[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 26, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H3999-H4000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FIRST SERGEANT LANDRES CHEEKS POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 3772) to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 150 South Union Street in Canton,
Mississippi, as the ``First Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office
Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3772
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FIRST SERGEANT LANDRES CHEEKS POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 150 South Union Street in Canton,
Mississippi, shall be known and designated as the ``First
Sergeant Landres Cheeks 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 ``First Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post
Office Building''.
[[Page H4000]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Farenthold) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. FARENTHOLD. 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 Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. FARENTHOLD. H.R. 3772, introduced by the gentleman from
Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), would designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 150 South Union Street in Canton,
Mississippi, as the First Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office Building.
This bill was introduced on January 13 and was reported from the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform with a favorable report on
February 7.
Sergeant Cheeks served in the United States Army Medical Corps for 30
years, serving in World War II in Germany and France and also in the
Vietnam war. He is a decorated serviceman, having received numerous
distinctions, including the National Defense Medal, the Army
Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Occupational Medal of
Germany, the Bronze Star Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the
American Campaign Medal.
Beyond military service, Sergeant Cheeks was a role model in his
community in Mississippi, serving with numerous community
organizations, including the Madison County Union for Progress as
chairman. The Union for Progress is a private organization that helps
citizens seek and secure employment. He also served on the board of
directors of the Canton Housing Authority.
Cheeks was married for 66 years and raised six sons and three
daughters. Six of his children followed in his footsteps and served
this country in the military.
Madam Speaker, First Sergeant Landres Cheeks is a worthy designee of
this postal naming. I urge all Members to join me in support of this
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I
join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 3772, a bill to
designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service at 150 South Union
Street in Canton, Mississippi, as the First Sergeant Landres Cheeks
Post Office Building.
The measure was first introduced on January 13, 2012, by my
colleague, Representative Bennie Thompson. In accordance with committee
requirements, the bill is cosponsored by all members of the Mississippi
delegation and was reported out of the committee by unanimous consent
on February 7, 2012.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson).
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support
of my bill, H.R. 3772, which seeks to designate the United States
postal facility located at 150 South Union Street in Canton,
Mississippi, as the First Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office.
I introduced this bill to bring recognition to the outstanding works
and commitment of Retired First Sergeant Landres Cheeks to both the
United States of America and to the city of Canton, Mississippi. I'm
pleased to have my colleagues in the Mississippi delegation join me as
original cosponsors: Congressmen Harper, Palazzo, and Nunnelee.
First, Sergeant Cheeks has been a true patriot of our country and an
integral part of his community for more than 60 years. He's dedicated
his life, after serving our country for three decades, to giving back
to the citizens of Canton. His mission to economically empower,
inspire, and motivate the people of Canton has proved him to be an
invaluable asset to the community.
Sergeant Cheeks served the United States Army Medical Corps for 30
years, participating in Germany and France during World War II and the
Vietnam war. He's a decorated serviceman, having received the National
Defense Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam
Campaign Medal, Army Occupational Medal of Germany, Bronze Star Medal,
World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, and a Good Service
Conduct Medal.
In 2001, he was awarded the Blue Cross Blue Shield Ageless Hero
Award. This honor is given in celebration of the spirit and vitality of
our Nation's seniors aged 65 and over who have proven themselves
exemplary in the areas of community involvement, creativity, good
neighboring, love of learning, new beginning and vitality. Sergeant
Cheeks has proven himself to be a role model of his community.
After having been honorably discharged from the military, it was
later discovered that Sergeant Cheeks had contacted agent orange and
developed post-traumatic stress syndrome. Nevertheless, Sergeant Cheeks
persevered and began actively assisting the people of Canton with
searches for employment and with formulating and sponsoring
extracurricular activities for the youth of Canton.
Not only is Sergeant Cheeks committed to economic quality and
bettering the community, but he's also committed to civic engagement
and involvement. He currently sits on the Voter Registration Committee
and serves as chairman of the membership of the Canton branch of the
NAACP.
Sergeant Cheeks has been a pillar in his community more than half a
century and has served our country honorably. I cannot find anyone
nobler or better suited to have a building named in their honor.
Madam Speaker, the House Government and Oversight Reform Committee
reported First Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office Building favorably
by voice vote on February 7. I urge my colleagues to support this
necessary bipartisan and noncontroversial bill, which will bring much
deserved and appropriate recognition to a true patriot and outstanding
member of society.
Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, we have no further requests for time. I
think my friend and colleague from Mississippi has sufficiently given
us the reasons why this House should adopt this resolution, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. FARENTHOLD. I urge my colleagues to support renaming the postal
facility at 150 South Union Street in Canton, Mississippi, the First
Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office Building and support the passage of
H.R. 3772.
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. 3772.
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. CLAY. Madam 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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