[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 38 (Monday, March 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H1775-H1776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SPECIALIST JAKE ROBERT VELLOZA POST OFFICE
Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 793) to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in
Inverness, California, as the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post
Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 793
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SPECIALIST JAKE ROBERT VELLOZA POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in
Inverness, California, shall be known and designated as the
``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza 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 ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post
Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Ross) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROSS of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 793, introduced by the gentlelady from California
(Ms. Woolsey), would designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness,
California, as the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office.'' The
bill is cosponsored by the entire California State delegation and was,
favorably, without amendment, reported out of the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform last Thursday, March 10.
It is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in
Inverness for Army Specialist Velloza to honor a true American hero and
his service to our country.
Jake Robert Velloza was born on June 21, 1986, in Santa Rosa,
California; and he grew up in Inverness. From a young age, he knew that
he wanted to serve his country in the military. His high school
football coach recalled after his death: ``He was set on his goals. He
was one of those young men who knew what he wanted to do and did it.
Service to his country is what appealed to him.''
Specialist Velloza enlisted in the Army in 2006 and was assigned to
the Army's 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat
Team, 1st Cavalry Division based out of Fort Hood, Texas. Tragically,
on May 2, 2009, Specialist Velloza was shot and killed by enemy forces
while on his second tour of duty in Mosul, Iraq. He was 22 years old,
and left behind his fiancee, Danielle Erwin, whom he had proposed to
just 6 months prior to his tragic death. For his bravery and service to
his country, Specialist Velloza was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple
Heart, both of which were presented to his parents, Robert and Susan
Velloza.
Mr. Speaker, having a father who fought and served in World War II,
along with three brothers who are all combat veterans of the Vietnam
war, it is a privilege for me to stand here today before this body and
honor the memory of a true American hero. As the Representative of
Florida's 12th Congressional District, I have the honor of representing
many of our brave retired servicemembers who were based out of MacDill
Air Force Base in Tampa, just a few miles west of my district.
The men and women who were once based out of MacDill and those who
currently work there have much in common with Specialist Velloza, a
courageous young man who made the ultimate sacrifice promoting freedom
and protecting our great Nation.
I am grateful for the service of Specialist Velloza and for all of
those who serve and protect us each and every day. I urge all Members
to join me in strong support of this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LYNCH. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
First of all, I would like to thank the gentleman for his kind
remarks.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the
consideration of H.R. 793, which would rename the United States Postal
Service facility at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness,
California, as the Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office Building.
The measure before us was first introduced by my colleague and
friend, Representative Lynn Woolsey from California, on February 17,
2011. The bill is cosponsored by all 52 members of the California
delegation. Further, H.R. 793 was taken up by the House Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform on March 10, 2011, and was reported out
of the committee on the same day.
I would like to briefly highlight some of the achievements and
honorable service of Specialist Velloza. The only son of Robert and
Susan Velloza, Specialist Jake Velloza was a lifelong resident of
Inverness, California. Specialist Velloza graduated from high school in
2004 and attended the College of Marin before enlisting in the Army in
2006. Specialist Velloza was a member of the 1st Battalion, 12th
Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division stationed out of
Fort Hood, Texas. Army Specialist Velloza was serving in Mosul, Iraq,
when he was killed in action by enemy fire on May 2, 2009.
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of this young man's bravery and
accomplishments, I ask that we pass the underlying bill without
reservation and pay tribute to the commitment and sacrifice made by
Specialist Velloza on behalf of our country.
I urge the passage of H.R. 793.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 5 minutes to the lead sponsor of
this measure, the gentlewoman from California, Representative Lynn
Woolsey.
Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, it has been my honor to introduce and
shepherd to the floor H.R. 793, a bill paying tribute to an American
hero in my home district.
On May 2, 2009, Army Specialist Jake Robert Velloza of Inverness,
California, was shot and killed during an attack by Iraqi soldiers near
the city of Mosul. He was 22 years old and on his second tour in Iraq.
He was the only child of Bob and Susan Velloza. He was engaged to be
married to Danielle Erwin, proposing to her on the Golden Gate Bridge,
between deployments, 6 months before his death.
Jake was a stand-out athlete at Tomales High School like his father
before him. He attended the College of Marin, and following in his
grandfather's footsteps, worked at the North Marin Water District. Yet
he knew from the time he was in his teens that he wanted to serve, and
he joined the Army in 2006. Jake knew that he might not make it back
home.
He left behind a moving poem, full of courage and grace, that was
read at his funeral. In it, he comforted his family and his friends by
saying: ``Don't grieve for me now for I am free. Be not burdened with
times of sorrow. I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.''
[[Page H1776]]
{time} 1710
Mr. Speaker, I think everyone knows my strong feelings about our
Nation's policies toward Afghanistan and Iraq, but my opposition to
these wars is matched in intensity only by my admiration and support
for the men and women risking their lives to fight them. And that's
why, when members of Jake's church and others in the community
approached my office about honoring his memory, we went right to work.
I was proud to introduce legislation last month to name the post
office at 12781 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard in Inverness, California,
the ``Specialist Jake Robert Velloza Post Office.'' I am grateful to
all my colleagues in the California delegation for cosponsoring and to
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, especially Chairman
Issa, Ranking Member Cummings, and Member Lynch, for approving the bill
last week.
I urge all my House colleagues to approve this designation with the
hope that the Senate will soon follow to make sure this proud soldier's
service and sacrifice are never forgotten. Please pass H.R. 793.
Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I again urge all Members to support
passage of H.R. 793.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Ross) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 793.
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. ROSS of Florida. Mr. 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.
____________________