[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 173 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H7411-H7412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    OFFICER JOHN MAGUIRE POST OFFICE

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (S. 1412) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 462 Washington Street, Woburn, Massachusetts, 
as the ``Officer John Maguire Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1412

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

     SECTION 1. OFFICER JOHN MAGUIRE POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 462 Washington Street, Woburn, 
     Massachusetts, shall be known and designated as the ``Officer 
     John Maguire 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 ``Officer John Maguire 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. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material 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.
  S. 1412, introduced by Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, would 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
462 Washington Street, Woburn, Massachusetts, as the ``Officer John 
Maguire Post Office.'' The bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent 
on October 20 and was reported favorably by the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform on November 3.
  Madam Speaker, John Maguire was born and raised in Woburn, 
Massachusetts, growing up in a home where his father was chief of 
police in Woburn for 15 years. After graduating from the University of 
Massachusetts-Lowell, Officer Maguire was sworn in as a Woburn police 
officer by his own father in June of 1977. Wearing badge No. 23, which 
had been his father's badge number, Officer Maguire worked for over 
three decades as a tireless public servant, protecting the people of 
Woburn.
  On December 26 of last year, three armed men went into a department 
store in Woburn and proceeded to steal money and jewelry. Arriving on 
the scene to back up his fellow officers, Officer Maguire used his 
cruiser to block the gunmen who were fleeing on foot from the store. 
Exiting his vehicle, Officer Maguire and one of the suspects exchanged 
gunfire. Officer Maguire was able to kill the suspect; but, tragically, 
he was mortally wounded himself. Officer Maguire had celebrated his 
60th birthday just 3 days prior to his death and was less than a year 
away from retirement.
  Madam Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this 
post office in Woburn for Officer John Maguire. And to Officer Maguire 
and all those who wear a badge and courageously protect and serve our 
towns, cities, and counties each and every day, we are eternally 
grateful for all that you do and all that you sacrifice. I urge all 
Members to join me in strong support of this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I urge the body to pass this legislation.
  I rise in strong support of S. 1412, which designates the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 462 Washington Street in 
Woburn, Massachusetts as the ``Officer John Maguire Post Office.''
  The measure before us was introduced on July 25, 2011 by Senator John 
Kerry.
  Our distinguished colleague, Congressman Edward Markey of 
Massachusetts, also introduced a companion version of the underlying 
bill on July 25, 2011.
  Both S. 1412 and H.R. 2640 have met the requirements for 
consideration established by the Oversight Committee and enjoy the 
support of all members of the Massachusetts delegation.
  S. 1412 was reported out of Committee by voice vote on November 3, 
2011.
  John ``Jack'' Maguire was born on December 23, 1950 in the city of 
Woburn, Massachusetts.
  He became a police officer for the Woburn Police Department in June 
1977 and was sworn in by his own father, then-Police Chief Thomas 
Maguire. Throughout his career, he wore Badge Number 23--the same badge 
his father had worn.
  Officer Maguire has been called a `life-long student.'
  He graduated from Austin Prep High School in 1969 and from the 
University of Massachusetts-Lowell in 1973.
  In 1998, more than 20 years later, he earned a master's degree in 
business administration from Franklin Pierce College.
  He went on to earn a second master's in science and criminal justice 
administration from Western New England College in 1999.
  That same year, he earned a doctorate in philosophy from the American 
College of Metaphysical Theology.
  Following the celebration of his 60th birthday late last year, 
Officer Maguire gave notice of his intention to retire in the fall of 
2011.
  On December 26, 2010, however, Officer Maguire found himself on duty 
in the middle of a New England blizzard.
  Armed robbers threatened the employees of the Kohl's department store 
in Woburn and then fled the store with money and jewelry.
  Responding to a fellow officer's call for assistance in a foot chase, 
Officer Maguire rushed to the scene and blocked an escape path with his 
cruiser.
  He then got out of his vehicle to confront an assailant. The two 
exchanged gunfire, which killed the gunman and left Officer Maguire 
mortally wounded.
  John Maguire was the first officer killed in the line of duty in 
Woburn, Massachusetts since the department was established in 1847.
  I know the City of Woburn, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the 
family of Officer Maguire are grateful for his service and sacrifice. 
We are truly indebted to men and women like him, who risk their lives 
to protect our communities on a daily basis.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that we recognize Officer Maguire's devotion to 
his profession, his community, and our country's safety by passing S. 
1412.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. I yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the companion bill, 
the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).
  Mr. MARKEY. I thank the gentleman very much for yielding. I thank the 
gentleman from Texas as well. This is a very important bill.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 2640, which I introduced in the House 
of Representatives, and Senate 1412, introduced by Senator Kerry and 
Senator Brown, and that is to name the Woburn Post Office in honor of 
Officer John--his friends called him ``Jack''--Maguire.

