[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 162 (Tuesday, October 10, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H7897-H7898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SPECIALIST JEFFREY L. WHITE, JR. POST OFFICE
Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 452) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 324 West Saint Louis Street in Pacific, Missouri, as
the ``Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 452
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SPECIALIST JEFFREY L. WHITE, JR. POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 324 West Saint Louis Street in Pacific,
Missouri, shall be known and designated as the ``Specialist
Jeffrey L. White, Jr. 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 ``Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. Post
Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Montana (Mr. Gianforte) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Montana.
General Leave
Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within 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 Montana?
There was no objection.
Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 452 introduced by
Congressman Luetkemeyer from Missouri. The bill names the Pacific,
Missouri, Post Office at 324 West Saint Louis Street the Specialist
Jeffrey L. White, Jr. Post Office in honor of U.S. Army Specialist
White, who, in 2012, was killed in action in an IED attack in
Afghanistan.
Mr. Speaker, I now yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Missouri (Mr. Luetkemeyer), the sponsor of the bill.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 452,
legislation to designate the United States Postal Service facility
located at 324 West Saint Louis Street in Pacific, Missouri, as the
Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. Post Office.
U.S. Army Specialist White grew up in Catawissa, Missouri, with his
parents, Jeff and Paula White, and his brothers, Michael and Kyle. He
graduated from Pacific High School in 2008, and enlisted in the Army in
October of 2009.
Specialist White served our country honorably as a member of the
First Battalion, 501st Airborne, Fourth Brigade Combat Team, 25th
Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, unit.
Specialist White deployed for Afghanistan in December 2011, and after
serving our country bravely, he gave his life for our country when an
IED detonated near his unit on April 3, 2012, roughly one week before
he was scheduled to return to the United States.
Specialist White was a highly decorated servicemember. His awards and
medals include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct
Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with
Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army
[[Page H7898]]
Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the NATO Medal, among many
others.
As an avid sports fan, White shared my love of the St. Louis
Cardinals. He witnessed their 2011 World Series Championship win
shortly before his deployment and was planning to attend opening day in
2012. Specialist White was honored by the Cardinals, who invited his
family to raise the 2011 World Championship flag on opening day in his
memory.
Specialist White was an upstanding citizen and beloved by his family,
friends, and community. Hundreds of individuals lined the streets in
the pouring rain to honor his final journey home and memorial service.
We can never fully express our thanks to our military and their
families. Their service and sacrifice for this country goes beyond a
level of bravery most people have never seen. While the naming of this
post office is not nearly enough to honor Jeffery White, nor will it
heal the pain felt each day and every day by the family he left he
behind, it is my sincere hope each time the Whites and folks in the
Pacific community pass by this building they are reminded of how
grateful and how proud we are to call Specialist White one of our own.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Missouri delegation and Pacific community
for their support of this designation, and I ask every Member of the
House to join us in honoring our hometown hero, Jeffery L. White, Jr.
Mr. GOMEZ. 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. 452, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Post
Office located at 324 West Saint Louis Street in Pacific, Missouri, as
the Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. Post Office.
A native of Missouri, Jeffrey White, Jr. graduated from Pacific High
School in 2008, and joined the United States Army. After graduating
from basic and advanced training at Fort Benning, Georgia, Specialist
White was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson.
He deployed to Afghanistan in 2011, and tragically lost his life in
April of 2012, after insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised
explosive device. Specialist White was just 21 years old.
Specialist White is remembered for his love of the St. Louis
Cardinals, as well as his distinguished service, for which he received
many awards, including a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
{time} 1715
As an avid Dodgers fan, I think Specialist White would get a kick out
of the fact that I am here and that the St. Louis Cardinals are still
beating the Dodgers.
Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to commemorate the life of
Specialist Jeffrey White, Jr., who selflessly sacrificed his life in
defense of his country.
I urge the passage of H.R. 452, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. GIANFORTE. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill in
recognition of Specialist White's sacrifice to our Nation, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Montana (Mr. Gianforte) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 452.
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. GIANFORTE. Mr. 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.
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