[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 28, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H2483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SISTER ANN KEEFE POST OFFICE
Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 651) to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 820 Elmwood Avenue in Providence,
Rhode Island, as the ``Sister Ann Keefe Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 651
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SISTER ANN KEEFE POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 820 Elmwood Avenue in Providence, Rhode
Island, shall be known and designated as the ``Sister Ann
Keefe 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 ``Sister Ann Keefe Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Jody B. Hice) and the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr.
Cicilline) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. 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 material 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. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 651, introduced by Representative
David Cicilline, for the purpose of designating the United States
Postal Service located at 820 Elmwood Avenue in Providence, Rhode
Island, as the Sister Ann Keefe Post Office.
Sister Ann Keefe was a dedicated public servant and a community
activist who touched the lives of many, many people in Providence,
Rhode Island. In fact, for over 30 years, Sister Keefe led the Social
Justice ministry at St. Michael's church. She was instrumental in
founding nearly two dozen community organizations.
Unfortunately, Sister Keefe passed away from cancer earlier this
year, on January 18, at the young age of 62.
{time} 1615
Sister Keefe will be remembered for her incredible ability to get
things done and to turn an idea into reality. She will be remembered
for her many accomplishments and as an example of selfless and faithful
service.
Naming a postal facility for Sister Ann Keefe in the community that
she served and lived in for so many years will help memorialize her
dedication to the people of Providence and encourage others to follow
her example of public service. So I urge Members to support this bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I thank the gentleman from Georgia for his kind words with respect to
Sister Ann Keefe.
I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 651, to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 820 Elmwood
Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island, as the Sister Ann Keefe Post
Office.
Sister Ann, who passed away on January 18 of this year, was a
dedicated activist for the poor and disenfranchised, an advocate for
nonviolence, a champion of social justice and equal opportunity, and a
beloved member of the Rhode Island community.
Sister Ann was born in Warren, Massachusetts, in 1952 to a large
family. A dedicated Catholic, Sister Ann joined the Sisters of St.
Joseph in 1982 after first earning a master's degree in social work
from Fordham University. Sister Ann spent the next 33 years of her life
in service at St. Michael the Archangel Church in south Providence and
left an indelible mark on Rhode Island that will not be forgotten.
Sister Ann was instrumental in the founding and development of over
22 organizations that aimed to improve the lives of members of the
community most in need. These organizations included the Institute for
the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, Providence CityArts for Youth,
the Community Boating Center, and AIDS Care Ocean State. These
organizations embody the passion and relentless work Sister Ann
dedicated her life to and serve as a reminder of her tireless advocacy
and selfless commitment to others.
I offer this legislation today along with my colleagues in the Rhode
Island delegation to designate the facility at 820 Elmwood Avenue in
Providence as the Sister Ann Keefe Post Office in order to create a
permanent reminder of Sister Ann's contributions and of her
accomplishments in our community.
I had the extraordinary honor of working with Sister Ann over many
years and treasure our friendship. Her life was spent magnanimously.
Her dedication, spirit, and generosity to others will be missed by all
who knew her.
I thank Chairman Chaffetz and Ranking Member Cummings of the House
Oversight and Government Reform Committee for their work in passing
this legislation and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 651 to honor
Sister Ann's memory and her extraordinary legacy.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline) aware that I have no
further requests for time, and I am prepared to close.
Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time.
Again, I move the passage of this piece of legislation, which will
honor a great woman who contributed so much to my great State. I thank
the gentleman from Georgia for his accommodation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am very much pleased to
support this legislation honoring Sister Ann Keefe by lending her name
to the Elmwood Avenue post office in Providence, Rhode Island.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, 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. Jody B. Hice) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 651.
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. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. 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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