[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 37 (Monday, March 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1406-H1407]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER R. HRBEK POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4628) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 216 Westwood Avenue in Westwood, New Jersey, as the 
``Sergeant Christopher R. Hrbek Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4628

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

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER R. HRBEK POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 216 Westwood Avenue in Westwood, New 
     Jersey, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant 
     Christopher R. Hrbek 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 ``Sergeant Christopher R. Hrbek Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. 
Biggert) 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 and add any extraneous materials.
  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.
  Madam Speaker, as chairman of the House subcommittee with 
jurisdiction over the United States Postal Service, I am proud to 
present H.R. 4628 for consideration. This legislation, when passed, 
will designate the United States Postal Service facility located at 216 
Westwood Avenue in Westwood, New Jersey, as the Sergeant Christopher R. 
Hrbek Post Office Building. Introduced by my friend and colleague 
Representative Scott Garrett of New Jersey on February 22, 2009, H.R. 
4628 was favorably reported out of the Oversight and Government Reform 
Committee on March 4, 2010, by unanimous consent. In addition, this 
legislation enjoys the support of the entire New Jersey House 
delegation.
  A native of Westwood, New Jersey, Sergeant Christopher Hrbek proudly 
served our Nation as a field artillery cannoneer with the Third 
Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division, Second Marine 
Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Regrettably, 
Sergeant Hrbek was killed in action on January 14, 2010, by an 
improvised explosive device while supporting combat operations in 
Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Hrbek was 25 years old at the 
time of his death and on his fourth tour of duty with the United States 
Marine Corps.
  As recalled by his family and friends, Sergeant Hrbek's enlistment in 
the United States Marine Corps evidenced his lifelong dedication to 
serving his community and his country.
  At the age of 16, Sergeant Hrbek, who came from a family of 
firefighters, joined the Westwood Fire Department as a cadet and 
continued to serve his local community as a firefighter for the next 9 
years. In addition to his dedication to the Westwood Fire Department 
and the town of Westwood, Sergeant Hrbek also aspired to serve in the 
United States military, and in particular, the United States Marine 
Corps. As noted by his loving stepfather Jaymee Hodges, Sergeant Hrbek 
``knew in his soul he wanted to be
a Marine . . . and Christopher ate, drank, and slept the Marine 
Corps.''

                              {time}  1445

  Accordingly, on his 18th birthday, Sergeant Hrbek asked his 
stepfather to take him to the Marine recruitment office in Hackensack, 
New Jersey, in order to enlist in the Marine Corps. Shortly thereafter, 
Sergeant Hrbek left for basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina. 
Sergeant Hrbek's subsequent and distinguished career in the United 
States Marine Corps included four tours of duty, three tours of duty in 
Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and then most recently, his 
last tour of duty in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring 
Freedom. In recognition of his service and sacrifice on behalf of our 
grateful Nation, Sergeant Hrbek has been posthumously awarded the 
Purple Heart.
  Additionally, Sergeant Hrbek has also posthumously received the 
Bronze Star with Valor device. This was awarded for his heroic service 
during combat operations several weeks before his death. Specifically, 
in December of 2009, in the midst of hostile gunfire, Sergeant Hrbek 
rushed to save the life of a fellow marine, Sergeant Major Raymond 
Mackey, who had lost his legs as a result of an improvised explosive 
device attack. Sergeant Hrbek and a Navy corpsman carried Sergeant 
Major Mackey to safety and quickly applied tourniquets in order to stop 
the bleeding. This past Christmas Eve, Sergeant Hrbek was informed that 
he had been nominated for the Bronze Star with Valor device in 
recognition of that heroism.
  In addition to the distinction and honor with which he served in the 
United States military, Sergeant Hrbek will be equally remembered for 
his steadfast devotion to his family and his friends. As noted by 
Westwood Fire Chief Mark Fedorchak, Sergeant Hrbek would do anything 
for anybody. He will be sorely missed. It is a huge loss for our 
community.
  While Sergeant Hrbek is no longer with us, his memory will continue 
to live on through his devoted family and friends, his loving community 
and the dedicated servicemen and women who were fortunate to serve with 
him.
  Madam Speaker, the life of Sergeant Christopher R. Hrbek stands as a 
testament to all the brave servicemen and women who have offered the 
ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation.
  Let us join with Congressman Garrett from New Jersey and honor this 
outstanding soldier and American hero through the passage of this 
legislation to designate the Westwood Post Office in his name. I urge 
my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4628.
  I reserve the balance of our time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
my friend and colleague from New Jersey, the sponsor of this bill, Mr. 
Garrett.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I do indeed rise today in 
honor of Sergeant Christopher Richard Hrbek, a recently fallen marine. 
It was on January 14, 2010, when Sergeant Hrbek gave his life in 
service of our country. And today, we have the opportunity to pay 
tribute to Sergeant Hrbek by considering H.R. 4628, this legislation 
that will rename the post office up in Westwood, New Jersey, in his 
honor.
  In addition, though, to paying tribute to Sergeant Hrbek, I would 
like to pause for a moment to recognize his family as well, for the 
sacrifice that they now have endured on behalf of our Nation. Chris is 
survived by his wife, Jamie Lynn Wengerter, his mother and stepfather, 
Cheryl and James Hodges, his father and stepmother, Richard and Gail 
Hrbek, his two sisters, Amy Dellentash and Lori Hrbek, and his two 
stepbrothers, Jim and Beau Hodges, as well.
  As was pointed out, Sergeant Hrbek was not only a hero in the armed 
services, he was a hero back in his hometown as well. Chris was born 
and raised up in Westwood, New Jersey, and as stated, at the age of 16, 
he, along with a couple of his friends, became cadets in the Westwood 
Fire Department.
  And just as an aside, I remember going to the funeral and hearing the 
little stories that they told--even before they were 16 just pretending 
to be

