[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9764-H9765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  JOHN J. SHIVNEN POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2215) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 140 Merriman Road in Garden City, Michigan, as the 
``John J. Shivnen Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2215

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

     SECTION 1. JOHN J. SHIVNEN POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 140 Merriman Road in Garden City, 
     Michigan, shall be known and designated as the ``John J. 
     Shivnen 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 ``John J. Shivnen Post Office Building''.

  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. 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. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over 
the United States Postal Service, I am pleased to present H.R. 2215 for 
consideration. This legislation will designate the United States Postal 
facility located at 140 Merriman Road in Garden City, Michigan, as the 
``John J. Shivnen Post Office Building.''
  Introduced on April 30, 2009, by my colleague, Representative Thad 
McCotter of Michigan, H.R. 2215 was favorably reported out of the 
Oversight Committee on September 10, 2009, by unanimous consent. 
Additionally, this legislation enjoys the support of the entire sitting 
Michigan delegation.
  Mr. Speaker, the dedication of the Garden City Post Office in honor 
of John J. Shivnen is particularly fitting in light of Mr. Shivnen's 
dedicated and unparalleled service to the United States Postal Service 
and to his beloved Garden City community.
  Specifically, Mr. Shivnen served as the postmaster of Garden City for 
30 years until his retirement in 1996. In addition, Mr. Shivnen was an 
active member of the National Association of Postmasters of the United 
States for over 40 years, during which time he served in multiple 
leadership capacities, including area and county director, legislative 
chairman, parliamentarian, and postmaster representative. Moreover, Mr. 
Shivnen played an instrumental role with respect to the site selection 
and construction of the current Garden City Post Office.
  In addition to his professional contributions to the Garden City 
community, Mr. Shivnen also demonstrated a lifelong commitment to 
community service. During his stewardship of the Garden City Post 
Office, Mr. Shivnen established an annual Christmas Basket program 
through which disadvantaged local families received much needed gift 
and food donations. Mr. Shivnen was also a dedicated member of the 
Garden City Lions Club service organization. Following his retirement, 
he remained an active member of several other community groups until 
his health no longer allowed him to continue.
  Notably, among Mr. Shivnen's last community service projects was the 
creation of a replica of a rural post office located at the Garden City 
Historical Museum. In support of this effort, Mr. Shivnen purchased a 
majority of the replica items, performed much of the restoration work 
himself, and even paid for a portion of the contract work.
  In recognition of Mr. Shivnen's contributions to the project, which 
was completed shortly before his passing, the Garden City Historical 
Museum Board honored Mr. Shivnen's legacy by hosting his wake at the 
museum. Regrettably, Mr. Shivnen passed away in January of 2007.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that we can honor his lifelong commitment 
to public and community service through the passage of this legislation 
to designate the Garden City Post Office in his honor. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2215.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2215, a resolution to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service, located at 
140 Merriman Road in Garden City, Michigan, as the ``John J. Shivnen 
Post Office Building.'' I also commend Representative McCotter for 
bringing this forward to this body.
  A graduate of Garden City High School, John Shivnen believed in hard 
work, humility and community service, and he lived with these three 
qualities in mind throughout his life.
  Appointed postmaster as a young man, Mr. Shivnen served for 30 years, 
making him the longest-serving postmaster in Garden City. As 
postmaster, he was actively involved in the site selection and 
construction of the current Garden City Post Office. He was also an 
active member of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. 
for 41 years, serving in numerous leadership positions.
  Mr. Shivnen's passion for community service was shown through his 
many efforts to help the community where he spent most of his life. He 
established the Garden City Post Office annual Christmas Basket 
program, and was an active member of the Garden City Lions Club.
  Generous and compassionate, Mr. Shivnen's deep commitment to his 
community did not end after his retirement in 1996. He volunteered at 
the local senior center as a handyman, and his last large community 
project was his creation of a replica of a rural post office for the 
Garden City Historical Museum. Purchasing most of the replica items and 
working with others, the project continued until his declining health 
prevented him from leaving his home.
  His dedication and service for his community is exemplary, and it is 
fitting to name the post office in Garden City, Michigan, in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again urge my colleagues to 
support Mr. McCotter and us in honoring Mr. John J. Shivnen through the 
passing of H.R. 2215. I yield back the remainder 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. 2215.
  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, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum

[[Page H9765]]

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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