[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 110 (Tuesday, July 21, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8458-H8460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LIM POON LEE POST OFFICE

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3119) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 867 Stockton Street in San Francisco, California, as 
the ``Lim Poon Lee Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3119

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

     SECTION 1. LIM POON LEE POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 867 Stockton Street in San Francisco, 
     California, shall be known and designated as the ``Lim Poon 
     Lee Post Office''.
       (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 ``Lim Poon Lee Post Office''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative 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. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with 
jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am pleased to 
present H.R. 3119 for consideration. This legislation will designate 
the United States postal facility located at 867 Stockton Street in San 
Francisco, California, as the ``Lim Poon Lee Post Office.''
  Introduced by the Speaker of the House, Ms. Pelosi of California, on 
July 7, 2009, and reported out of the Oversight Committee on July 10, 
2009, by unanimous consent, H.R. 3119 enjoys the strong support of the 
entire California House delegation.
  Born in Hong Kong in 1911, Lim Poon Lee and his family immigrated to 
San Francisco, California, when he was only 8 months old. Following his 
distinguished service as a United States Army counterintelligence 
specialist during World War II, Mr. Lee received his undergraduate 
education at the College of the Pacific and his Juris Doctor at the 
Lincoln University School of Law.
  Mr. Lee would then go on to serve his beloved San Francisco community 
through his longtime service as a social worker, juvenile probation 
officer, and as a writer for the monthly Chinatown news magazine, 
Chinese Digest.
  In 1966, Mr. Lee achieved further distinction when he was selected by 
President Lyndon Baines Johnson for appointment as the postmaster of 
San Francisco. Notably, Mr. Lee's appointment at the time was the 
highest Federal appointive post ever held by a Chinese American.
  Mr. Lee's subsequent 14-year tenure as the postmaster of San 
Francisco was marked by his dedicated and successful effort to increase 
the hiring of minority and disabled persons, as well as the 
inauguration of an alcohol recovery program for post office employees.
  During his later years, Mr. Lee continued his admirable commitment to 
public service through his service as a Methodist chaplain and his 
membership on the boards of several community organizations, including 
the Chinatown YMCA, the Chinese American Civil Council, and the 
Chinatown

[[Page H8459]]

Community Service Organization. Additionally, Mr. Lee was well known in 
San Francisco as the master of ceremonies for the city's annual Chinese 
New Year parade for several years.
  Regrettably, Mr. Lee passed away in 2002 at the age of 91. Madam 
Speaker, let us honor this dedicated public servant and distinguished 
Chinese American and postal employee through the passage of this 
legislation to name the San Francisco Chinatown Post Office in his 
honor, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3119.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 3119 to designate the facility at the 
United States Postal Service located at 867 Stockton Street in San 
Francisco, California, as the ``Lim Poon Lee Post Office.''
  Born in 1911 in Hong Kong, Lim Poon Lee moved to San Francisco with 
his family when he was just 8 months old. The son of a laundry 
operator, Mr. Lee went on to college, graduate school, and law school 
after serving as a U.S. Army counterintelligence specialist during 
World War II.
  He often told stories about serving in Japan and how he was the only 
U.S. Army representative there who spoke Japanese, Chinese, and 
English. His multilingual mediation skills helped to quell a riot 
between Chinese POWs and their Japanese captors when news of the 
Japanese surrender came through.
  After serving in World War II, he continued mediating and became a 
social worker and juvenile probation officer.

