[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8842-H8843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICER SCOTT J. WILLIAMS MEMORIAL POST OFFICE
BUILDING
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5562) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 801 West Ocean Avenue in Lompoc, California, as the
``Federal Correctional Officer Scott J. Williams Memorial Post Office
Building.''
[[Page H8843]]
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5562
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICER SCOTT J. WILLIAMS
MEMORIAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 801 West Ocean Avenue in Lompoc,
California, shall be known and designated as the ``Federal
Correctional Officer Scott J. Williams 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 ``Federal Correctional Officer Scott J.
Williams Memorial 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 in support of H.R. 5562, which is sponsored by Representative
Lois Capps of California, to designate the post office located at 801
West Ocean Avenue, in Lompoc, California, as the Federal Correctional
Officer Scott J. Williams Memorial Post Office Building.
Senior Officer Specialist Scott J. Williams was killed in the line of
duty on April 3 of 1997. While performing routine supervision duties at
the U.S. penitentiary in Lompoc, California, an inmate senselessly and
brutally attacked Officer Williams, tragically taking his life. Officer
Williams was a marine veteran, a former Marine of the Year, who served
in Operation Desert Storm. He is survived by his wife and two
daughters.
I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 5562 and ensure that this fallen
hero is never forgotten.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I am in full support of this
postal naming.
At this time, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from California, Representative Capps, the sponsor of this legislation.
Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague from Vermont for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5562, which would
designate the United States Postal Service facility in Lompoc,
California, as the Federal Correctional Officer Scott J. Williams
Memorial Post Office Building.
This is an important bill not only for the community of Lompoc, which
resides in my congressional district on the central coast of
California, but for the memory of a public servant we lost way too
soon. Naming the Lompoc post office in honor of Scott J. Williams is a
very fitting tribute.
Scott was a veteran, a civil servant, and a beloved family man who
dedicated his life to public service. As a youth, he attended Lompoc
High School and Allan Hancock College, both in the 24th Congressional
District of California.
His tradition of service began in the Persian Gulf war, with
distinction and valor, rising to the rank of corporal in the United
States Marine Corps. During his military career, Scott was widely
respected by his colleagues and was credited with saving many lives
during combat. In fact, his outstanding work as a decorated veteran has
been recognized through multiple awards, including being honored as
Marine of the Year in 1989. Upon returning home to Lompoc, Scott
continued his services to our Nation and began a career in law
enforcement as a correctional officer. After 4 years of service at the
United States Bureau of Prisons, Scott was tragically killed in the
line of duty in 1997.
We are still saddened by the loss of this local hero and this family
man. He is sincerely missed by the people of Los Alamos, California,
and by the entire Lompoc, California, community.
After years of selfless service to our Nation and to the local
community, the naming of the Lompoc Post Office after Officer Scott
Williams is a fitting tribute. This recognition would complement the
memorial park and the State highway in his name, and it would continue
to honor a man whose selfless career was dedicated to keeping our
Nation, as well as his own community, safe.
Scott is survived by his wife, Kristy, and their two daughters,
Kaitlin and Kallee. This bill also honors them because they have
sacrificed as well, and they have shown great perseverance in the face
of terrible tragedy.
I thank you for the privilege of speaking on the family's behalf. Mr.
Speaker, I am honored to author this bill and to see it here on the
floor today. I urge my colleagues to support this important
legislation.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MEADOWS. 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. 5562.
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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