[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 24, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2962-S2963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Kirk):
  S. 796. A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 302 East Green Street in Champaign, Illinois, as the 
``James R. Burgess Jr. Post Office Building''; to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today along with my colleague Senator Mark 
Kirk, I introduced a bill to name the United States Postal Service 
facility at 302 East Green Street in Champaign, Illinois, as the James 
R. Burgess Jr. Post Office Building.
  I am proud to introduce this measure to honor Mr. Burgess, an 
accomplished Illinois war veteran and public servant. Mr. Burgess 
served his country honorably in World War II and after. At age 29, he 
led one of six companies in the 761st Tank Battalion, the first 
African-American armored unit to enter battle in World War II. The 
761st served under General George Patton. After the war, he remained in 
the military, serving in Army intelligence. As part of his training, 
Mr. Burgess attended both German

[[Page S2963]]

and Russian language school. He retired from the Army in 1962 with a 
``top secret'' clearance.
  After his military career, Mr. Burgess moved his wife and two sons to 
Champaign where he earned a law degree from the University of Illinois. 
After moving to Chicago for a time, the family eventually returned to 
Champaign where Mr. Burgess worked for the Champaign County State's 
Attorney. In 1972, he was elected to the post himself. He became the 
first and, to this day, the only African American elected to county-
wide office in Champaign County.
  In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Mr. Burgess to be United 
States Attorney for what was then the Eastern District of Illinois. He 
held that position until 1982. Mr. Burgess passed away in 1997.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate 
to complete the effort long-undertaken by his loving son, Steve, and 
family to honor this worthy Illinoisan and patriotic American.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 796

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

     SECTION 1. JAMES R. BURGESS JR. POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 302 East Green Street in Champaign, 
     Illinois, shall be known and designated as the ``James R. 
     Burgess Jr. 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 ``James R. Burgess Jr. Post Office 
     Building''.
                                 ______