[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 110 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H5112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  NATIONAL CLANDESTINE SERVICE OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY NCS 
            OFFICER GREGG DAVID WENZEL MEMORIAL POST OFFICE

  Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3593) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe, New York, as the 
``National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS 
Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3593

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

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL CLANDESTINE SERVICE OF THE CENTRAL 
                   INTELLIGENCE AGENCY NCS OFFICER GREGG DAVID 
                   WENZEL MEMORIAL POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe, New York, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``National Clandestine 
     Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg 
     David Wenzel Memorial 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 ``National Clandestine Service of the 
     Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David Wenzel 
     Memorial Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Buerkle) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, 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 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
sponsor of this legislation, my distinguished colleague from the State 
of New York, Representative Hayworth.
  Ms. HAYWORTH. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from New York.
  Our bill, H.R. 3593, to designate the post office on State Route 17M 
in Monroe, New York, as the National Clandestine Service of the Central 
Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post 
Office, honors the life and service of Gregg David Wenzel, who was from 
Monroe. He is the son of Gladys and Mitchell Wenzel, who still live in 
Monroe.
  Gregg graduated from Monroe-Woodbury High School and from the State 
University of New York at Binghamton. He received his juris doctor 
degree from the University of Miami School of Law, and he served as a 
public defender in Florida before he began his career with the Central 
Intelligence Agency. He did so because, in his own words, he wished 
``to live for a greater purpose than himself.''
  He was a member of the first post-September 11 training class, and he 
was distinguished for his enthusiasm and leadership. He was assigned to 
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2002, as a clandestine officer, losing his 
life in patriotic service in Addis Ababa on July 9, 2003.
  Gregg's CIA affiliation was not revealed publicly for 6 years. In 
June 2009, it was finally revealed when he was honored with a star on 
the Memorial Wall in the CIA headquarters. Then-CIA Director Leon 
Panetta noted, ``We find some measure of solace in knowing that Gregg 
achieved what he set out to do: he lived for a greater purpose than 
himself.''
  When a man has given his life, as Gregg David Wenzel did, to protect 
our American liberties, honoring him through the tradition of naming a 
post office for his extraordinary service to our country is both 
fitting and inspiring.
  Our deepest gratitude goes to Gregg's family for their sacrifice, 
whom I've had the pleasure of speaking with. While no memorial, however 
appropriate, can remove the pain of parents and loved ones when they 
lose a child, I hope that Gregg's parents and family will find comfort 
in his receiving this eminently deserved posthumous recognition.
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I am pleased to join in support of my colleague from New York in her 
urging us to pass H.R. 3593, to designate the facility of the U.S. 
Postal Service located at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe, New York, as 
the National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS 
Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post Office.
  As our colleague from New York indicated, this is a posthumous 
recognition of the ultimate sacrifice for his country that finally can 
be recognized, even though he served his country in a clandestine role. 
I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage 
of H.R. 3593.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Buerkle) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3593.
  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.

                          ____________________