[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2920-H2921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1715
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS WILLIAM ``KELLY'' LACEY POST OFFICE
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4987) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3957 2nd Avenue in Laurel Hill, Florida, as the
``Sergeant First Class William `Kelly' Lacey Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4987
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 ``KELLY'' LACEY POST
OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3957 2nd Avenue in Laurel Hill, Florida,
shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant First Class
William `Kelly' Lacey 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 section 1 shall be deemed to be a
reference to the ``Sergeant First Class William `Kelly' Lacey
Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Walker) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs.
Lawrence) 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
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 today in support of H.R. 4987, introduced by Congressman Jeff
Miller of Florida.
H.R. 4987 designates the post office located at 3957 2nd Avenue in
Laurel Hill, Florida, as the Sergeant First Class William ``Kelly''
Lacey Post Office.
Sergeant Kelly Lacey enlisted in the Army on October 16, 2002, and he
served with dedication for nearly 12 years. Sergeant Lacey was on a
tour of duty in Afghanistan when he was killed in action on January 4,
2014.
During his time in the Army, Sergeant Lacey earned more than 30
military awards and decorations, including a Bronze Star with Valor and
two more Bronze Star Medals.
Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Lacey exemplified leadership throughout his
career. Just months before his death, he fulfilled one of his lifelong
dreams by reaching the rank of E-7, the same rank that his father
achieved in his service.
I urge all Members to honor Lacey's great sacrifice by naming a post
office in his honor. I will soon yield to the bill's sponsor, and my
friend, Congressman Jeff Miller, to tell us more about Sergeant First
Class William ``Kelly'' Lacey.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration
of H.R. 4987, a bill to designate the facility in Laurel Hill, Florida,
as the Sergeant First Class William ``Kelly'' Lacey Post Office.
Sergeant First Class Lacey is remembered as a wonderful family man by
those he leaves behind, particularly his wife, Ashley, daughter, Lily,
three stepdaughters, and parents.
Sergeant First Class Kelly's military honor includes three Bronze
Stars, including one with valor, a Purple Heart, and a Humanitarian
Award for his relief work following Hurricane Katrina.
We should pass this bill to remember Sergeant First Class Lacey's
heroic deeds on the battlefield as well as his compassion for others at
home.
I urge its passage.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller).
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr.
Walker.
A little over 2 years ago, northwest Florida and our Nation lost a
warrior and a patriot upon the death of Army Sergeant First Class
William ``Kelly'' Lacey. Kelly was assigned to the 201st Brigade
Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division
out of Fort Knox, Kentucky, and was killed on January 4, 2014, in
Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, while in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.
Today I stand before you to honor this true American hero by
designating the facility of the United States Postal Service, located
at 3957 2nd Avenue in Laurel Hill, Florida, as the Sergeant First Class
William ``Kelly'' Lacey Post Office.
Kelly had served three tours in Iraq and was completing his second
tour in Afghanistan when his life was tragically taken. During the
mission that took his life, Kelly protected fellow soldiers during an
attack where a car bomb had breached his base perimeter, allowing
multiple combatants, many bearing suicide vests, to initiate an
assault. Kelly took a guard tower and began providing cover fire,
killing three assailants before a rocket-propelled grenade took his
life. He was scheduled to return home just 2 weeks from the time of his
death.
We must never forget, nor take for granted, the many liberties we
enjoy as Americans--liberties earned and fortified by soldiers like
Kelly, who never hesitate when called upon. Kelly bravely dedicated his
life to protect our freedom. While there is nothing we can do today to
bring Kelly back to us and take away the pain that is felt by his loved
ones that have been left behind, we can help memorialize his ultimate
sacrifice.
America's sovereignty and democracy is deeply rooted in the
courageous
[[Page H2921]]
acts of our men and women in the Armed Forces, who willingly serve
knowing that at any time they could pay the ultimate sacrifice.
Renaming the post office will help ensure that future generations
forever remember that sacrifice and understand the true cost of
freedom.
I ask my colleagues for your support on this legislation.
Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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. 4987.
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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