[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 35 (Monday, March 5, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H1140-H1141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PRIVATE ISAAC T. CORTES POST OFFICE

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3413) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1449 West Avenue in Bronx, New York, as the 
``Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3413

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

[[Page H1141]]

     SECTION 1. PRIVATE ISAAC T. CORTES POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1449 West Avenue in Bronx, New York, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``Private Isaac T. Cortes 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 ``Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office''.

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

                              {time}  1710


                             General Leave

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. 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 to 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. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3413, introduced by the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Crowley), would designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 1449 West Avenue in Bronx, New York, 
as the Private Isaac T. Cortes Post Office. H.R. 3413 was reported 
favorably by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on 
February 7 of this year.
  Mr. Speaker, Private Isaac T. Cortes was born and raised in the Bronx 
and joined the Army in November of 2006. While at one time Private 
Cortes had aspirations of becoming a police officer with the New York 
City Police Department, his desire to serve and protect his country as 
a soldier soon won out. According to his brother, Private Cortes was 
``proud doing what he did.'' He wanted to continue serving in the Army 
and serve to fight against terrorism.
  In September of 2007, Private Cortes deployed to Iraq to support 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as an infantry squad leader in the 
10th Mountain Division based out of Fort Drum, New York.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, less than 3 months later, on November 27, 2007, 
Private Cortes died when the vehicle that he was riding in was struck 
by an improvised explosive device. He was just 26 years old.
  For his bravery and courage, Mr. Speaker, Private Cortes was awarded 
the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
  Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this 
post office in honor of Private Cortes. This man made the ultimate 
sacrifice fighting to protect the country that he loved. He put his own 
life in harm's way so that we can remain the land of the free.
  For that, Mr. Speaker, I'm truly grateful. The least we can do, Mr. 
Speaker, is to honor him and his brave service to our Nation by naming 
this post office after him. I urge all Members to join me in support of 
this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3413, a 
bill I authored to rename the United States Postal Service facility at 
1449 West Avenue in the Bronx, New York, in honor of Private Isaac T. 
Cortes, who tragically lost his life outside Amerli, Iraq, on November 
27, 2007.
  Private Cortes lived his life by a simple motto, ``Go big or go 
home,'' which can also be used to describe Isaac's decision to join the 
Army. Certainly there can be no more fitting instance of following the 
words he lived by than his decision to serve his country at a time when 
our country was fighting, not one, but two wars.
  Isaac joined the Army in part because he felt that it would help him 
achieve his dream of one day becoming a member of the New York City 
Police Department, but quickly discovered that the Army was his true 
calling. Private Cortes loved the Army and loved the feeling of pride 
for country and community he felt when he wore the U.S. Army uniform, a 
pride so strong that Private Cortes intended to make a career in the 
Army, a career in the service of his country. Unfortunately, that dream 
was cut short on November 27, 2007, when Private Cortes, his Humvee, 
was hit by an IED, killing him instantly.
  While Private Cortes did not get the chance to come home, his memory 
and spirit lives on through the love of his family, friends, country, 
and community.
  The Army has recognized Private Cortes' exceptional service by 
awarding him the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the National Defense 
Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism 
Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
  Known for a big heart and his loving ways, his family honors his 
memory by hosting blood, clothing, food, and toy drives. And today, we 
have the opportunity to do our part to contribute to his legacy by 
passing this legislation, which will ensure his courage, integrity, and 
sacrifice will live on to inspire future generations to live up to his 
example.
  There is nothing the government can do that will ever live up to 
Isaac's ``go big'' moment or erase the burden felt by his family, 
especially his mother, Emily Toro, who I know is watching the 
proceedings now; but, by passing this bill, at least this Congress can 
do something to help ensure that his memory survives.
  I think it only appropriate that prior to passing this bill we honor 
the service of a World War II veteran, really showing the link between 
that great war to preserve democracy and freedom throughout the world 
and the sacrifices that have been made and continue to be made in a 
part of the world in the Middle East, in Iraq and Afghanistan, to 
preserve those same freedoms that we hold dear, that Private Cortes 
held dear, and as the people of the Bronx hold dear.
  Just a note, Mr. Speaker, my colleague was talking about Bronx, New 
York. There are only three parts of the world that begin with ``the'': 
the Vatican, The Hague, and the Bronx, sometimes said ``da'' Bronx.
  But the Bronx is very proud of its sons and daughters, many of whom 
have paid the ultimate sacrifice in wartime; and this wartime is not 
unlike any other, continues to sacrifice, as do the sons and daughters 
of New York City and New York itself.
  So, Mr. Speaker, in recognition of Private Isaac T. Cortes' 
commitment to the Bronx, to New York City, to New York State, and to 
his beloved country, I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating 
the life of this brave soldier by supporting the passage of H.R. 3413
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and once 
again wish Emily Toro and the entire Cortes family our regards.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 3413, honoring the service in memory of Private Isaac 
Cortes and the sacrifices of his family, including Mrs. Toro, his 
service to this country and to the Bronx, by naming this post office in 
his honor.
  With that, 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, H.R. 3413.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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