[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 173 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H7409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        JOHN J. COOK POST OFFICE

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2079) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 10 Main Street in East Rockaway, New York, as 
the ``John J. Cook Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2079

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

     SECTION 1. JOHN J. COOK POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 10 Main Street in East Rockaway, New York, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``John J. Cook 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 ``John J. Cook Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Farenthold) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. I would like to ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 2079, introduced by the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) 
would designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 10 Main Street in East Rockaway, New York, as the John J. 
Cook Post Office. This bill was introduced in June of this year and was 
favorably reported out of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform on November 3.
  John J. Cook served the community of East Rockaway, New York, for 
more than six decades, working as a letter carrier at the facility to 
be named after him. Serving his community for 60 years and 4 months, 
Mr. Cook went above and beyond to serve his neighbors and exemplified 
professionalism and courtesy each and every day on the job. Mr. Cook 
delivered mail on the same route for nearly all of his 60 years on the 
job; and according to many in his community, he continually touched the 
lives of countless people spanning generations.
  According to one East Rockaway resident, he was ``the best.'' He knew 
all of his customers very well and gave personalized service throughout 
his career. The resident went on to say that ``they don't make people 
like him anymore.''
  Sadly, Mr. Cook passed away in 2005 at the age of 78. He left behind 
his wife, Roberta, and many who will miss this true public servant and 
model postal employee.
  I urge all Members to join me in naming the postal facility in East 
Rockaway, New York, after John J. Cook; and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As the ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H.R. 2079, a 
bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 10 Main Street in East Rockaway, New York, as the John J. 
Cook Post Office.
  The measure before us was introduced by Representative Carolyn 
McCarthy on June 1, 2011. In accordance with committee requirements, 
H.R. 2079 is cosponsored by all members of the New York delegation. It 
was reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous consent on 
November 3, 2011.
  H.R. 2079 honors John J. Cook, a man who worked for more than 60 
years with our Nation's postal service. Mr. Cook began working for what 
was then the United States Postal Department on January 8, 1944, after 
returning from service in World War II. From 1948 until his retirement 
in 2004, he walked the same route 6 days a week, with neither snow nor 
sleet nor rain preventing him from completing his appointed duties.
  Mr. Cook was a fixture of the East Rockaway community, known and 
beloved by all. Even now, 7 years after his retirement, East Rockaway 
residents fondly recall Mr. Cook's kindness and empathy as a public 
servant. By all accounts, he went above and beyond the call of duty to 
serve his neighbors. His professionalism, courtesy, and dedication to 
the job made him a model letter carrier.
  After 60 years and 4 months of faithful service to the United States 
Postal Service, Mr. Cook passed away in 2005 at the age of 78. Mr. 
Cook's career is a stunning example of what our dedicated postal 
workers contribute to our communities. Even as the postal service faces 
severe financial and operational strains, we must never forget that the 
service's success depends on the dedication of employees like John 
Cook.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that we pass H.R. 2079 in recognition of Mr. 
John J. Cook's commitment to his work at the postal service, his 
compassion for his community, and his service to a grateful Nation. I 
also ask that we keep the example of his career in mind as we work 
together to craft what should be a bipartisan piece of legislation, to 
ensure that the institution Mr. Cook loved so much can continue to 
serve our Nation.
  With that, I urge the passage of H.R. 2079, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, at this point I would like to withdraw 
my motion.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The motion is withdrawn.

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