[[Page H1407]]

firemen and the like, and always wanting to be a firemen when they grew 
up. But at age 16 they were able to actually put that into action and 
become cadets in the Westwood Fire Department.
  Chris saw every opportunity to serve as a chance to shine. This is 
why it was no surprise when he enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 2003. 
And as a marine, Sergeant Hrbek served four tours of duty, which 
included two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it was indeed on 
December 23, 2009, when they were under heavy enemy fire that he saved 
a life, and it was of his own Sergeant Major, Sergeant Major Raymond 
Mackey.
  As it was recounted later on to his family, Chris had been out on a 
patrol at that time when he heard an explosion about 10 paces behind 
him. Chris turned to see what it was, and he saw Sergeant Major Mackey 
badly wounded by the explosion.
  So what did he do?
  Well, he immediately turned his attention to Mackey, applying seven 
tourniquets and saving the Sergeant Major's life, and he did this all 
while under attack at the time. This is truly a definition of grace 
under fire. And for his valiant efforts Chris earned a Bronze Star with 
a Combat V. However, Chris was not able to ever receive that medal in 
person.
  For it was on January 14 that Sergeant Chris Hrbek was killed on 
patrol in Helmand Province in Afghanistan after he encountered an IED. 
Hrbek's family posthumously accepted the Bronze Star on behalf of his 
life at his funeral. A letter was issued to his parents from the Marine 
Corps, and I think it really captured the sentiment that I know all 
America shares. It said, ``by his zealous initiative, courageous 
actions, and exceptional dedication to duty, Sergeant Hrbek reflected 
great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest 
traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.''
  After Chris died in combat he received a hero's welcome back in his 
hometown in Westwood, New Jersey. It was on January 20th, this year, 
that his flag-draped coffin passed through the streets of Westwood, 
which were lined as far as you could see with flags and residents and 
students all coming out who stood proudly, side by side, in a mass of 
people, to pay tribute to this young man.
  Now, joining the procession were the Marines from Camp Lejeune who 
served alongside him. And one of the marines was Sergeant Ryan Harsman. 
Sergeant Harsman noted, When Chris walked into a room everyone knew 
that he was there. He just had that presence. He never ran out of fuel.
  Now, the New York Fire Department also honored Chris and, this month, 
bestowed the title of honorary firefighter, because Sergeant Hrbek had 
been accepted to begin training with the fire department over in New 
York City, but he deferred his enrollment twice so that he could 
continue his service to the U.S. Marines.
  Sergeant Hrbek set the highest example, someone who was willing to 
risk his life to save the lives of others. And so I am proud to be the 
sponsor of H.R. 4628 honoring the life of Sergeant Hrbek.
  And I, with my colleague, join all my colleagues here to support this 
legislation memorializing Chris and his service to his hometown of 
Westwood, New Jersey, where Christopher Hrbek will forever be 
remembered as a hero, as a heroic marine, a loving husband, a son and a 
brother as well.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers on this, but I 
continue to reserve.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I consume to 
close. Let me just say that Sergeant Christopher Hrbek died preserving 
the lives of his fellow soldiers and the freedom of this Nation. And I 
urge that we support this bill to honor that spirit of sacrifice of a 
true hero embodied by Sergeant Hrbek.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I ask all Members on both sides of the 
aisle to join with Mr. Garrett in honoring this proud young marine and 
in supporting H.R. 4628.
  I yield back the balance of our 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. 4628.
  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. 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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