[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 28, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H6478-H6479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL PARK RANGER MARGARET ANDERSON POST OFFICE
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 5788) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 103 Center Street West in Eatonville, Washington, as
the ``National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson Post Office.''
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5788
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NATIONAL PARK RANGER MARGARET ANDERSON POST
OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 103 Center Street West in Eatonville,
Washington, shall be known and designated as the ``National
Park Ranger Margaret Anderson 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 Park Ranger Margaret Anderson
Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, 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 Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H6479]]
H.R. 5788, introduced by the gentleman from Washington (Mr.
Reichert), would designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 103 Center Street West in Eatonville, Washington, as
the National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson Post Office. The bill is
cosponsored by the entire Washington State delegation, and it was
favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
on June 27.
Mr. Speaker, while we will consider multiple bills this afternoon to
designate postal facilities after fallen military heroes, H.R. 5788
gives us the opportunity to honor those who wear a different kind of
uniform--our country's national park rangers. Specifically, this
legislation would name the post office in Eatonville, Washington, for
Margaret Anderson, who was a national park ranger who was shot and
killed in the line of duty on New Year's Day in 2012.
Ranger Anderson worked to keep the visitors of Mount Rainier safe,
and on New Year's Day, she gave the ultimate sacrifice for the safety
of others. For going above and beyond a park ranger's duty to protect
and serve, I thank Ranger Anderson and all those who serve in our
national parks for their service and dedication to our country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of
this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of H.R. 5788, a bill to
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service in
Eatonville, Washington, as the National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson
Post Office. In accordance with committee requirements, the bill is
cosponsored by all members of the Washington delegation.
Margaret Anderson was born near Toronto, and she grew up in
Connecticut and Westfield, New Jersey. She received her bachelor's
degree in fisheries and wildlife sciences from Kansas State University
in 1999, and she received her master's degree in biology from Fort Hays
State University in Kansas.
She loved the outdoors and was said to be at peace in nature.
Margaret Anderson was living her dream in working with her husband,
Eric, at Mount Rainier National Park as a United States park ranger.
Her duties were not confined to patrolling but ranged from the
supervision of snow plow areas to medical coordination and instruction
for her fellow staff members.
Anderson was described by her colleagues as ``a candid and honest
coworker who could always bring a smile to your face.''
On New Year's Day, Anderson blocked the road with her patrol car to
hinder the escape of a man who crashed through a checkpoint. Little did
she know at that time that the man was a suspect in an earlier shooting
that had wounded four people. The suspect shot at her while she was
still blocking the road with her patrol car, and she was fatally
wounded.
Mr. Speaker, National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson made the ultimate
sacrifice in the line of duty. I urge the passage of this bill to honor
her, which is on behalf of all of our colleagues in the House,
especially the Washington delegation. The passage of this bill will be
dedicated to her family and to the United States Park Service.
I urge the passage of H.R. 5788, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. GOSAR. I now yield such time as he may consume to my
distinguished colleague from the State of Washington, the sponsor of
this legislation, Mr. Reichert.
Mr. REICHERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5788, legislation to
designate the post office located at 103 Center Street West in
Eatonville, Washington, as the National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson
Post Office.
You've heard a little bit about some of her history, educational past
and some of her family history, but let me tell you that this really
hits close to home for me as a law enforcement officer in my previous
life. I spent 33 years in the law enforcement profession.
Margaret Anderson was a park ranger for 4 years at Mount Rainier
National Park. The little town of Eatonville is nestled in a little
valley, right at the bottom of beautiful Mount Rainier, which was where
Margaret Anderson lived. It's called the gateway to the national park,
the gateway to Mount Rainier, the gateway where folks come to visit in
order to reflect on their lives and to dream. It's usually a peaceful,
serene, and beautiful place to visit. Margaret's job usually was to
guide folks, give direction, patrol the area, offer first aid, and just
in general be the loving and kind person as she has been described here
today and after her death and throughout the past year by friends and
family who dearly miss her.
{time} 1340
But on New Year's Day, things changed. Her job took on a totally
different meaning. She was now the protector of those people who came
to reflect and dream. Their lives were in danger, and she stepped in
front. She parked her car, blocked this crazed man with a firearm. Many
say that her actions saved many lives that day. But it didn't save
hers. She died. She died protecting those she served. And I think it's
only fitting because of that sacrifice and the service to that
community and the love that that community has had for Margaret and her
husband Eric, who also served as a ranger but has now moved on because
memories there are too hard for him to bear, it is only fitting that
this small little town with this small little post office have the name
of Margaret Anderson attached to that building in honor of her service
and her sacrifice to that community.
I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill.
Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers on our side.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of
H.R. 5788.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 5788.
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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