[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 28, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H6482-H6483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HARRY T. AND HARRIETTE MOORE POST OFFICE
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2338) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the ``Harry
T. and Harriette Moore Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2338
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. HARRY T. AND HARRIETTE MOORE POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida,
shall be known and designated as the ``Harry T. and Harriette
Moore 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 ``Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post
Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent this 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 Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2338, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Posey), would designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 600 Florida Avenue in Cocoa, Florida, as the Harry
T. and Harriette Moore Post Office. The bill is cosponsored by the
entire Florida State delegation and was favorably reported by the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 27.
Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this
post office in Cocoa, Florida, for Harry and Harriette Moore, leaders
of the civil rights movement in Florida. Harry Moore established the
first branch of the NAACP in Brevard County, Florida, and is considered
the first martyr of the civil rights movement. Sadly, on Christmas
night in 1951, the Moores were killed by a bomb planted beneath their
home.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in strong support of
this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLAY. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to join with my colleague from Arizona in
consideration of H.R. 2338, to name the post office in Cocoa, Florida,
after Harry T. and Harriette Moore. In accordance with committee
requirements, H.R. 2338 is cosponsored by all members of the Florida
delegation and was reported out of the Oversight Committee by unanimous
consent. It honors the legacy of Harry T. and Harriette Moore, who both
fought tirelessly for civil rights and against voter discrimination.
In 1934, Harry and Harriette organized the first NAACP branch, as was
mentioned, in Brevard County. In the face of discrimination, the Moores
succeeded in establishing additional NAACP branches throughout Florida.
In addition, the Moores worked with the Progressive Voters League to
register over 100,000 African Americans in the State. Harry's hard work
and determination led him to become the president of the Florida State
Conference of NAACP branches.
Tragically, as was mentioned, in 1951, Harry and Harriette Moore were
fatally injured when a bomb planted underneath their house exploded.
The Moores were survived by their only daughter, Juanita.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill to commemorate the
legacy of Harry T. and Harriette Moore, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. GOSAR. I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished
colleague from the State of Florida (Mr. Posey), the sponsor of this
legislation.
Mr. POSEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, today we take an important step to honor the lives of
Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette Moore. These leaders in the
struggle for civil rights were taken from us 61 years ago this
Christmas.
Harry T. and Harriette Moore propelled the struggle for justice and
equality far beyond the borders of their home in Brevard County,
Florida. Leaders in the modern civil rights movement, they are
remembered for their dignity, compassion, and emphasis on education.
They left a legacy that remains close to the hearts of community
leaders and one that is sure to outlast the length of their lives that
were so tragically cut short.
At a young age, the Moores were dedicated teachers and educators in
our local community. Harry began his first job as an elementary teacher
at Monroe Elementary School in Cocoa in 1925. Two years later, he began
a decade of service as a high school principal in Titusville. Then,
from 1936 to 1946, he served as a principal and fifth- and sixth-grade
teacher at Mims.
The couple first met in Brevard County when Harry was serving as a
principal in Titusville and Harriette was an elementary schoolteacher.
They were married on Christmas Day in 1926, and were later blessed with
two daughters. They committed the remainder of their lives to the
pursuit of civil justice for African Americans.
The Moores first founded the Brevard County chapter of the NAACP in
1934,
[[Page H6483]]
which led to a statewide NAACP conference in 1941. Mr. Moore served as
president of the Florida State Conference of the NAACP chapters, as
well as the founder and executive director of the Progressive Voters
League, as was mentioned earlier.
It was through these channels that the Moores championed such issues
as equality, education, and voter registration. But their steadfast
adherence to equality was not without a price, as both Mr. and Mrs.
Moore were fired from their teaching jobs and found it difficult to
find employment. To proclaim them as pillars of the community would be
an understatement.
The couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve
1951. As they celebrated, a bomb exploded beneath their home. Mr. Moore
died on his way to the hospital, and Mrs. Moore died as a result of her
injuries 9 days later.
{time} 1410
The tragic murders sparked an even more resounding outcry for civil
rights.
Harry T. Moore has been called the first American civil rights
martyr. Brevard County has honored the Moores' deep impact on the
community by designating their homesite a Florida Historical Heritage
Landmark, creating the Harry T. and Harriette Moore Memorial Park and
Interpretive Center, and naming its Justice Center after the
trailblazing couple.
Additionally, the NAACP posthumously awarded Mr. Moore the Spingarn
Medal for outstanding achievement by an African American. Both these
fine citizens undoubtedly touched the lives of others with the
dedication, integrity, persistence, compassion, and commitment each of
them so courageously demonstrated.
I am pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives is acting today
to pass this legislation to name the U.S. Post Office in Cocoa,
Florida, in honor of Harry T. and Harriette Moore. Passage of H.R. 2338
will further honor the achievements and sacrifices of the Moores, the
leaders and first martyrs of our Nation's modern civil rights era.
Designating the United States Post Office at 600 Florida Avenue in
Cocoa as the Harry T. and Harriette Moore Post Office will commemorate
the Moores' legacy in a town where Mr. Moore began his service to
others. This will serve as a constant reminder to our community of the
important and lasting contributions the Moores made to Cocoa and the
Nation.
I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, let me thank and congratulate my good friend
from Florida (Mr. Posey) for bringing to this House, bringing to our
attention these two great Americans and the legacy that they left this
country. Thank you for doing that.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of
H.R. 2338, and 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. 2338.
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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