great affinity and 
love for the city of Pompano Beach, and it was his hope that he would 
be remembered for giving all that he had to public service.
  Mr. Speaker, let us honor this dedicated public servant through the 
passage of this legislation by dedicating the Pompano Beach Postal 
Facility in honor of Elijah Pat Larkins. I urge my colleagues to do the 
same.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASTLE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 1271, designating the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 2351 West Atlantic Boulevard in 
Pompano Beach, Florida, as the ``Elijah Pat Larkins Post Office 
Building.''
  Elijah Pat Larkins dedicated his entire life to public service, and 
the citizens of Pompano Beach, Florida, are better off today because of 
his tireless service. In 2008, the Florida League of Cities recognized 
him for 25 years of public service.
  Mayor Larkins was the first of 10 children born to a farmer and 
homemaker in Pompano on April 29, 1942. Nicknamed ``Prez,'' and voted 
class president every year from 5th to 12th grade, he graduated from 
what is now Blanche Ely High School.
  He grew up in a segregated society, but spent a lifetime in public 
service fighting for equal rights, and was elected Pompano Beach's 
first African American mayor in 1985, and subsequently served a record 
seven terms. Prior to that, he served 19 consecutive years as City 
Commissioner.
  A Ford Foundation Fellow, Mayor Larkins was a federally-certified 
housing development specialist who created the Broward County Minority 
Builders Coalition, and was a director of his own, not-for-profit, 
Malar Construction, Inc., in Fort Lauderdale.
  In fact, throughout his career in public service, he made significant 
contributions in housing, working tirelessly to ensure that safe and 
adequate housing was available to all. While mayor, he also helped 
transform the city's economy from agricultural to urban, all while 
mentoring local civic-minded residents and minority activists.
  In addition to his many professional achievements, he took an active 
role in countless public service, social, and religious organizations, 
including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People, Broward County Boys and Girls Club, the Juvenile Justice 
Intensive Halfway House, and Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. In 
fact, he was affiliated with more than a dozen national, State, and 
local political and service groups.
  Mayor Larkins was twice married to retired schoolteacher Bettye 
Lamar-Larkins, with whom he had a son, Gerald Todd. He also had another 
son, Tory Larkins, from a prior relationship. He is also survived by 
his nine younger siblings and his mother, Alberta Griffin.
  In recognition of Mayor Larkins' commitment to public service and 
tireless efforts on behalf of the citizens of Pompano Beach, I urge all 
members to join me in supporting H.R. 1271, which will designate the 
United States Postal

[[Page H5114]]

Service Facility located at 2351 West Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano 
Beach, Florida, in his honor.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. I just want to note that the lead sponsor of this 
resolution to name this post office after Elijah Pat Larkins is our 
friend and great Congressman from Florida, Mr. Hastings. I just want to 
recognize his leadership in bringing this to the floor. I thank him for 
his energy and his leadership.
  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 bill, H.R. 1271.
  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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