[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 109 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H6158-H6159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CAPTAIN HERBERT JOHNSON MEMORIAL POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3085) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3349 West 111th Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the
``Captain Herbert Johnson Memorial Post Office Building''.
[[Page H6159]]
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3085
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CAPTAIN HERBERT JOHNSON MEMORIAL POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3349 West 111th Street in Chicago,
Illinois, shall be known and designated as the ``Captain
Herbert Johnson Memorial 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 ``Captain Herbert Johnson Memorial Post
Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) 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 in 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 Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 3085, proposed by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski),
will designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located
at 3349 West 111th Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the Captain Herbert
Johnson Memorial Post Office Building.
Fire Captain Herbert Johnson was an outstanding member of Chicago's
fire department, proudly serving the city and its people for 32 years
as a firefighter. Tragically, Johnson passed away on November 2, 2012,
while battling flames in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.
A decorated firefighter, Johnson earned the Illinois Medal of Honor
in 2007 for the rescue of several children from a burning apartment.
Captain Johnson was only 54.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3085, a bill to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3349 West 111th
Street in Chicago, Illinois, as the Captain Herbert Johnson Memorial
Post Office Building.
I want to thank Representative Dan Lipinski for introducing this
measure to honor a hero from the city of Chicago. Captain Johnson was a
32-year veteran firefighter who was remembered by friends and family as
an all-around great guy and great fireman.
Johnson comes from a family of public servants. Three of his brothers
serve as Chicago police officers. His sister is a retired policewoman,
and another brother is a Chicago firefighter.
Captain Johnson died after sustaining heavy injuries while responding
to a fire in the Gage Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Captain Johnson, who had just been promoted 3 months before his
death, is survived by his wife, Susan, a daughter, and two sons.
Mr. Speaker, we should pass this legislation. I urge all of my
colleagues to vote in favor of it.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), the distinguished sponsor of the bill.
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand to ask my colleagues to
join me in supporting H.R. 3085, a bill I introduced to rename
Chicago's Mount Greenwood Post Office at 3349 West 111th Street in
honor of Chicago Fire Captain Herbert ``Herbie'' Johnson.
Captain Johnson died 2 years ago at the age of 54, while fighting a
house fire on Chicago's South Side. Captain Johnson heroically served
in the Chicago Fire Department for over 32 years. He learned public
service from his family.
Three of his brothers are Chicago police officers. A sister is a
retired Chicago police officer. Another brother is a Chicago
firefighter. So his family knows the danger of being a first responder.
Captain Johnson served in almost every Chicago neighborhood as a
firefighter, but his heart belonged to the southwest side, especially
to the close-knit community of Mount Greenwood.
Over the years, Captain Johnson taught over 1,000 recruits as an
instructor at the Robert J. Quinn Fire Academy. He is fondly remembered
by those he taught.
After the horrible terrorist attacks of 9/11, Herbert Johnson went to
New York City to volunteer with the rescue efforts. In 2007, he was
awarded the State's highest honor for firefighters, the Illinois Medal
of Honor, for rescuing several children from a burning apartment
building.
Captain Johnson's life came to a tragic end on November 2, 2012,
while battling flames in the attic of a two-story home on Chicago's
South Side.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Susan; two sons, Thomas and
Michael; and daughter, Laurie. He also left behind so many others in
Mount Greenwood and the surrounding area who knew him well not only as
a courageous and dedicated public servant, but also as an outgoing and
caring neighbor and friend. The outpouring of grief after his death
demonstrated the impact he had on so many people.
Naming a postal facility honoring Fire Captain Johnson is just a
small tribute to our community's appreciation not only for him, but all
first responders who bravely put their lives on the line every day for
people they do not know.
This post office naming will ensure that Captain Herbie Johnson, his
family, and the sacrifices of all first responders will always be
remembered and appreciated. It will hopefully inspire more to follow in
his footsteps.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of my colleagues from Illinois
for cosponsoring this bill, and I ask all of my colleagues to join me
in supporting H.R. 3085 in honoring Captain Herbert ``Herbie'' Johnson.
{time} 1700
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of
H.R. 3085, 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. 3085.
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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