[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1060-H1062]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MAYA ANGELOU MEMORIAL POST OFFICE

  Mr. RUSSELL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3735) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 200 Town Run Lane in Winston Salem, North Carolina, 
as the ``Maya Angelou Memorial Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3735

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

     SECTION 1. MAYA ANGELOU MEMORIAL POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 200 Town Run Lane in Winston Salem, North 
     Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``Maya Angelou 
     Memorial 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 ``Maya Angelou Memorial Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan 
F. Boyle) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RUSSELL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days 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 Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RUSSELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 3735, which was introduced by Congresswoman 
Alma Adams of North Carolina and is supported by the entire North 
Carolina delegation. The bill designates the post office located at 200 
Town Run Lane in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as the Maya Angelou 
Memorial Post Office.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Maya Angelou held a distinguished career that 
earned her over 80 honorary degrees. She was an American author, poet, 
and civil rights activist.
  Dr. Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. In 
1981, she moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she accepted 
the Lifetime William Neal Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at 
Wake Forest University. For over 30 years, she served as a professor at 
Wake Forest University and became a community leader.
  Dr. Angelou made literary history with her 1969 acclaimed memoir, ``I 
Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,'' when she became the first African 
American woman to make the nonfiction bestseller list.
  She served on two Presidential committees: the American Revolution 
Bicentennial Council, under President Ford, and the National Commission 
on the Observance of International Women's Year, under President 
Carter.
  In 1993, upon the request of President Clinton, Dr. Angelou composed 
a poem to read at his inauguration. That poem, entitled ``On the Pulse 
of Morning,'' was broadcast live around the world. In 2000, President 
Clinton awarded Dr. Angelou the National Medal of Arts.
  She received recognition from the White House under the following 
Presidents as well. In 2005, Dr. Angelou

[[Page H1061]]

