[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 138 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6199-H6200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         STAFF SERGEANT JOSEPH D'AUGUSTINE POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 994) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1 Walter Hammond Place in Waldwick, New Jersey, as 
the ``Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 994

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

     SECTION 1. STAFF SERGEANT JOSEPH D'AUGUSTINE POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1 Walter Hammond Place in Waldwick, New 
     Jersey, shall be known and designated as the ``Staff Sergeant 
     Joseph D'Augustine 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 ``Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Ted Lieu) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CHAFFETZ. 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 materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  While this is a Senate bill, there is nobody who has been more 
passionate and excited and dedicated to getting this done than Mr. 
Garrett of New Jersey.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett).
  Mr. GARRETT. I thank the chairman for helping us to usher this 
legislation through today. I very much appreciate it.
  Mr. Speaker, today I stand before the House to honor the life and the 
legacy of one of New Jersey's sons, Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine 
of Waldwick, New Jersey.
  Staff Sergeant D'Augustine was killed more than 3 years ago--that was 
back on March 27, 2012--while conducting combat operations in 
Afghanistan. In the greatest possible act of self-sacrifice, he gave 
his life while protecting the lives of men and women in uniform. He was 
just 29 years old.
  Today it is fitting that this House will honor him by passing 
legislation to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service, located at 1 Walter Hammond Place in Waldwick, New Jersey, as 
the Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine Post Office Building.
  While nothing will ever heal the loss left by Staff Sergeant 
D'Augustine to his family, to his friends, and to his community, 
today's vote will ensure that all of the residents of this town will 
have a permanent reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by one of 
their native sons.
  To protect our freedom, to protect our liberty, to protect our way of 
life, a few brave men and women have answered that call of duty. They 
stand--and have stood--between us here in the United States and those 
who would do us harm. So I am privileged to come here and stand before 
this House to honor one of those men today.
  You see, it was just one day after graduating from Waldwick High 
School in 2001 that Staff Sergeant D'Augustine enlisted in the United 
States Marine Corps.
  He was assigned then to the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd 
Marine Logistics Group, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. He had served 
two full tours of duty in Iraq and was just 2 weeks away from 
completing his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.
  He worked as something called an explosive ordnance disposal tech, 
and he was going ahead of his fellow marines, soldiers, sailors, and 
airmen. He was the one clearing the way for them. Although we will 
never know the number of lives that he saved, I think his numerous 
awards speak for his selfless heroism.
  He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Navy 
and Marine Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement 
Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, the National 
Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq 
Campaign

[[Page H6200]]

Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Global War on Terrorism 
Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian 
Service Medal, and the NATO-ISAF Medal. I think all of these speak of 
his selfless heroism.
  Even now, after his passing, Staff Sergeant D'Augustine's legacy 
continues in his community. The Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine 
Memorial Fund offers a scholarship to one male graduating senior and to 
one female graduating senior who exemplify the highest standards of 
citizenship through strong character and dedication to community 
service. Since October of 2012, the fund has donated more than $94,000 
to numerous charities as well as direct donations to veterans in need.
  The tremendous outpouring of love and support for his family since 
his death has provided a glimpse into the numbers of lives that he has 
touched and to the number of lives his love continues to touch.
  To those who knew him best--his parents, Anthony and Patricia; his 
three sisters, Nicole, Jennifer, Michele; and his brother-in-law, Len--
he will be remembered as a loving son and brother.
  To his fellow marines, he will be remembered as a faithful brother in 
arms. To this Nation, he will be remembered as a patriot who loved this 
country, who loved the Marine Corps, and who gave his life in defense 
of freedom.
  The Marine Corps' motto is Semper Fidelis, always faithful. Staff 
Sergeant D'Augustine lived this motto, and his legacy embodies it. He 
was faithful to his country; he was faithful to the mission; he was 
faithful to the Corps; and he was faithful to his fellow marines.
  In times such as this, words do fail to provide adequate comfort to 
his family and to his friends; but it is my hope, as I think it is the 
hope of us all, to know that the prayers and gratitude of this Nation 
are with them.
  I want to thank my colleagues for supporting this legislation. Again, 
I thank the chairman for moving this legislation, for ensuring that the 
Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine Post Office becomes an everlasting 
honor to his legacy and service to our Nation.
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of S. 994, a 
bill to designate the Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine Post Office.
  A native of New Jersey, Joseph D'Augustine attended Waldwick High 
School, where he wrestled and played football.
  Following his graduation, Joseph joined the Marine Corps, serving two 
tours of duty as an infantryman in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  On March 27, 2012, while serving his second tour in Afghanistan, 
Joseph was tragically killed while working to diffuse a bomb.
  Having served on Active Duty myself--and still in the Reserves--I 
want to honor Joseph for his service and also his family for their 
sacrifice and their loss.
  Joseph received a number of awards for his dedicated service, 
including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Navy and Marine Corps 
Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and 
the Humanitarian Service Medal.
  In addition to Joseph's courageous military service, he is remembered 
for giving back to his hometown through a youth wrestling program that 
he cofounded with his father.
  Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor the years that Staff 
Sergeant D'Augustine dedicated to this country and the ultimate 
sacrifice he made on our behalf.
  I urge the passage of S. 994.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, in closing, you have heard today of the 
passionate, deep-felt belief of our colleague, Congressman Garrett. It 
is very appropriate to pass this bill and name this post office after 
Staff Sergeant Joseph D'Augustine.
  I didn't know his family, but I hope his family will know today, 
tomorrow, and forever how grateful this Nation is. People like him step 
up; they serve; they answer the call of their country.
  I hope we always remember that and give pause and thanks to those men 
and women who do sacrifice. So I find it very appropriate that we would 
name this post office after this young man, Staff Sergeant Joseph 
D'Augustine.
  I urge the passage of this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 994.
  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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