[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 165 (Tuesday, December 14, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8306-H8307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PRIVATE ISAAC T. CORTES POST OFFICE

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 6205) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at

[[Page H8307]]

1449 West Avenue in Bronx, New York, as the ``Private Isaac T. Cortes 
Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6205

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

     SECTION 1. PRIVATE ISAAC T. CORTES POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1449 West Avenue in Bronx, New York, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``Private Isaac T. Cortes Post 
     Office''.
       (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 ``Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Chu) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CHU. 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 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1500

  Ms. CHU. I now yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6205, a bill to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1449 West 
Avenue in Bronx, New York, as the Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office. 
H.R. 6205 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from New York, 
Representative Joseph Crowley, on September 23, 2010. The measure 
enjoys the support of New York's entire delegation to the House.
  A native of the Bronx, Private Isaac T. Cortes held several jobs 
before enlisting in the Army. He was very proud to work as a security 
guard at Yankee Stadium and at one point hoped to become an officer 
with the New York City Police Department. He enlisted with the Army in 
November 2006 to gain experience that would help him achieve that goal, 
but later decided to become a career military man.
  Private Cortes served as an infantryman with the 1st Squadron, 71st 
Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, 
Light Infantry, based out of Fort Drum, New York. He was a Humvee 
driver and performed operator-level maintenance on the vehicle. While 
overseas in Iraq, he participated in mountain Humvee and dismounted 
walking patrols. Private Cortes engaged in weapons cache searches and 
humanitarian aid missions to the local Iraqi people.
  Sadly, on November 27, 2007, Private Cortes was one of two soldiers 
killed when an improvised explosive device was detonated as his vehicle 
rode past Amerli, Iraq, about 100 miles north of Baghdad. His awards 
and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, National 
Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism 
Service Medal, and Army Service Medal.
  He is survived by his parents, Emily and Isaias, his younger brother 
Christopher, a young daughter Amaria, and a large extended family. They 
remember Private Cortes as the kid who would help elders carry 
groceries, the young man who would play with his younger cousins, and 
the father who wanted to be the best he could be for his young child. 
Today we also remember him as the soldier who made the ultimate 
sacrifice for his country.
  Mr. Speaker, let us now pay tribute to the life and service of 
Private Isaac T. Cortes by designating the postal facility on West 
Avenue in the Bronx in his honor.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 6205.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6205, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1449 West 
Avenue in Bronx, New York, as the Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office.
  Mr. Speaker, Private Cortes was born and raised in the Bronx and 
joined the Army in November of 2006. After basic training, he was 
assigned to the 10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, New 
York. In September 2007, Private Cortes deployed to Iraq to support 
Operation Iraqi Freedom. And sadly, Mr. Speaker, less than 2 months 
later, on November 27, 2007, Private Cortes died when the vehicle he 
was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device. Private 
Cortes was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star to honor his 
bravery and courage.
  Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this 
post office to honor Private Cortes. This was a man who made the 
ultimate sacrifice for his country, fighting for our freedom and the 
freedom of the Iraqi people. The least we can do is honor his memory by 
naming this post office after him. I join all Members to join me in 
strong support of this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this measure.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6205.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. CHU. 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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