[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 190 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8328-H8329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 WILLIAM T. TRANT POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2767) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 8 West Silver Street in Westfield, Massachusetts, as 
the ``William T. Trant Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2767

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

     SECTION 1. WILLIAM T. TRANT POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 8 West Silver Street in Westfield, 
     Massachusetts, shall be known and designated as the ``William 
     T. Trant 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 ``William T. Trant Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in 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 California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2767, introduced by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Olver), would designate the facility of the United States Post Office 
located at 8 West Silver Street in Westfield, Massachusetts, as the 
``William T. Trant Post Office Building.'' This bill is cosponsored by 
the entire Massachusetts delegation and was favorably reported 
unanimously from our committee in November.
  Mr. Speaker, William Trant was a man truly dedicated to serving both 
his country and his community.

                              {time}  1650

  In 1943 he enlisted in the Army and saw combat in Europe, suffering 
wounds at both Normandy and Rhineland. For his service, he was awarded 
the Purple Heart, as well as numerous other service medals.
  After returning from war, Mr. Trant began his career working for the 
United States Post Office there in Westfield. Following a short stint 
with the New York Giants minor league baseball team, Mr. Trant returned 
to his career at the postal service--as we know in government, it's 
always good to have a backup job if you're going to pitch--where he 
would continue to serve for 32 years.
  Mr. Trant rose to the rank of the postmaster of that post office that 
he served in up through the process. He also, though, did many 
community works, including serving on the Westfield City Council for 
near 20 years and, in 1962, also served as acting mayor. It is fitting 
that we name the Westfield Post Office after its postmaster.
  In 1967 he served as procurement officer in the Springfield Post 
Office, as well as the procurement director of services in the 
northeast postal district in Hartford, Connecticut.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, in 2002 Mr. Trant passed away. He is remembered 
by many in Westfield as both an exemplary citizen and a person of 
character.
  I urge all Members to join in support of this legislation to honor a 
true public servant, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 2767, this bill to designate 
the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 8 West Silver Street 
in Westfield, Massachusetts, as the William T. Trant Post Office 
Building.
  The measure was first introduced by my colleague, Representative John 
Olver of Massachusetts, on August 1, 2011. The entire Massachusetts 
delegation supports the bill. Having met all of the Oversight and 
Government Reform Committee's requirements, H.R. 2767 was reported 
favorably by the committee on November 3, 2011.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to my 
friend from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver).
  Mr. OLVER. I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 2767, a bill that would 
designate the United States Post Office at 8 West Silver Street in 
Westfield, Massachusetts, as the William T. Trant Post Office Building.
  William Trant was an exemplary citizen, a soldier, a father, a public 
servant, and a pillar of his community.
  Born and raised in Westfield, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943, 
and participated in five of the great campaigns of World War II, 
including the invasion of Normandy. He was decorated with several 
military honors, including the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign 
Medal with five Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Purple 
Heart with an oak leaf cluster for wounds sustained at Normandy and at 
Rhineland.
  After being honorably discharged at the end of the war, Mr. Trant 
returned home and worked for the U.S. Post Office in Westfield, leaving 
briefly to pitch for a minor league baseball team affiliated with the 
New York Giants.
  He served on Westfield's City Council for nearly 20 years, served as 
acting mayor in 1962 following the death of Westfield's incumbent 
mayor. Through his service, he became friends with many Massachusetts 
political figures from both parties, including President John Kennedy, 
Senator Edward Kennedy, Congressman Silvio Conte, and House Speaker Tip 
O'Neill.
  In 1967, Mr. Trant was appointed postmaster at the Westfield Post 
Office, a title which he proudly held while serving for many years.
  Mr. Trant was actively involved in sports programs for the young 
people of Westfield, including the Westfield Little League, Westfield 
Babe Ruth and Westfield American Legion Baseball.
  He and his wife, Mary, were devoted parents to nine children.

[[Page H8329]]

  He passed away in 2002, having lived a life that is an example and an 
inspiration for all who knew him.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 2767 and ask my colleagues to 
join me in honoring William Trant's service to his country and his 
community.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
  I ask that we recognize the long life and heroic service of William 
T. Trant and pass the underlying bill without reservation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleague and move that we 
support unanimously the William Trant Post Office naming, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2767.
  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. ISSA. 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, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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