[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 127 (Monday, September 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7251-H7252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          SERGEANT FIRST CLASS DANIEL M. FERGUSON POST OFFICE

  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5089) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 2000 Mulford Road in Mulberry, 
Florida, as the ``Sergeant First Class Daniel M. Ferguson Post 
Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5089

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

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT FIRST CLASS DANIEL M. FERGUSON POST 
                   OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2000 Mulford Road in Mulberry, Florida, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant First Class 
     Daniel M. Ferguson 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 ``Sergeant First Class Daniel M. Ferguson 
     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. Madam 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 Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, at this point, it is my privilege to also recognize 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Ross) and yield him such time as he may 
consume to speak on his bill.
  Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of a 
brave soldier and to recognize his dedication to serving his fellow 
man. His name is Sergeant 1st Class Daniel M. Ferguson.
  Sergeant Ferguson was one of the servicemembers whose lives were 
tragically taken on April 2, 2014, at Fort Hood, Texas. A shooter shook 
the entire Nation on that somber day when he turned his weapon against 
his own military community.
  We must never forget those who were lost and must remain ever-
vigilant to provide medical attention to all veterans in need.
  Sergeant Ferguson was a hero to our Nation. He demonstrated sovereign 
loyalty and selflessness on this horrific day of the shooting. When 
shots rang out, Sergeant Ferguson, without hesitation, blocked a set of 
unlocked doors to deflect the attacker's advancement into the room 
where his comrades remained. He was literally shielding them from the 
dangers of the shooter.
  Sergeant Ferguson's first instinct was to protect, and with that, he 
saved many uniformed soldiers. Grievously, Sergeant Ferguson succumbed 
to his wounds and left behind the broken hearts of loved ones. But his 
brave actions will live on forever.
  It is heroes like Sergeant Ferguson who we need not forget but rather 
we must continue to honor his courage.
  Today, I stand in support of H.R. 5089, a bill I introduced that will 
name

[[Page H7252]]

the post office located at 2000 Mulford Road in Mulberry, Florida, in 
honor of Sergeant 1st Class Daniel M. Ferguson. His respected name and 
brave actions will never be forgotten. A veteran of Kuwait, Iraq, and 
Afghanistan, Sergeant Ferguson will remain in the hearts of his family, 
friends, and those in the military community.
  Please join me in paying respect to Sergeant 1st Class Daniel M. 
Ferguson for his immeasurable adherence to duty, honor, and country. 
His name should be voiced for the years to come.
  Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the 
consideration of H.R. 5089, a bill to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 2000 Mulford Road in Mulberry, 
Florida, as the Sergeant 1st Class Daniel M. Ferguson Post Office.
  A Mulberry native, Daniel Ferguson graduated from Mulberry High 
School, where he lettered in five sports, including football, baseball, 
and track. He joined the Army in 1993 and served almost 21 years, 
completing tours of duty in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
  In March of 2013, after returning from his deployment, Sergeant 1st 
Class Ferguson was stationed as an Army transportation supervisor at 
Fort Hood, Texas. On April 2, 2014, Sergeant 1st Class Ferguson was 
working on base when a shooting rampage broke out. In a final act of 
courage and service to his country, Ferguson held himself against an 
unlocked door, using his body as a shield to block the shooter from 
firing into a room full of his colleagues.
  Although Ferguson was tragically killed that day, his valiant actions 
saved the lives of many other soldiers. Ferguson is survived by his 
fiancee, fellow soldier Kristen Haley, and is remembered for his 
loyalty, fearlessness, and heroism. He was awarded the Bronze Star and 
Meritorious Service Medal, among others, for his honorable military 
service.
  Madam Speaker, we should pass this bill to recognize the bravery and 
courage exhibited both at home and on the battlefield by Sergeant 1st 
Class Daniel Ferguson and to commemorate the great sacrifice made by 
him and his family.
  I urge adoption of H.R. 5089, and I yield the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, again, we are recognizing here 
someone who shows that heroism is not confined to a battlefield, it is 
not confined to a place; it is a state of mind, it is a state of being, 
and our armed services are full of those individuals who do so. 
Sergeant Ferguson is one who is to be remembered, as my friend from 
Florida stated, not just for the fact that he served but for the fact 
that he served honorably around the world and served honorably on that 
tragic day on which he put his life before others, and others were 
saved because of it.
  For that, it is with honor that I would ask that all Members support 
H.R. 5089, and I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Ross) for 
bringing this forward, letting us rejoice also in one who sacrificed 
for our country and also has something for us to look forward to, as 
well, in our own service in the measure in which he lived.
  With that, 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. 5089.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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