                              {time}  1700

  At 9 p.m. on December 26, 2010, during the height of a blizzard, two 
men invaded a Kohl's department store on Washington Street in Woburn, 
Massachusetts, to rob the jewelry counter as the employees prepared to 
close. As one robber entered the store, the second stood lookout on the 
outside, while a third man waited in a nearby getaway vehicle.
  The robber in the department store was a career criminal with a long 
and violent record. He took a large amount of jewelry and fled outside 
the store into the driving snow. Eyewitnesses and store employees 
dialed 911. Officer Maguire arrived in the parking lot moments after 
the robbery. He saw an officer chasing a gunman on foot and drove his 
cruiser to a location to prevent the escape of the gunmen into a 
residential neighborhood in Woburn. Officer Maguire jumped out of his 
cruiser on Washington Street, and the

[[Page H7412]]

gunman opened fire on him. Shots were exchanged, and the gunman was 
killed. Unfortunately, Officer Maguire was shot four times in the torso 
and was transported to a local trauma center, where it was announced, 
unfortunately, that he had passed away.
  Officer Maguire paid the ultimate price protecting the citizens of 
Woburn. We are incredibly grateful for his selfless acts that day, 
which capped 34 years of outstanding dedication to the safety of the 
people of Woburn.
  On June 26, 1977, Officer Maguire began his career by being sworn in 
by his father, Police Chief Thomas Maguire, a longtime friend of mine, 
and he was so proud to follow in his father's footsteps. On December 
26, 2010, he died wearing badge 23, which had been his own father's 
badge number. Just days before his death, he had celebrated his 60th 
birthday and given notice of his intention to retire in October of 
2011.
  A devoted husband and caring father, Officer Maguire is survived by 
his wife, Desiree, and children Bryan, Tara, and Sean. Officer Maguire 
died protecting the residents of Woburn from an armed gunman. He was 
the first officer killed in the line of duty from the Woburn Police 
Department since its inception in 1847. It was a tragedy for his 
family, for the Woburn Police Department, and the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts to have lost such an honorable father, a courageous cop, 
and a hometown hero.
  That is why, at the request of Mayor Scott Galvin of Woburn, Police 
Chief Richard Kelly, and former Police Chief Phillip Mahoney of the 
Woburn Police Department, I introduced H.R. 2640 to rename the Woburn 
Post Office in the memory of Officer John ``Jack'' Maguire. Renaming 
the post office located at 462 Washington Street--just a few hundred 
yards across the street from where Officer Maguire was shot and 
killed--in his honor is the least that we can do to pay tribute to this 
brave, dedicated first responder. We honor his service and sacrifice. 
We honor his life and his legacy. And we honor police officers 
everywhere who go to work every day to protect the safety and security 
of all citizens.
  Today, we are considering an identical bill that was introduced by my 
colleagues Senator Kerry and Senator Brown. I urge adoption of this 
bill, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 462 Washington Street, Woburn, Massachusetts, as the 
``Officer John Maguire Post Office'' to honor the legacy of a true 
hometown hero.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of Senate 1412, 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. Farenthold) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 1412.
  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. FARENTHOLD. Madam 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, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

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