[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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