[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H5374-H5375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               JAMES R. BURGESS JR. POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1707) 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''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1707

       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''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) and the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MEADOWS. 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 materials on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to urge support of H.R. 1707, introduced by 
Representative Danny K. Davis of Illinois, which would designate the 
postal facility located at 302 East Green Street in Champaign, 
Illinois, as the James R. Burgess Jr. Post Office Building.
  Mr. Burgess was born on December 19, 1915, in Algood, Tennessee, and 
served more than 20 years in the Army, playing a critical role as a 
leader of the 761st Tank Battalion and the first African-American 
armored unit to enter the battle in World War II.
  At age 29, Mr. Burgess was a first lieutenant in command of one of 
the six companies who served under General George Patton in Europe

                              {time}  1430

  Upon his retirement from the U.S. Army, he had reached the rank of 
major. He passed away in 1997.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Burgess was a trailblazer, a leader, and an American 
hero. Naming a postal facility in his honor is the least we can do to 
memorialize his service to our country.
  I urge the support of H.R. 1707, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to hearing from Mr. Davis as 
he recounts the extraordinary life, service, and contributions of Mr. 
Burgess. We fully support this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis), my distinguished 
colleague.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from 
North Carolina and also my colleague from Vermont for their support of 
this piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor James R. Burgess Jr. My bill, H.R. 
1707, will designate the post office located at 302 East Green Street 
in Champaign, Illinois, as the James R. Burgess Jr. Post Office 
Building.
  Mr. Burgess served more than 20 years in the Army, playing a critical 
role in a largely unknown part of American military history. He was a 
leader of the 761st Tank Battalion, which was the first African 
American armored unit to enter battle in World War II. At the age of 
29, Mr. Burgess was a first lieutenant in command of one of the six 
companies who served under General George Patton in Europe, and upon 
his retirement from the U.S. Army, Mr. Burgess had reached the rank of 
major.
  After leaving the service in 1962, Mr. Burgess moved his wife and two 
sons to Champaign, Illinois, so he could attend law school at the 
University of Illinois, where he graduated 3 years later as the only 
African American in his class. Mr. Burgess was elected Champaign County 
State's attorney in 1972 and is still the only African American to be 
elected to

[[Page H5375]]

a countywide office in Champaign County. Later, he was appointed as a 
U.S. attorney for a large section of downstate Illinois.
  Since Mr. Burgess' passing in 1997, many of my constituents in the 
13th District, and especially his son Steve have been looking for a way 
to commemorate the achievements of his life.
  Two years ago, Steve approached me seeking my help to honor the life 
and legacy of his father. It has taken a lot of time and a lot of work. 
While I am proud that we are finally to this point, Mr. Speaker, I also 
have a heavy heart.
  Last November, Steve Burgess passed away suddenly. Steve worked 
tirelessly over the years to get this project to the finish line, and 
it is truly heartbreaking that he won't be able to see it completed.
  Naming this building after Mr. James R. Burgess is but a small token 
of our gratitude for his service and an honor for his son, my friend, 
Steve Burgess.
  Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, the emotion and heart of my colleague, Mr. 
Davis, is evident today on this House floor. Far too often things are 
done here in a nonpersonal way. But I can tell you for Mr. Davis this 
is personal, and it is a great honor that I support him in H.R. 1707. I 
also encourage all the Members to support the passage of this bill.
  I thank the gentleman for his leadership, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1707.
  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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