[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 127 (Monday, September 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7249-H7250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NEIL HAVENS POST OFFICE

  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 4939) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 2551 Galena Avenue in Simi Valley, 
California, as the ``Neil Havens Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4939

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

[[Page H7250]]

     SECTION 1. NEIL HAVENS POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2551 Galena Avenue in Simi Valley, 
     California, shall be known and designated as the ``Neil 
     Havens 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 ``Neil Havens Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Collins) and the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on this bill which is under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 4939, introduced by Representative Buck 
McKeon of California, which would designate the postal facility located 
at 2551 Galena Avenue in Simi Valley, California, as the Neil Havens 
Post Office.
  Charles ``Neil'' Havens was the longest serving postmaster of Simi 
Valley, California, serving more than 30 years with the United States 
Postal Service until his retirement in 1988. In 1958, he continued the 
family tradition when he was appointed postmaster by President Dwight 
D. Eisenhower. His grandfather had served as the first mail carrier in 
Simi, beginning in 1912, and multiple generations of the Havens family 
followed in his footsteps. Over the course of Neil's career, the mail 
service grew from a single route with a single carrier to over 60 
routes covered by 170 employees under his direction.
  In addition to his service with the post office, he was dedicated to 
bettering his community and his country. He was a Rotary Club 
president, an active community volunteer, charitable and educational 
organization supporter, and a Navy reservist.
  Mr. Havens passed away in July of 2004 while resting at home with his 
wife, Pat. He left behind a strong legacy of service and excellence.
  I ask that my colleagues support H.R. 4939 to designate Neil Havens' 
beloved Simi Post Office in his honor.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 4939, 
a bill that designates the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 2551 Galena Avenue in Simi Valley, California, as the Neil 
Havens Post Office.
  For Charles ``Neil'' Havens, working for the Postal Service was a 
family tradition. After his grandfather became Simi's first rural 
letter carrier in 1912, Neil's uncle and father both followed, becoming 
carriers on the same route. In 1953, Neil's father, Charles, took on 
the job of Simi postmaster, a job Neil himself would hold for 30 years, 
beginning in 1958.
  Neil was known for going out of his way to help his community, be it 
through mentoring young postal workers or his involvement in the local 
Masonic Lodge, the Rotary Club of Simi Valley, and the Simi Valley 
Historical Society. Regardless of the situation, Neil could always be 
found smiling and ready to lend a helping hand.
  Sadly, on July 16, 2004, Neil Havens passed away peacefully at his 
home at the age of 74. In addition to his wife, Pat, their children and 
four grandchildren, Neil is survived by the many residents of his 
community whom he made feel like family.
  Madam Speaker, we should pass this bill to pay tribute to the life of 
Neil Havens and recognize the dedication with which he worked to better 
the lives of those around him.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), my distinguished 
colleague.
  Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Today it is my pleasure to bring to the floor H.R. 4939, a bill to 
designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 2551 
Galena Avenue in Simi Valley, California, as the Neil Havens Post 
Office.
  I want to thank Chairman Issa and Ranking Member Cummings for giving 
my legislation a fair hearing and for moving the bill through committee 
in an expeditious manner.
  Madam Speaker, I also want to thank the mayor of Simi Valley, Bob 
Huber, for the great leadership that he provides to the Valley, for his 
service and dedication over a great number of years. He is the one who 
pointed out to me what the Havens family has meant to the Simi Valley 
and suggested naming the post office in their honor. It was found out 
that we don't name post offices after a whole family; it has to be 
named after one person. Neil, having served the longest, was given that 
distinction.
  Madam Speaker, much of this has already been said, but I think it 
bears repeating. I have heard that a genius is one who hears something 
six times and then accepts it, so this will only be three times.
  Neil Havens, Charles ``Neil'' Havens, was the longest serving 
postmaster in Simi Valley history, serving more than 30 years with the 
U.S. Post Office department and the Postal Service. His retirement 
ended three-quarters of a century of mail service by the Havens family 
of Simi Valley.
  The first rural route set up in Simi began in 1912, when Neil's 
grandfather served as the first carrier. The Havens family became 
synonymous with mail service in the area, having multiple generations 
delivering letters. Despite losing one Havens carrier to combat in 
World War I, the Havens family persevered and continued to serve their 
community, starting out when they just had a couple of people in the 
community.
  Neil, following a competitive examination, continued the family 
tradition in 1958, after being appointed postmaster by President Dwight 
D. Eisenhower. Over the course of his admirable career, Neil Havens saw 
mail service grow from Route 1, Simi, California, with a single 
carrier, to a team of more than 170 employees and approximately 60 
routes.

  In July of 2004, Postmaster Havens passed away while resting in his 
favorite chair at the home he and his wife, Pat, had owned for 53 
years. A Rotary Club President, Navy reservist, and supporter of 
charitable and educational foundations, Neil embodied the spirit of the 
Simi Valley. Known for his firm handshake, his trademark jawline beard 
and endless desire to serve, Neil Havens left an indelible legacy in 
his hometown.
  Madam Speaker, thank you for giving my bill time on the floor. I 
cannot think of a better tribute to such a consummate public servant. I 
urge my colleagues to support this bill which will mean so much to the 
Havens family and the folks in Simi Valley.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I thank and appreciate the 
gentleman from California.
  At a time in which our country goes like this, a story like this 
needs to be told over and over. I appreciate the chairman sharing that 
again so that we see true civil service and true giving back to the 
country, and I appreciate that very much.
  With that, I urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 4939, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Collins) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4939.
  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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