[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 14, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H705-H706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        JOHN J. COOK POST OFFICE

  Mr. KELLY. Mr. 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 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 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 Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2079, introduced by the gentlewoman 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. The bill was introduced in June 
of this year and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform on November 3 of last year.
  Mr. Speaker, 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 many 
generations.
  According to one East Rockaway resident, he was quite simply ``the 
best.'' He knew all of his customers very well and gave personalized 
service throughout his career. The resident went on to say that, you 
know what, ``they just don't make people like him anymore.''
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, 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

[[Page H706]]

Rockaway, New York, after John J. Cook, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Oversight and Government 
Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the 
consideration of H.R. 2079, a bill to designate the facility of the 
U.S. 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 the committee 
requirements, H.R. 2079 is cosponsored by all members of the New York 
delegation. It was reported out of the committee by unanimous consent 
on November 3, 2011.
  At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield as much time as she 
may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy).
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank, certainly, 
Mr. Kelly from Pennsylvania and Mr. Clay from Missouri for helping me 
get this through the committee, and I appreciate that.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. John J. Cook, a World War II 
veteran, a model American postal worker, and an integral member of the 
East Rockaway community. I also want to thank senior Councilman Anthony 
Santino for bringing this to my attention.
  Mr. Cook, a resident of my district, began working for the East 
Rockaway Post Office on January 8, 1944. For the next 60 years he 
served our East Rockaway community as a letter carrier who exemplified 
the American work ethic, displaying professionalism, courtesy and 
tireless dedication.
  After serving in World War II in the Pacific theater, Mr. Cook began 
working for the local post office and quickly became an integral part 
of the East Rockaway community. Day in and day out, for more than 60 
years, Mr. Cook took pride in his work, delivering the mail to the East 
Rockaway community in a timely and efficient manner.
  He tailored his deliveries to the wishes of each individual customer. 
For example, he would make sure that important messages such as a 
wedding invitation or college acceptance letters were placed on the top 
of the day's mail for that customer.
  Mr. Cook would go above and beyond his expected duties. At times, he 
even would cancel his family vacations because the post office needed 
him for a last-minute shift.
  As public servants, we can recognize the importance of dedication, 
hard work, and service to one's community. It is only fitting and 
proper that the United States Government and Postal Service take the 
opportunity to honor a great man like Mr. Cook. He truly was a great 
American.
  Mr. Cook exemplified these values on a daily basis and became an 
esteemed member of our East Rockaway community. He watched the children 
of his customers grow up and marry and have their own children.
  To rename the post office in Mr. Cook's honor will be a well-deserved 
tribute to a World War II veteran and a model public servant; and I 
hope my colleagues join me in supporting H.R. 2079 in honor of Mr. John 
J. Cook.
  Mr. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at the moment, and I 
continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker I have no further speakers and am ready to 
close, if that's okay with the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Having no additional speakers, I, once again, urge adoption of H.R. 
2079. I also ask that we keep the example of Mr. Cook's career in mind 
as we work together to craft what should be bipartisan legislation to 
ensure that the institution Mr. Cook loved so much, the United States 
Postal Service, can continue to serve our Nation so well.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H.R. 2079, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2079.
  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. KELLY. 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, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

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