[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13363-H13364]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CLYDE L. HILLHOUSE POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3667) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 16555 Springs Street in White Springs, Florida, as 
the ``Clyde L. Hillhouse Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3667

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

     SECTION 1. CLYDE L. HILLHOUSE POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 16555 Springs Street in White Springs, 
     Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Clyde L. 
     Hillhouse 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 ``Clyde L. Hillhouse 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 any remarks and 
include any extraneous materials.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I now 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 H.R. 
3667 for consideration. This measure will designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 16555 Springs Street in White 
Springs, Florida, as the ``Clyde L. Hillhouse Post Office Building.''
  H.R. 3667 was introduced by my friend and colleague Representative 
Ander Crenshaw of Florida on September 29, 2009, and was favorably 
reported out of the House Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on 
October 29, 2009. In addition, H.R. 3667 enjoys the support of the 
entire Florida House delegation.
  A native of the town of White Springs, Florida, Clyde L. Hillhouse 
dedicated his life to public service as a distinguished member of the 
United States Army Air Corps during World War II and, later in his 
life, as postmaster of his beloved White Springs community.
  Shortly after joining the United States military in 1940, Mr. 
Hillhouse was deployed to the Pacific theater of operations during 
World War II. Notably, Mr. Hillhouse participated in the heroic defense 
of Corregidor Island by the American and Filipino military forces 
against Japanese forces seeking to advance on Manila Bay.

                              {time}  1445

  Despite the valiant efforts of the American and Filipino soldiers, 
the island fell to Japanese forces in mid-1942 and Mr. Hillhouse 
subsequently became one of approximately 75,000 American and Filipino 
prisoners of war taken in the Bataan Peninsula. During his over-3 years 
in captivity, Mr. Hillhouse bravely survived the infamous Bataan death 
march, as well as periods of slave labor in the Philippines and on the 
Japanese mainland.
  In recognition of wounds that he received during action in the 
Philippines, Mr. Hillhouse was awarded the Purple Heart in 1984, also 
received the Bronze Star for his distinguished military service.
  Following the end of World War II and his return to White Springs, 
Mr. Hillhouse continued his commitment to public service as a dedicated 
employee of the United States Postal Service for nearly 30 years. 
Specifically, Mr. Hillhouse served as postmaster of White Springs from 
July 14, 1947, until his retirement on January 19, 1973.
  In addition to his service as postmaster, Mr. Hillhouse was active in 
the White Springs community as a longtime volunteer fire chief and as a 
member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Service Organization.
  Regrettably, Mr. Hillhouse passed away in his home in White Springs 
on April 26, 1998, at the age of 84.
  Mr. Speaker, Clyde Hillhouse's life stands as a testament to the 
bravery and dedication exhibited by the men and women of the United 
States military, and it is my hope that we can honor this exceptional 
soldier and public servant through the passage of this legislation to 
designate the White Springs Post Office in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join 
in supporting H.R. 3667, along with Mr. Crenshaw, the lead sponsor.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw).
  Mr. CRENSHAW. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3667. As has been 
pointed out, it is a bill to honor Clyde L. Hillhouse by designating 
the post office at 16555 Springs Street, White Springs, Florida, after 
this World War II hero who devoted his life to public service.
  Clyde Leroy Hillhouse was born on February 11, 1914, in Hamilton 
County, Florida, a small county halfway between Jacksonville and 
Tallahassee. On October 10, 1940, when he was only 25 years old, he 
answered the call to serve his Nation in patriotic service. He enlisted 
in the United States Army Air Corps.

[[Page H13364]]

  Mr. Hillhouse was assigned to the 27th Bomb Group and departed with 
his unit for duty in the Philippines in November of that year. Mr. 
Hillhouse and his fellow airmen from the 27th Bomb Group were trained 
as infantry soldiers and fought in defense of Bataan and Corregidor 
Island from the invading Japanese forces. After the eventual fall of 
Corregidor Island, Mr. Hillhouse was captured and held as a POW by the 
Japanese forces and survived the infamous Bataan death march where it 
is estimated that 30 percent of all of the prisoners were brutally 
killed by their captors.
  For over 2 years, Mr. Hillhouse was assigned to slave labor unloading 
ships in Manila. In July 1944, he was sent to Japan on a freighter 
where he was kept as a prisoner until his release at the end of the 
war.
  Like so many people in his generation, Mr. Hillhouse returned to his 
life and family after the war in White Springs with little discussion 
about the torture and the atrocities that he had endured and witnessed 
as a prisoner of war for 3\1/2\ years. In fact, Mr. Hillhouse continued 
his public service and became an employee of the United States Postal 
Service.
  Both he and his wife, Sarah, worked at the White Springs Post Office 
from July 14, 1947, until his retirement on January 19, 1973.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe as elected Members of Congress we have an 
obligation and duty to honor and protect the veterans of our Nation. 
Those who put their lives on the line so we as Americans can have the 
security and freedom that we enjoy in this great country deserve the 
utmost recognition, and I believe the designation of this post office 
is a fitting tribute to a man who valiantly served in the armed 
services, survived slave labor and POW camps, and continued to serve 
his Nation as postmaster. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this 
legislation.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Hillhouse was obviously a great 
American, one of our best. We urge the adoption of H.R. 3667.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I ask Members on both sides of 
the aisle to support Mr. Crenshaw and his bill.
  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. 3667.
  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 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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