[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 115 (Thursday, July 28, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H5727-H5728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MATTHEW A. PUCINO POST OFFICE
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2062) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 45 Meetinghouse Lane in Sagamore Beach,
Massachusetts, as the ``Matthew A. Pucino Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2062
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. MATTHEW A. PUCINO POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 45 Meetinghouse Lane in Sagamore Beach,
Massachusetts, shall be known and designated as the ``Matthew
A. Pucino 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 ``Matthew A. Pucino Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
General Leave
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within 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 Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. LANKFORD. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2062 was introduced by the gentleman from
Massachusetts (Mr. Keating). It would designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 45 Meetinghouse Lane in
Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts, as the Matthew A. Pucino Post Office.
The bill was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform on June 22.
Matthew Pucino, a United States Army Special Forces soldier, born in
Hudson, Massachusetts, was killed in Afghanistan on November 23, 2009,
when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Matthew enlisted in the United States Army in 2002 as a Special
Forces candidate and went on to earn the Green Beret as an engineer
sergeant. Matthew was conducting a combat patrol in eastern Afghanistan
near the Pakistani border when his all-terrain vehicle was struck.
He was an intelligence sergeant with the 20th Special Forces Group,
and he had been on his second deployment. He had also served in Iraq
with the 5th Special Forces Group. As a result of his bravery in his
first deployment in Iraq, Matthew was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze
Star, Army Commendation, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medals.
According to his cousin, Anthony, Matthew joined the military after
the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because he wanted to help
protect America and Americans.
Mr. Pucino was 34 years old. He left his wife, Crystal; his parents,
Albert and Kathryn Pucino of Orlando, Florida; and his sister, Lisa.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such
time as he might consume to the author of this measure, Mr. Keating of
Massachusetts.
Mr. KEATING. I thank the gentleman for yielding his time.
I rise today to honor Sergeant Matthew A. Pucino of Sagamore Beach,
Massachusetts, who lost his life on November 23, 2009, after his
vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting a
mounted patrol in Afghanistan.
Sergeant Pucino enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002 as a Special Forces
candidate. He went on to complete the Special Forces qualification
course and earned the coveted Green Beret as a Special Forces engineer
sergeant. In July of 2009, he deployed for the third time in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of the Combined Joint Special
Operations Task Force in Afghanistan.
Sergeant Pucino was highly decorated, which is a testament not just
to his abilities as a soldier, but to his true character. This includes
such honors as the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, the Army
Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense
Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army
Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist
Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
In tribute to Sergeant Pucino's ultimate sacrifice for our country, I
have joined with my colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation in
introducing H.R. 2062 to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 45 Meetinghouse Lane in Sagamore Beach,
Massachusetts, as the Matthew A. Pucino Post Office.
I respectfully urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this
legislation in honor of Sergeant Pucino--a hero, not just to the
citizens of Massachusetts, but to all Americans.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from
Massachusetts on this very thoughtful measure, I urge its passage, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LANKFORD. I join with the gentleman to urge all Members to pass
H.R. 2062, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by
[[Page H5728]]
the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2062.
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. LANKFORD. 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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