[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7029-H7030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             JAMES M. `JIMMY' STEWART POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DRIEHAUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5606) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 47 South 7th Street in Indiana, Pennsylvania, as the 
``James M. `Jimmy' Stewart Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5606

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

     SECTION 1. JAMES M. ``JIMMY'' STEWART POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 47 South 7th Street in Indiana, 
     Pennsylvania, shall be known and designated as the ``James M. 
     `Jimmy' Stewart 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 ``James M. `Jimmy' Stewart Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Driehaus) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DRIEHAUS. 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 Ohio?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1420

  Mr. DRIEHAUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform, I am proud to present H.R. 5606 for consideration. 
This legislation will designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 47 South 7th Street in Indiana, Pennsylvania, 
as the ``James M. `Jimmy' Stewart Post Office Building.'' H.R. 5606 was 
introduced by our colleague, Representative Mark Critz of Pennsylvania, 
on June 25, 2010. It was favorably reported out of the Oversight 
Government Reform Committee on July 28, 2010. In addition, this 
legislation enjoys the support of the entire Pennsylvania House 
delegation.
  As we all know, Jimmy Stewart was an American film and stage actor 
who worked in Hollywood during its ``Golden Age.'' Mr. Stewart was born 
on May 20, 1908, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and attended Mercersburg 
Academy Prep School. After graduating from Mercersburg in 1928, Mr. 
Stewart went on to attend Princeton University, where he developed a 
lifelong love for acting.
  In 1939, Mr. Stewart starred in one of the great films about American 
politics, ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' which portrays the 
experience of a young senator learning the ropes in Washington. The 
film was a great success and was nominated for 11 Academy

[[Page H7030]]

Awards in 1939, and won the Oscar for Best Writing and Original Story.
  In 1941, Mr. Stewart enlisted in the Army, where he was assigned to 
the 445th Bombardment Group stationed out of Sioux City Army Base in 
Iowa. Mr. Stewart was eventually promoted to the rank of captain and 
commanded the 703rd Bombardment Squadron for the duration of World War 
II. Notably, in 1959, Mr. Stewart was promoted to brigadier general in 
the Air Force Reserve and served as a non-duty adviser during the 
Vietnam War.
  In 1989, Mr. Stewart became a cofounder of the American Spirit 
Foundation, which applied entertainment industry resources and talent 
to help develop innovative approaches to public education and to assist 
emerging democratic movements in the former Soviet satellite states. 
Mr. Stewart also worked with President Reagan and Chief Justice Warren 
Burger on initiatives to promote awareness of the Constitution and the 
Bill of Rights. Sadly, Mr. Stewart passed away on July 2, 1997.
  Mr. Speaker, let us honor the life and legacy of Jimmy Stewart 
through the passage of H.R. 5606, which will designate the postal 
facility located at 47 South 7th Street in Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 
his honor. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5606.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILBRAY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will join in supporting this motion. Frankly, I think 
that we appreciate Mr. Stewart for much service in the military, but 
mostly most of us remember him as a great actor. The fact is many of us 
may remember him doing one of the extraordinary, almost a solo 
performance as Charles Lindbergh in scenes where he is talking to 
himself and getting across. I have just got to say that I think it is 
quite appropriate, as some people may not know, that Jimmy Stewart did 
not fly across the Atlantic and land in Paris alone. He was playing the 
role of Charles Lindbergh. But as San Diegans we're very sensitive to 
that scene that the plane might have been called the Spirit of St. 
Louis, but it was actually built in San Diego right at what is now 
Lindbergh field. But I think that this motion for the great actor, 
great American, great veteran, is quite appropriate.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DRIEHAUS. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield 3 
minutes to the sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Critz).
  (Mr. CRITZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CRITZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5606, which 
would rename the United States Postal Service building in Indiana, 
Pennsylvania, after Jimmy Stewart, one of the most distinguished and 
acclaimed actors of American history.
  James Maitland ``Jimmy'' Stewart was born on May 20, 1908, in 
Indiana, Pennsylvania. He studied at Princeton University, where he 
developed his love of acting before pursuing a career in theater and 
film. He starred in several movies, including the 1938 Academy Award-
winning Best Picture, ``You Can't Take It With You.'' In 1939, he 
starred in the acclaimed ``Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'' a film in 
which he played an idealist statesman trying to make a difference for 
his constituents.
  After his early Hollywood success, a sense of patriotism compelled 
Stewart to serve his Nation during World War II. He enlisted in the 
Army in 1941, becoming the first major American movie star to wear the 
uniform during the war. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he 
helped with recruiting efforts, and in 1944 he was sent to Europe where 
he participated in 20 air missions over Nazi Germany. After the war he 
continued to play an active role in the Air Force Reserve and was 
eventually promoted to the rank of Major General. He served during the 
Vietnam War as a nonduty adviser and retired in 1968, after 27 years of 
military service.
  Stewart resumed his acting career following World War II, and in 1946 
he starred in the classic ``It's a Wonderful Life.'' In 1989, he 
cofounded the American Spirit Foundation, which helped to develop new 
approaches to public education and assisted in budding democratic 
movements in former Soviet satellite states. He retired from acting in 
1991, after providing the voice for Sheriff Wylie Burp in ``An American 
Tail: Feivel Goes West.'' In his 35 years of acting, Stewart appeared 
in 92 films, television programs, and shorts. He passed away on July 2, 
1997, in Beverly Hills, California.
  Mr. Speaker, renaming the Indiana, Pennsylvania, post office after 
one of its most accomplished natives is fitting for one of the most 
inspiring and patriotic actors of the 20th century.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. DRIEHAUS. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this measure.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Driehaus) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 5606.
  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. BILBRAY. 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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