[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 95 (Monday, June 15, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H4360-H4361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1730
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS WILLIAM B. WOODS, JR. POST OFFICE
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 728) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 7050 Highway BB in Cedar Hill, Missouri, as the
``Sergeant First Class William B. Woods, Jr. Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 728
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SERGEANT FIRST CLASS WILLIAM B. WOODS, JR. POST
OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 7050 Highway BB in Cedar Hill, Missouri,
shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant First Class
William B. Woods, Jr. 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 William B. Woods,
Jr. Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Walker) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands
(Ms. Plaskett) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
General Leave
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to include extraneous material 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. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 728, introduced by Representative Blaine
Luetkemeyer. H.R. 728 designates the post office located at 7050
Highway BB in Cedar Hill, Missouri, as the Sergeant First Class William
B. Woods, Jr. Post Office.
Sergeant First Class Woods was a Special Forces senior medical
sergeant and native of Hermann, Missouri. After graduation from
Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Missouri, he enlisted with the
United States Marine Corps as a rifleman in 1996. Sergeant First Class
Woods later enlisted in the United States Army, and in 2003, he
attended the Special Forces qualifications course. Sergeant First Class
Woods earned the distinguished green beret and was deployed to
Afghanistan in July 2009 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He gave his life for his country about a month later. On August 16,
2009, in a hospital in Germany, Sergeant First Class Woods died from
wounds he sustained while conducting a mounted patrol in Ghazni
province, Afghanistan, 2 days before.
Sergeant First Class Woods will be remembered not only for his
personal accomplishments, graduating from many of the Army's elite
schools and earning numerous medals, but also as the example of courage
and sacrifice. I urge Members to support this bill to name a post
office in honor of this brave young soldier.
I would like to add that Congressman Luetkemeyer was, unfortunately,
unable to make it this evening for the consideration of his bill, so I
will submit for the Record a statement from the Congressman.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H.R. 728, a bill to
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at
7050 Highway BB in Cedar Hill, Missouri, as the Sergeant First Class
William B. Woods, Jr. Post Office.
Born in Hermann, Missouri, William Woods, Jr., studied photography at
Montana State University. Following in the footsteps of a long line of
military men in his family, William enlisted in the United States
Marine Corps in 1996.
There, he served as a scout sniper until joining the U.S. Army
Special Forces as a senior medical sergeant in 2003. He was assigned to
B Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group and was stationed
in Glen Arm, Maryland.
Tragically, while serving as a doctor in Ghazni province,
Afghanistan, Sergeant First Class Woods, Jr., was shot and killed while
on patrol on August 16, 2009.
Sergeant First Class Woods, Jr., is survived by his wife, Elizabeth,
and two daughters, Lily and Ella. He is remembered as an adventurous
outdoorsman, as well as a dedicated family man, loyal husband, and
loving father. Sergeant First Class Woods, Jr., received a number of
awards, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, for his
service.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill
to honor the valiant service and sacrifices of Sergeant First Class
William B. Woods, Jr., and of his family. I urge the passage of H.R.
728.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this bill, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my
legislation, H.R. 728, which would designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 7050 Highway BB in Cedar Hill,
Missouri as the ``Sergeant First Class William B. Woods, Jr. Post
Office.''
SFC Woods was a decorated constituent of the Third district of
Missouri who dedicated his life to protecting our country. After
graduation from Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Missouri, he first
enlisted with the United States Marine Corps in 1996 as a rifleman, and
later enlisted in the United States Army where he attended the Special
Forces Qualification Course in 2003 and earned the Green Beret. While
in the U.S. Army, SFC Woods was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th
Special Forces Group (Airborne) and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009
during Operation Enduring Freedom.
On August 16, 2009, SFC Woods died in Germany from wounds sustained
while conducting a mounted patrol in the Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
on August 14, 2009. He is survived by his loving wife, Elizabeth, and
two daughters.
SFC Woods' many awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal,
Purple Heart Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Navy and Marine Corps
Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign
Medal with Bronze Service Star, among many others.
I am honored to name this post office after SFC Woods. His dedication
and sacrifices for
[[Page H4361]]
our country should not go unnoticed, and it is the least I can do to
honor such a courageous soldier.
I want to thank the entire Missouri Delegation for coming together to
cosponsor this legislation, and Chairman Chaffetz for promptly
considering this legislation in the House Oversight and Government
Reform Committee. It would be an honor to name the Cedar Hill post
office in my district after this courageous soldier, and I urge my
colleagues to support this legislation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 728.
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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