[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 138 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6203-H6204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LT. DANIEL P. RIORDAN POST OFFICE
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 324) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 11662 Gravois Road in St. Louis, Missouri, as the
``Lt. Daniel P. Riordan Post Office.''
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 324
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LT. DANIEL P. RIORDAN POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 11662 Gravois Road in St. Louis, Missouri,
shall be known and designated as the ``Lt. Daniel P. Riordan
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 ``Lt. Daniel P. Riordan 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.
We are here today to honor Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan with a post
office naming in St. Louis, Missouri. This has been brought to our
attention by Congresswoman Ann Wagner.
I appreciate her championing this through the Congress. She is in the
best position to give the background and the reasoning for the naming
of this post office.
I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Missouri
(Mrs. Wagner).
Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman very, very much for
his indulgence in these three post office namings.
I thank the ranking member, also.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of a brave young man from
Missouri's Second Congressional District. On June 23, 2007, Missouri's
Second Congressional District lost a true American hero when United
States Army First Lieutenant Daniel Riordan made the ultimate sacrifice
for his country while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of
this young patriot. Daniel Patrick Riordan was born to Rick and Jeanine
Riordan on February 17, 1983.
He had a twin brother, Nick, and an older sister, Suzanne. After
graduating from Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, Dan attended
Southeast Missouri State, where he was in the Air Force's ROTC program.
After graduation, Dan decided to follow his father into the military
and joined the U.S. Army, quickly becoming known as Lieutenant Dan.
Lieutenant Dan became a tank commander, and in 2006 he was deployed
to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a member of Demon
Company in the 1st Cavalry Division, Dan served with courage and
determination.
Despite frequently being outnumbered in enemy territory, Dan was
always out on point, leading his platoon into battle. Dan took his
leadership responsibilities literally. As he put it: How can I order my
men forward if I am not willing to go first?
To those who knew Dan, his devotion to his country through service
and sacrifice came as no surprise. He was both a fierce and dedicated
warrior in the service of our country and a caring and loving gentleman
who felt a duty to help those in need.
From a very young age, Dan showed sensitivity beyond his years. At
the age of 5 or 6, while attending a funeral, Dan's mom found him
sitting with an elderly woman.
When she asked him why he was sitting with her, he said she looked
sad and lonely. It was this kind of compassion that drew him to the
United States military: his desire to serve, help, and protect those in
need.
While at home on leave from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dan consistently
reassured his family that our country's military efforts were truly
bringing empowerment and freedom to the people of Iraq. He believed in
a cause greater than himself, that of freedom, democracy, and the
dignity of all people.
While in the Army, Dan wrote his mother a letter in case he didn't
return. One thing that he said was: Don't mourn for me, Mom. Celebrate
my life.
Today we celebrate First Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan's life by
designating the Sappington Branch Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri,
as the Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan Post Office.
The United States of America owes Dan a priceless debt that we will
never be able to fully repay, but we can do our part to ensure that his
memory lives on.
Therefore, it is my honor to sponsor H.R. 324, a bill that names the
Sappington Branch Post Office after such a courageous young man,
immortalizing a hero who gave up his life in the service to the Nation
that he loved.
This legislation will serve as a testament to the dedication and
sacrifice of First Lieutenant Daniel Riordan, standing as a physical
reminder of the bravery of one American from Missouri's Second
Congressional District.
Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of
H.R. 324, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service in St. Louis, Missouri, as Lieutenant Daniel Riordan Post
Office.
Daniel Riordan was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and then later at the
age of 5 moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There he attended the high
school of St. John Vianney.
While attending college at Southeast Missouri State University,
Daniel worked for the Department of Public Safety and the Jackson
Sheriff's Department.
In pursuit of his childhood dream of becoming a fighter pilot, Daniel
also joined the university's Air Force ROTC program.
Upon graduation, Daniel was commissioned in the U.S. Army, beginning
his career in the infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia.
By 2006, he had become a tank commander of the Blue Platoon. In
October of that year, his unit deployed for a 15-month tour to Iraq.
Lieutenant Riordan survived many attacks from explosive devices with
only minor wounds, and he was proud of his unit's brave actions on
behalf of the Iraqi citizens.
Sadly, in June of 2007, a massive IED explosion instantly took the
lives of Lieutenant Riordan and four others in his unit. He was
posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 324 to remember the brave
leadership of
[[Page H6204]]
Lieutenant Daniel Riordan and to honor the sacrifices he made for the
love of our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I urge the passage of H.R.
324. Lieutenant Riordan served with great courage and sacrifice for his
Nation.
I hope his family, friends, and colleagues, those around him will
look to him for inspiration, somebody who steps up and answers the call
of their country.
I only hope and pray that his family knows how much we all care
across the country for people like Lieutenant Riordan. I appreciate the
help on both sides of the aisle to get this passed.
I really appreciate Congresswoman Wagner, who brought this to
everybody's attention and really pushed to get it done. I hope we find
it in our hearts to pass this appropriate bill today.
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. 324.
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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