                              {time}  1830

  Mr. Lee was also very much a community activist and worked with the 
Chinese community, World War II veterans and the Democratic Party. In 
addition to working as a campaign organizer for many local Democrats, 
Mr. Lee was also a founding member of the Chinese American Democratic 
Club, an organization that played a key role in securing rights for 
Chinese Americans.
  For his tireless efforts in the San Francisco community, in 1966, Mr. 
Lee was appointed Postmaster of San Francisco. At the time, it was the 
highest Federal appointive post ever held by a Chinese American.
  Though Mr. Lee once said his only experience with the U.S. Postal 
System was ``walking up to the window and putting down a nickel for a 
4-cent stamp,'' Mr. Lee mastered the nuances of his new position.
  During his 14-year tenure, Mr. Lee greatly increased the hiring of 
minority and disabled persons and even started an alcoholic recovery 
program. Best said by retired California State senator John Burton, 
``By the time Lim finished with it, it looked like the face of San 
Francisco, with Asian, African American, Latino and female workers.'' 
Perhaps most notable was Mr. Lee's establishment of the post office at 
867 Stockton Street in the heart of Chinatown in 1977. Recently, this 
post office celebrated its 30th anniversary, and fittingly, recognized 
Mr. Lee for his significant contributions.
  Sadly, Mr. Lee did not live to see this celebration. He passed away 
at the age of 91 on June 7, 2002. Though his life ended, his legacy 
remained and is felt far beyond the post office at 867 Stockton Street. 
The executive director of the Chinese American Voter Education 
Committee reflected on Mr. Lee's life: ``At a time when there were few 
role models, few political leaders, Lim Poon Lee was someone Chinese 
Americans could look up to.''
  In recognition of Mr. Lee's contributions to his community and the 
city of San Francisco, let us now recognize his many years of service 
by naming the post office he established in San Francisco, California, 
as the ``Lim Poon Lee Post Office.''
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield such 
time as she may consume to the gentlelady from California, the Speaker 
of the House, Ms. Pelosi.
  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and 
commend him and the ranking member for bringing this resolution to the 
floor about a great personality. It is such a cause of celebration for 
all of us in San Francisco to see Lim Poon Lee so recognized on the 
floor of the House of Representatives. Thank you both for your kind 
words about him.
  Those of us who knew him and worked with him take great joy in the 
celebration we have here today. And I also rise in support of the 
legislation to commemorate the life and the achievements of Lim Poon 
Lee, the first Chinese American postmaster in the United States.
  Today, the House has an opportunity to honor Postmaster Lee's 
lifetime of public service and proud patriotism by naming the post 
office in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown as the ``Lim Poon Lee 
Post Office.''
  As has been mentioned, Lim Poon Lee came to these shores from Hong 
Kong as an infant. Like many immigrants, he so loved this country that 
he spent his entire life in public service.
  During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army as a 
counterintelligence specialist. He worked in the public welfare and 
juvenile court system in San Francisco. And Mr. Lee served one of my 
predecessors in Congress and a friend to many of us here, Congressman 
Philip Burton, as a field representative.
  In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson appointed Lim Poon Lee the 
Postmaster of San Francisco. At the time, it was the highest Federal 
appointive post ever held by a Chinese American. In this position, Lee 
transformed the face of San Francisco's postal system by increasing the 
hiring of women, minorities and disabled postal workers.
  In San Francisco, we know the beauty is in the mix, and Mr. Lee 
worked to ensure while hiring that the post office look like the rest 
of the city in terms of its great diversity. In 1977, Lim Poon Lee 
established San Francisco's Chinatown Post Office, the post office 
located at 867 Stockton Street. Today we have the opportunity to name 
that post office for him.
  As we honor Postmaster Lee, we also recognize his family, his wife 
Catherine, his children Rosalind, Dorinda, Lynnette and Chesley and his 
grandchildren. They helped make his success possible.
  As was mentioned by my colleague, Mr. Lynch, Postmaster Lee passed 
away in 2002 at the age of 91. His absence is felt throughout San 
Francisco. As was also mentioned, he was the master of ceremonies for 
the Chinese New Year Parade, a columnist for ``Asian Week'' and a 
leader on many distinguished boards and commissions. All who knew him 
knew him to be a larger-than-life personality. All who knew Philip 
Burton knew that it took such a larger-than-life personality to be his 
field representative.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the life of the 
first Chinese American postmaster, again at the time, the highest 
appointive office in the land when appointed by Lyndon Johnson, by 
supporting this legislation naming a post office in honor of Lim Poon 
Lee. And I thank you, Mr. Lynch, again, for your leadership.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Madam Speaker, given this was Speaker Pelosi's bill, 
please note that we did take a little harder, closer look. And I'm 
happy to report that this is an outstanding American. I appreciate the 
Speaker's bringing this bill that is a worthy designation. He is a 
great American and somebody I hope our communities across this country 
can look up to.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield 3 
minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda).
  Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of the 
committee for bringing H.R. 3119 forward.
  I rise in strong support of this legislation honoring the first 
Chinese American Postmaster General in the United States, Lim Poon Lee, 
by naming a post office after him.
  At the time of his appointment, he was the highest ranking federally 
appointed Chinese American official. He served the United States 
honorably in World War II as a counterintelligence specialist. He spoke 
three languages, Chinese, Japanese and English. During his tenure as 
Postmaster General, he worked to change the face of the post office by 
hiring women, racial and ethnic minorities and the disabled.
  Postmaster Lee was a key activist in the fight against the Chinese 
Exclusion Act, and during his long career in public service, he served 
as a social worker, juvenile probation officer, and preacher, sitting 
on numerous community boards and councils. I think it is

[[Page H8460]]

fitting to also say that we do look into the background of folks to see 
if they should be honored in this way. I think that when we talk about 
him, it is obvious that he has contributed quite a bit to his country. 
But one more thing that I think we need to understand is that he also 
was a victim of anti-Asian legislation in this country. And when he was 
able to reach and attain a certain level of responsibility, I think he 
also understood this concept of not perpetuating these kinds of 
behaviors, but correcting it and making it easier for other folks to be 
able to participate in this country. And I think that is why he is 
recognized in being able to work with other folks. I guess we call that 
``acting affirmatively in positions of influence.'' I think that he is 
a great example of someone who understood how to implement things like 
affirmative action and looking at going beyond the arena of comfort in 
doing the right thing and extending the conduct and the principles of 
the Constitution of this country.
  I and other members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American 
Caucus have worked to highlight the accomplishments of and 
contributions to American society made by Asian American and Pacific 
Islanders.
  In this spirit, I thank the Speaker and the other leaders for 
bringing forth this resolution and urge my colleagues to rise in 
support to honor a pioneering Chinese American who contributed much to 
this country.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I simply want to thank Speaker Pelosi for 
bringing this bill forward. I thank Mr. Honda for his remarks and the 
ranking member for his comments as well. And I ask that all Members 
join us in honoring Lim Poon Lee by naming the San Francisco Chinatown 
Post Office in his honor.
  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. 3119.
  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. CHAFFETZ. Madam 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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