[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 171 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H7015-H7016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JONATHAN ``J.D.'' DE GUZMAN POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 5948) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 830 Kuhn Drive in Chula Vista, California, as the
``Jonathan `J.D.' De Guzman Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5948
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. JONATHAN ``J.D.'' DE GUZMAN POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 830 Kuhn Drive in Chula Vista, California,
shall be known and designated as the ``Jonathan `J.D.' De
Guzman 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 ``Jonathan `J.D.' De Guzman Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms.
Plaskett) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 5948, introduced by my colleague,
Representative Susan Davis of California. The bill designates a post
office in Chula Vista, California, as the Jonathan ``J.D.'' De Guzman
Post Office Building.
Jonathan De Guzman was born in the Philippines in 1972. He later
traveled to the United States and became an American citizen and served
as an officer with the San Diego Police Department. Officer De Guzman
received the Purple Heart for bravery from the San Diego Police
Department in 2003 after being stabbed in the line of duty. He returned
to work, but tragically was killed in the line of duty in July of this
year.
I join my colleague, Representative Davis of California, in honoring
Officer De Guzman.
I urge Members to support the bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5948, a bill to
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at
830 Kuhn Drive in Chula Vista, California, as the Jonathan ``J.D.'' De
Guzman Post Office Building.
Jonathan De Guzman emigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines with a
strong desire to become a contributor to his new community. His
selflessness led him to join the San Diego Police Department, where he
served for 16 years.
Officer De Guzman was awarded the San Diego Police Department's
Purple Heart in 2003 after surviving a stabbing while on duty. Officer
De Guzman was again attacked while on duty in July of 2016. This time,
however, he was shot multiple times at pointblank range and tragically
did not survive.
Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor Officer Jonathan De
Guzman's courageous life of public service and ensure that the ultimate
sacrifice he made is never forgotten.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5948.
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1630
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).
Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask for
support of H.R. 5948 in commemorating the life of a humble role model
and a courageous American hero. Officer Jonathan De Guzman, or J.D., as
he was better known by family and friends, dedicated his life to
protecting and serving the San Diego community that he loved.
Born in the Philippines, J.D. traveled to the United States at the
age of 20 with high hopes of achieving the American Dream. Through hard
work and
[[Page H7016]]
perseverance, he achieved this dream as a San Diego law enforcement
officer, serving in many different roles within the San Diego Police
Department, including serving on the gang suppression unit.
A devoted public servant, J.D. felt most rewarded by the bonds he
created through community engagement. J.D.'s family, his friends, and
fellow officers characterized him as a selfless, honorable, and caring
warrior. San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman praised J.D. saying:
``He always raised the bar'' and ``cared deeply for his community.''
In 2003, he survived a brutal stabbing from a suspect he had stopped
for speeding. A true warrior, indeed, upon recovery, he quickly
returned to the force to defend the people of San Diego. In that same
year, he was awarded the San Diego Police Department's Purple Heart for
bravery in the line of duty. Although he appreciated the gesture, the
accolades were not what motivated him to serve. The reactions of the
community brought J.D. true fulfillment.
Tragically, on July 28, 2016, Officer De Guzman, a 16-year veteran of
the force, was shot multiple times at pointblank range and killed.
Prosecutors on the case say the attack happened so quickly that J.D.
never had the opportunity to pull his service weapon.
On August 5, thousands--I mean thousands--of fellow officers and
private citizens lined the streets of San Diego for J.D.'s funeral
procession, tossing flowers along the path, holding signs, and waving
American flags. I can assure you, it was really a moving experience.
The amount of love and admiration I witnessed that day showed just how
deeply he touched the lives of everyone he encountered in a life that
was cut much too short.
He was only 43 years old. He was a beloved son to his proud parents,
a caring husband to his adoring wife, Mary Jane, and a hero to their
beautiful children, Amira and Jonathan, Jr. I had the pleasure of
meeting with his family and some of his close friends to offer my
deepest condolences. I saw the wound that was left behind, a wound that
may never truly be healed, but through loving memories of their time
together, combined with the support of the community, his strong family
will endure the pain.
While nothing will ever fill the void, we can take action today to
ensure that his legacy will never be forgotten. J.D. made the ultimate
sacrifice in protecting our community, and this bill will mean that
future generations will know and understand the commitment that Officer
De Guzman made and our law enforcement officers continue to make every
day.
I urge you to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5948 to designate the facility of
the United States Postal Service located at 830 Kuhn Drive in Chula
Vista, California, as the Jonathan ``J.D.'' De Guzman Post Office
Building. This post office sits right in the Eastlake community that
Officer De Guzman called home and will stand as a lasting remembrance
of a true role model and American hero.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill. I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5948--An Act
to designate the United States Postal Service facility in Chula Vista
as the ``Johnathan `J.D.' De Guzman Post Office Building.'' This
legislation is sponsored by my colleague, the gentlewoman from San
Diego, Susan Davis. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, so that
we may forever honor the sacrifice that Officer De Guzman made for the
San Diego community and our great nation.
San Diego Police Officer Johnathan `J.D.' De Guzman was a true
American hero who was killed in the line of duty. Born in the
Philippines on September 17, 1972, Officer De Guzman traveled to the
United States at the age of 20 and eventually became an American
citizen. He believed deeply in the American Dream and in the importance
of public service and community involvement, leading him to join the
San Diego Police Department (SDPD) in 2000.
Officer De Guzman was a SDPD 16 year veteran and a member of the
department's gang suppression unit. In 2003, he received the SDPD's
Purple Heart. Officer De Guzman was characterized as a caring,
selfless, honorable, and courageous individual. It wasn't uncommon for
him to show up at his children's school and engage students about
careers in law enforcement.
Tragically, Officer De Guzman was killed while on patrol on July
28th, 2016. He is survived by his parents, his wife Mary Jane, and his
two children Amira and Jonathan De Guzman II.
I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 5948.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 5948.
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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