penned and delivered the poem entitled ``Amazing Peace'' for President 
George W. Bush at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. In 2010, 
President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor.
  Dr. Angelou called Winston-Salem home, which became her final resting 
place on May 28, 2014. Madam Speaker, H.R. 3735 would name a post 
office in her honor, a post office located in the community she called 
home.
  I urge Members to support this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 3735, 
a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 200 Town Run Lane in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as the 
Maya Angelou Memorial Post Office.
  Born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1928, Maya Angelou is best known for 
her literary talents as an author and poet. While the 1970 
autobiography that recounts her life, ``I Know Why the Caged Bird 
Sings,'' remains her most notable work, Maya Angelou authored dozens of 
other award-winning novels, essays, and poems, many of which reflect on 
her own life and experiences as well as on broader social and political 
issues.
  Prior to her prolific literary career, Angelou also experienced 
success as a singer, actress, civil rights activist, and educator. Her 
many accolades include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was 
bestowed upon her by President Barack Obama in 2010. Dr. Angelou passed 
away in May 2014.
  Madam Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor the legacy of Maya 
Angelou and the countless contributions her life and work made to the 
many facets of American society. I urge the passage of H.R. 3735.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RUSSELL. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield such 
time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. 
Adams), my fellow freshman colleague.
  Ms. ADAMS. I thank my colleague for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise during a special month, Women's History Month, 
to urge the passage of H.R. 3735, which is legislation to honor the 
life of Dr. Maya Angelou, an African American woman who broke barriers 
and served as an inspiration for so many young and old throughout this 
Nation. My legislation, H.R. 3735, designates the Center City postal 
facility at 200 Town Run Lane in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as the 
Maya Angelou Memorial Post Office.
  Dr. Angelou was a distinguished author, writer, poet, and activist, 
which earned her renowned success and over 80 honorary degrees. She 
became the first nonfiction bestselling African American female author 
for her 1969 memoir, ``I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.'' She was also 
the first African American woman to have a script filmed for the 1972 
movie ``Georgia,'' which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
  In addition to her literary successes, Dr. Angelou became a prolific 
academician. In 1981, she moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, which 
I am proud to represent. She accepted the Lifetime William Neal 
Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at Wake Forest University, 
and she went on to serve there for more than 30 years.
  Dr. Angelou received many accolades throughout her lifetime, 
including three Grammies for spoken word albums and two NAACP Image 
Awards.
  Her work has become the crown of American literature and has been 
recognized by Presidents Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush. In 2010, 
President Barack Obama presented her with our Nation's highest civilian 
honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  Winston-Salem was Dr. Maya Angelou's home and is her final resting 
place; so renaming this postal facility in her honor is a small, yet 
thoughtful, way to recognize her influence and to celebrate her life in 
the community she deeply loved.
  Dr. Angelou understood the importance of history. She was historic in 
her own right. She understood who she was, what her history was, and 
she understood her struggles. In her own words, she said, ``History, 
despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with 
courage, need not be lived again.''
  Madam Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues will join me in 
voting favorably for H.R. 3735 so as to rename the Center City postal 
facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after Dr. Maya Angelou, one 
of our country's greatest writers, inspirational thought leaders, and 
an overall phenomenal woman.
  Mr. RUSSELL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, it is always a big decision when you 
name a local post office after somebody. I think people should 
investigate Maya Angelou a little bit and perhaps Google ``Maya 
Angelou'' and look at other articles in places like the ``American 
Thinker'' or ``The American Spectator.''
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. RUSSELL. Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3735, a 
bill to name a post office in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as the Maya 
Angelou Memorial Post Office.
  Dr. Maya Angelou's illustrious legacy is befitting this well-deserved 
recognition.
  Multi-talented barely covers the depth and breadth of Maya Angelou's 
accomplishments.
  She was an author, actress, screenwriter, dancer, civil rights 
activist, professor, and poet.
  Born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, 
Missouri, Maya Angelou is perhaps best known for her 1969 memoir, I 
Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
  In 1971, Maya Angelou published the Pulitzer Prize-nominated poetry 
collection Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die.
  Maya Angelou received several honors throughout her career, including 
two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction) 
category, in 2005 and 2009 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 
2010.
  During World War II, Maya Angelou moved to San Francisco, California, 
where she won a scholarship to study dance and acting at the California 
Labor School.
  Also during this time, Maya Angelou became the first black female 
cable car conductor in San Francisco, California.
  In the mid-1950s, Maya Angelou's career as a performer began to take 
off, when she landed a role in a touring production of Porgy and Bess, 
later appearing in the off-Broadway production Calypso Heat Wave (1957) 
and releasing her first album, Miss Calypso (1957).
  As a member of the Harlem Writers Guild and a civil rights activist, 
Maya Angelou organized and starred in the musical revue Cabaret for 
Freedom as a benefit to raise funds for Dr. King's Southern Christian 
Leadership Conference,
  Maya Angelou also served as the SCLC's northern coordinator.
  In 1961, Maya Angelou appeared in an off-Broadway production of Jean 
Genet's The Blacks with James Earl Jones, Lou Gossett Jr. and Cicely 
Tyson.
  While the play earned strong reviews, Maya Angelou moved on to other 
pursuits, spending much of the 1960s abroad, first living in Egypt and 
then in Ghana, working as an editor and a freelance writer at the 
University of Ghana.
  After returning to the United States, Angelou was urged by friend and 
fellow writer James Baldwin to write about her life experiences.
  Maya Angelou's efforts resulted in the enormously successful 1969 
memoir about her childhood and young adult years, I Know Why the Caged 
Bird Sings, which made literary history as the first nonfiction best-
seller by an African-American woman, making Maya an international 
superstar.
  Since publishing Caged Bird, Maya Angelou continued to break new 
ground not just artistically, but educationally and socially.
  She wrote the screenplay for the film drama Georgia, Georgia in 
1972--and made history as the first African-American woman to have her 
screenplay produced.
  Maya Angelou went on to earn a Tony Award nomination for her role in 
the 1973 play Look Away and an Emmy Award nomination for her work on 
the television miniseries Roots (1977).
  Maya Angelou also published several collections of poetry, including 
Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die (1971), which was 
nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
  One of Maya Angelou's most famous works is the poem ``On the Pulse of 
Morning,'' which she wrote especially for and recited at President Bill 
Clinton's inaugural ceremony in January 1993, the first inaugural 
recitation since 1961, when Robert Frost delivered his poem ``The Gift 
Outright'' at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration.

[[Page H1062]]

  Maya Angelou went on to win a Grammy Award (best spoken word album) 
for the audio version of the poem.
  In 1995, Maya Angelou again made history, this time for remaining on 
The New York Times' paperback nonfiction best-seller list for two 
years--the longest-running record in the chart's history.
  Seeking new creative challenges, Maya Angelou made her directorial 
debut in 1998 with Down in the Delta, starring Alfre Woodard.
  She also wrote a number of inspirational works, from the essay 
collection Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now, to her advice for 
young women in Letter to My Daughter.
  Interested in health, Angelou has even published cookbooks, including 
Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories With Recipes and 
Great Food, All Day Long.
  Among her numerous accolades are the Chicago International Film 
Festival's 1998 Audience Choice Award, Acapulco Black Film Festival in 
1999 for Down in the Delta; and two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding 
Literary Work
  The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a close friend, was 
assassinated on Maya Angelou's 40th birthday, April 4, 1968, and from 
that year forward Maya Angelou refused to celebrate her birthday; 
instead, she would send flowers to Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott 
King, for more than 30 years, until her death in 2006.
  President Barack Obama has called Maya Angelou ``a brilliant writer, 
a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman,'' who ``had the ability 
to remind us that we are all God's children; that we all have something 
to offer.''
  Madam Speaker, I can think of so many other reasons why Dr. Maya 
Angelou's illustrious legacy deserves this profound recognition, but I 
leave you with these words from Dr. Angelou's poem, Still I Rise:

     Leaving behind nights of terror and fear. I rise.
     Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear. I rise.
     Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave.
     I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
     I rise. I rise. I rise!

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Russell) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3735.
  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. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam 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.

                          ____________________