[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 138 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6202-H6203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SGT. AMANDA N. PINSON POST OFFICE

  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 323) 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. 323

       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 
Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence) 
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 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.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 323, which is introduced and 
championed by Congresswoman Ann Wagner, which designates this post 
office in St. Louis, Missouri, as the Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson Post 
Office.
  We love people like this who step up and serve their Nation and to be 
able to recognize this person, their family, and their community. We 
are so grateful to be able to remember the great sacrifices that they 
have made. The person who is in the best position to discuss this is 
Congresswoman Ann Wagner.
  I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Missouri 
(Mrs. Wagner).
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of an American hero. 
On March 16, 2006, Missouri's Second Congressional District lost a 
brave young soldier when United States Army Sergeant Amanda N. Pinson 
was killed in a mortar attack while serving during Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of this 
courageous young woman.
  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. The Screaming 
Eagles are personal to me. My oldest son, Raymond, is presently serving 
as a captain in the 101st Airborne.
  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 softball teams.
  Amanda was always concerned with helping others. In high school, she 
started her own group called the Hancock Environmental Leadership 
Program, and she enlisted all of her friends to join her in making a 
difference.
  Amanda and her group of dedicated volunteers 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 was laid to rest. A pink willow tree 
was also planted in her honor at her alma mater, Hancock High School, 
in 2006.
  Amanda clearly had the respect and the admiration of her fellow 
soldiers. She was described as a ``model soldier'' and ``a breath of 
fresh air'' by Lieutenant Colonel Lucinda Lane, who spoke at her 
service.
  Following 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 is evidenced by 
the several memorials that honor her life.
  In 2006, the U.S. Army honored Amanda by dedicating the building 
where she worked in Tikrit, Iraq, naming it Pinson Hall.
  Amanda is survived by her mother, Chris; her father, Tony; and her 
younger brother, Bryan.
  The Sgt. Amanda M. Pinson Post Office will join the other memorials 
in her honor as a testament to the bravery, valor, and kindness of this 
American hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for her country.
  It is my honor to sponsor H.R. 323, 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 that 
she loved. May it bring comfort to her family and their friends and 
give witness to Sergeant Pinson's bravery and sacrifice. To quote the 
face that adorns so many 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. 
You are indeed loved.

                              {time}  1400

  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 323, 
a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service in 
St. Louis, Missouri, as the Sergeant Amanda N. Pinson Post Office.
  As has been stated, she was a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and 
attended the high school there. Not only was Amanda one of the top 
students in her class, she enjoyed the opportunity to participate in 
sports and excelled in them, all while earning numerous academic 
scholarships.
  She enlisted in the military, and she served her country. She was 
assigned to the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment out of Fort 
Campbell, Kentucky, where she served as a signals intelligence analyst.
  It has been stated that, while she was deployed to Iraq in 2006, 
Sergeant Pinson was tragically killed by a mortar round on March 16. 
She was the first female signals intelligence analyst to ever be killed 
in combat.
  Sergeant Pinson was honored by having the Army's new cryptology 
center named in her honor and her memory. Additionally, Sergeant 
Pinson's parents accepted a Bronze Star, a Good Conduct Medal, a Global 
War on Terrorism Medal and a Purple Heart for their daughter's 
commendable military service.
  Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to remember Sergeant Amanda 
Pinson's unselfish dedication to bettering the lives of those around 
her

[[Page H6203]]

and for her ultimate sacrifice she so bravely made.
  I urge the passage of H.R. 323.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this bill. It is 
appropriate that the United States Congress honor Sergeant Pinson.
  I hope that her family will always know how much this Nation is 
grateful for this young woman's service and sacrifice to her country.
  She was only 21 years old--21 years old. She answered the call, 
stepped up, served her Nation. While her life was taken, I think the 
inspiration and dedication that she gave her Nation should always be 
remembered.
  I thank Congresswoman Ann Wagner for bringing this to the attention 
of the Congress and championing it through.
  I urge the passage of H.R. 323.
  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 Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 323.
  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.

                          ____________________