[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 153 (Monday, November 29, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7621-H7622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 LANCE CORPORAL ALEXANDER SCOTT ARREDONDO, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 
                          POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5877) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, 
as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine 
Corps Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5877

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

     SECTION 1. LANCE CORPORAL ALEXANDER SCOTT ARREDONDO, UNITED 
                   STATES MARINE CORPS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, 
     Massachusetts, shall be known and designated as the ``Lance 
     Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine 
     Corps 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 ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott 
     Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CLAY. Madam 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 Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I am pleased to present H.R. 5877, legislation that designates 
the U.S. Postal Service facility located at 655 Centre Street in 
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott 
Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building.''
  Introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts, 
Representative Michael Capuano, on July 27, 2010, H.R. 5877 enjoys the 
support of Massachusetts' entire delegation to the House.
  Madam Speaker, Lance Corporal Arredondo of Randolph, Massachusetts, 
was the 968th U.S. military fatality of Operation Iraqi Freedom. An 
avid martial arts enthusiast, he studied at the New England Academy of 
Martial Arts in Randolph, where he also taught courses to young 
students.
  He was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 11th Marine 
Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Marine Corps 
Base Camp Pendleton. Sadly, on August 25, 2004, Lance Corporal 
Arredondo was killed by a sniper in Najaf. He was 20 years old.
  In closing, let us pay tribute to the life and service of Lance 
Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo by naming the Jamaica Plain Post 
Office Building in his honor. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting H.R. 5877.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 5877, to designate the facility of 
the United

[[Page H7622]]

States Postal Service located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, 
Massachusetts, as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, 
United States Marine Corps Post Office Building.''
  Madam Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this 
post office in Jamaica Plain for a true American hero who made the 
ultimate sacrifice for our country.
  Born August 5, 1984, Alexander Scott Arredondo graduated from Blue 
Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, Massachusetts, in the year 
2002. He joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 1 Marine 
Expeditionary Force based out of Camp Pendleton, California. He was 
deployed to Iraq and served his first tour of duty in 2003, which 
lasted 9 months. In June, 2004, Lance Corporal Arredondo was deployed 
back to Iraq. Sadly, Madam Speaker, Lance Corporal Arredondo died in 
Najaf, Iraq, defending freedom and protecting our Nation.
  At only 20 years old, Lance Corporal Arredondo was on his second tour 
of duty supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, proving this young man's 
bravery, courage, and dedication. He is truly an American hero, and I 
urge all Members to join us in support of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the chief sponsor of 
the legislation, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano).
  Mr. CAPUANO. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I also want to thank 
the committee for putting this bill out.
  Lance Corporal Arredondo was a recipient of the Navy Cross with 
combat V and a Purple Heart. He was nominated for the Bronze Star, and 
he gave his life for this country on August 25, 2004. As you heard, he 
was on his second tour of duty in Iraq.
  I just want to read a paragraph that was written about one of his 
actions, his last action, by a lieutenant general that I think sums up 
what his own colleagues, his other Marines, thought of him.
  ``On August 25, 2004, Lance Corporal Arredondo gallantly performed 
the duties of a fire team leader while fighting enemy forces in the old 
city of Najaf. While moving with his squad to attack and clear a two-
story building, the platoon became heavily engaged at close ranges by 
enemy small arms, machine gun, and RPG fire. He never hesitated as he 
led his Marines under intense fire through the building, personally 
clearing rooms and assuming the greatest risk as grenade explosions 
raised an impenetrable cloud of dust and dirt in each room.
  ``Lance Corporal Arredondo led his Marines clearing the objective in 
a superb manner, never slowing down and never showing any fear. After 
the exhausting attack, when the platoon had gained control of the 
building, Lance Corporal Arredondo personally emplaced his marines in 
an exemplary manner while setting up a defense and preparing for 
further engagements with the enemy.
  ``After his fire team was set in defense, Lance Corporal Arredondo 
was shot and mortally wounded by a sniper as he walked the line 
checking his marines. Lance Corporal Arredondo fought alongside his 
fellow marines and displayed the highest levels of courage and 
selflessness during the three weeks of fighting in Najaf. He gave his 
life fighting for freedom and defending his fellow marines.''
  That was not written by me or my staff. That was written by his 
commander. I think that that alone, that one paragraph, clearly 
underscores exactly what kind of a person Lance Corporal Arredondo was. 
For a man to give his life at such a young and tender age is an 
incredible thing, and I am proud--and I want to be very clear, this is 
the first time I have been here on something like this. I don't take 
this lightly at all this. This is not just naming another thing after 
another person. This particular one is very important to me, to my 
constituents, and to his family because of the service he rendered for 
this country, because of the fact that he gave his life fighting for 
our freedom and our rights. I just want to say thank you to the 
committee again for bringing this bill to the floor, and thank you to 
the people who have supported this bill.

                              {time}  1440

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam 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 Missouri (Mr. Clay) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 5877.
  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. CLAY. 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.

                          ____________________