[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8840-H8841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
                   SGT. AMANDA N. PINSON POST OFFICE

  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5385) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 55 Grasso Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri, as the 
``Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5385

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

     SECTION 1. SGT. AMANDA N. PINSON POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 55 Grasso Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson 
     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 ``Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson Post Office''.

  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.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5385, sponsored by 
Representative Ann Wagner of Missouri, to designate the Post Office 
located at 55 Grasso Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri, as the Sgt. Amanda 
N. Pinson Post Office.
  Army Sergeant Amanda Pinson died on March 16, 2006, while serving 
during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She, along with a fellow soldier, were 
killed when a mortar round detonated. She was only 21 years old.
  Sergeant Pinson enlisted in the Army after graduating from high 
school and was known as a model soldier, a ``breath of fresh air,'' and 
wanted to attend college after the military to become a CIA or FBI 
agent.
  Mr. Speaker, this courageous young woman served her country with 
honor and gave her life in defense of our country. It is my honor and 
privilege to stand before this body and pay tribute to Sergeant 
Pinson's memory and sacrifice. I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of 
H.R. 5385.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I support this, and I can't add to the 
excellent words of my colleague from North Carolina.
  It is an amazing thing when we are naming post offices to hear about 
the brave lives--in this case of a very young woman with a bright 
future who gave her life for her country. So I am delighted to join in 
Representative Wagner's legislation to make this name permanent so that 
we can all remember and revere the memory of this brave soldier.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Vermont for his 
support.
  I yield as much time as she may consume to my distinguished colleague 
from the State of Missouri (Mrs. Wagner).
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend and colleague from 
North Carolina for yielding me this time, and the gentleman from 
Vermont also for his tremendous support and commitment to honoring our 
fallen heroes.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of a great American hero. On March 
16, 2006, Missouri's Second District lost a brave young woman when 
United States Army Sergeant Amanda N. Pinson was killed in a mortar 
attack while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of 
this young patriot.
  Army Sergeant Amanda Pinson was a signals intelligence analyst 
assigned to the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment of the 101st 
Airborne Division based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
  On a personal note, I have to say that the Screaming Eagles are very 
personal to me, as my oldest son is presently serving as an Army 
officer in the 101st.
  Amanda is survived by her mother, Chris; her father, Tony; and her 
younger brother, Bryan.
  Growing up in Lemay, Missouri, Amanda enlisted in the Army after 
graduating from Hancock Place High School, where she won several 
scholarships and was on the basketball and the softball teams.
  Amanda was always concerned about helping others. In high school, she 
started her own group called HELP, the Hancock Environmental Leadership 
Program. She enlisted all of her friends to join, and Amanda and the 
HELP group planted trees at local parks and volunteered with local 
seniors.
  The group also planted and maintained flowers at the entrance of 
Jefferson Barracks Park. The park where she used to plant flowers is 
adjoined to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where Amanda is laid 
to rest.
  Amanda also had the respect and admiration of her fellow soldiers. 
She was described, indeed, as a model soldier and ``a breath of fresh 
air'' by Lieutenant Colonel Lucinda Lane, who spoke at her service.

[[Page H8841]]

  Upon her death, Sergeant Pinson was awarded a Bronze Star, a Good 
Conduct Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, and a Purple Heart.
  Her impact on the people privileged to know her during her life is 
evidenced by the many memorials honoring Amanda. In 2006, the U.S. Army 
honored Amanda by dedicating the building where she worked in Tikrit, 
Iraq, naming it ``Pinson Hall.'' A pink willow tree was planted in her 
honor at her alma mater, Hancock High School, in 2006. And now, the 
Amanda N. Pinson Post Office will join these memorials as a testament 
to the bravery, valor, and kindness of this American hero who gave the 
ultimate sacrifice for her country.
  It is my honor to sponsor H.R. 5385, a bill that names the Affton 
branch, Grasso Plaza post office after such a courageous young woman, 
immortalizing a hero who gave up her life in service to the Nation she 
loved. May it bring comfort to her family and friends and give witness 
to Sergeant Pinson's bravery and her sacrifice.
  To quote the phrase that adorns so many of the tributes and memorials 
to Amanda: ``If love could have saved you, you would have lived 
forever.''
  So today, on behalf of a grateful nation, I say: ``Thank you, Amanda, 
and you are, indeed, loved.''
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri for 
her words, and I would say that it represents her heart. Whether it is 
here in Washington, D.C., or anywhere else, she is always looking to 
really recognize those who serve their country.
  Certainly, in this honor today, I would urge all our Members to join 
me in support of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, 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. 5385.
  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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