[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 168 (Friday, December 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8600-H8601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FIRST LIEUTENANT ROBERT WILSON COLLINS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 3592) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 100 Commerce Drive in Tyrone, Georgia, as the 
``First Lieutenant Robert Wilson Collins Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3592

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

     SECTION 1. FIRST LIEUTENANT ROBERT WILSON COLLINS POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 100 Commerce Drive in Tyrone, Georgia, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``First Lieutenant 
     Robert Wilson Collins 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 ``First Lieutenant Robert Wilson Collins 
     Post Office Building''.


[[Page H8601]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Cuellar) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CUELLAR. 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 Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CUELLAR. I now yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I'm pleased to present S. 3592, legislation that designates the 
United States Postal Service facility located at 100 Commerce Drive, 
Tyrone, Georgia, as the First Lieutenant Robert Wilson Collins Post 
Office Building.
  Introduced by Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, S. 3592 passed the 
Senate unanimously yesterday, December 16, 2010.
  Mr. Speaker, First Lieutenant Robert Wilson Collins was assigned to 
the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, out of 
Fort Stewart, Georgia. A class of 2008 graduate of West Point, 
Lieutenant Collins deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 
the fall of 2009 and served as a platoon leader while his unit provided 
support during the national elections in Iraq.

                              {time}  0910

  Understanding the importance of maintaining the morale of the unit's 
soldiers and keeping them connected to family and friends at home, 
Lieutenant Collins maintained a Facebook page for the unit, allowing 
the unit to share photos and messages with loved ones.
  Sadly, on April 7, 2010, Lieutenant Collins was killed when enemy 
forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device in 
Mosul, Iraq. He was 24 years of age.
  Lieutenant Collins is survived by his parents, Retired Lieutenant 
Colonels Deacon and Sharon Collins, and Nicolle, his childhood 
sweetheart and girlfriend of 8 years.
  Mr. Speaker, let us pay tribute to the life and service of First 
Lieutenant Robert Wilson Collins by designating this postal facility on 
Commerce Drive in Tyrone, Georgia, his home town.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting Senate bill 3592, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  I am very honored to join in with my colleague Congressman Cuellar in 
support of this legislation which was introduced by Senator Saxby 
Chambliss. I know that it has been championed by Congressman Lynn 
Westmoreland.
  I particularly have an interest in recognizing Lieutenant Collins. I 
am very grateful, myself, to be the son of a Flying Tiger. I am very 
grateful to have served for 31 years in the Army Guard and Reserve. In 
fact, I was stationed many summers at Fort Stewart, Georgia, so I 
identify with the 3rd Infantry Division. I am particularly grateful 
that I have four sons currently serving in the military. Two of my sons 
have served in Iraq. And so I know the great efforts of our troops and 
the sacrifices of military families.
  His obituary truly indicates an extraordinary young person:
  ``First Lieutenant Robert Wilson Collins of Tyrone, Georgia, was 
killed in action on April 7, 2010, in Iraq in support of Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. First Lieutenant Collins was born in 1985 in Red Bank, 
New Jersey, and graduated from Sandy Creek High School, class of 2004. 
After high school, he graduated from the United States Military Academy 
at West Point, New York, class of 2008. First Lieutenant Collins was 
the first member of the United States Military Academy class of 2008 to 
die in combat. He was serving as a platoon leader in B Company, 1-64 
Armor Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
  ``He is survived by his parents, Lieutenant Colonel Retired Burkitt 
Deacon Collins and Lieutenant Colonel Retired Sharon L.G. Collins of 
Tyrone, Georgia; paternal grandmother, Susan R. Collins of Laurel, 
Mississippi; aunts, Susan D. Groff of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Mary 
Margaret Anderson and her husband Robert Earl of Ellisville, 
Mississippi; and Susan G. Stringfellow of Purvis, Mississippi; 
childhood sweetheart and girlfriend of 8 years, Nicolle Williams of 
Tyrone, Georgia; best friend, Andrew Gardner of Miami, Florida; his 
band of brothers: First Lieutenant Andrew Collins, First Lieutenant 
Sean Flachs, First Lieutenant Tim Konze, First Lieutenant Dan McLeod, 
Greg Maduro, First Lieutenant Phil Raquepau, and First Lieutenant 
Clifford Walker; battle buddy, First Lieutenant John F. Parsons; and 
numerous friends, extended family members, and comrades in arms.''
  Funeral services were held April 17 at New Hope Baptist Church at 10 
o'clock, and it was conducted by Rev. Scott Pickering, Dr. Rick Long, 
and Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Mark Fairbrother officiating. Interment 
followed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Newnan, Georgia. And in lieu 
of flowers, there was a request for donations to the First Lieutenant 
Robert Wilson Collins Patriot Spirit Scholarship, care of Bank of 
Georgia, 100 Westpark Drive, Peachtree City, Georgia 30269.
  Again, certainly the obituary, knowing that this was such an 
extraordinary young person, protecting our country by defeating the 
terrorists overseas, I am honored to join in urging support of the 
legislation.

              [From the Times-Herald.com, April 15, 2010]

                       1LT Robert Wilson Collins

       1LT Robert Wilson Collins of Tyrone, GA, was killed in 
     action on April 7, 2010, in Iraq in support of Operation 
     Iraqi Freedom. 1LT Collins was born in 1985 in Red Bank, NJ, 
     and graduated from Sandy Creek High School, Class of 2004. 
     After high school he graduated from The United States 
     Military Academy at West Point, NY, Class of 2008. 1LT 
     Collins was the first member of the USMA Class of 2008 to die 
     in combat. He was serving as a Platoon Leader in B Company, 
     1-64 Armor Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry 
     Division.
       He is survived by his parents, LTC (RET) Burkitt (Deacon) 
     Collins and LTC (RET) Sharon L.G. Collins of Tyrone, GA; 
     paternal grandmother, Susan R. Collins of Laurel, MS; aunts, 
     Susan D. Groff of Lancaster, PA; Mary Margaret Anderson and 
     her husband Robert Earl of Ellisville, MS; and Susan G. 
     Stringfellow of Purvis, MS; childhood sweetheart and 
     girlfriend of 8 years, Nicolle Williams of Tyrone, GA; best 
     friend, Andrew Gardner of Miami, FL; his Band of Brothers: 
     1LT Andrew Collins, 1LT Sean Flachs, 1LT Tim Konze, 1LT Dan 
     McLeod, Greg Maduro, 1LT Phil Raquepau and 1LT Clifford 
     Walker; Battle Buddy, 1LT John F. Parsons; and numerous 
     friends, extended family members, and Comrades in Arms.
       Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 17 at New 
     Hope Baptist Church (North Campus) at 10 o'clock with Rev. 
     Scott Pickering, Dr. Rick Long, and Chaplain LTC Mark E. 
     Fairbrother officiating. Interment to follow at Forest Lawn 
     Memorial Park in Newnan. In lieu of flowers those desiring 
     may make donations to the 1LT Robert Wilson Collins Patriot 
     Spirit Scholarship, c/o Bank of Georgia, l00 Westpark Drive, 
     Peachtree City, GA 30269. Those wishing can make an online 
     condolence at www.parrott
     funeralhome.com.
       The family will receive friends Friday evening from 5 until 
     8 p.m. at Parrott Funeral Home and Crematory in Fairburn, GA.

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 3592.
  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. CUELLAR. 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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