[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 38 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H1349-H1350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LANCE CORPORAL THOMAS E. RIVERS, JR. POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4646) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1900 Corporate Drive in Birmingham, Alabama, as the
``Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr. Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4646
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LANCE CORPORAL THOMAS E. RIVERS, JR. POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1900 Corporate Drive in Birmingham,
Alabama, shall be known and designated as the ``Lance
Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr. 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 ``Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr.
Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Palmer) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama.
General Leave
Mr. PALMER. 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 Alabama?
There was no objection.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4646. This bill names
the post office at 1900 Corporate Drive in Birmingham, Alabama, after
Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr.
Corporal Rivers was a resident of Hoover, Alabama, and a graduate of
Briarwood Christian School.
Both of Rivers' grandfathers served in the military, and he desired
to follow in their footsteps. Corporal Rivers wrote in a high school
essay that he ``wanted to be a marine since he was 10 years old,'' and
that he believed ``joining the Marines would be a good experience for
him because it would teach
[[Page H1350]]
him to rely on God to make it through.''
Two weeks after graduating from high school, Thomas fulfilled his
dream by joining the Marines. He was known by his fellow marines as a
man of devout faith who was always looking for ways to serve his fellow
marines.
In the early morning hours of April 28, 2010, while deployed in
Helmand province, Afghanistan, Rivers ordered his men to take their
positions. However, the marine assigned to stand watch was exhausted.
As a patrol leader, Rivers was never required to stand post, but Thomas
had been reading in the Bible about how love isn't an emotion but is
demonstrated in laying your life down for your friends. Rivers told the
weary marine: ``I'll stand post for you; you rest.''
Tragically, while replacing the exhausted marine, Rivers activated an
improvised explosive device. Rivers gave his life for his country and
exemplified the attitude in John 15:13:
Greater love has no one than this, that he should lay down
his life for his friends.
This bill pays tribute to Corporal Rivers' sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, I
urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. CLAY. 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. 4646, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1900 Corporate Drive in Birmingham, Alabama, as the
Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr. Post Office Building.
Born in Hoover, Alabama, Lance Corporal Thomas Rivers, Jr., held a
deep love and dedication to both his faith and his country. Mr. Rivers
dreamed of becoming a marine from a young age and enlisted following
his graduation from Briarwood Christian School in 2007.
Tragically, on April 28, 2010, Lance Corporal Rivers was killed by an
improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan. He was just
22 years old.
In order that they might honor and continue their son's love of
country, Lance Corporal Rivers' parents now run a nonprofit
organization that sends care packages to soldiers.
Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to commemorate Lance Corporal
Thomas Rivers, Jr., and the ultimate sacrifice he made for the country
he so loved.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 4646, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate very much the comments from the
gentleman from Missouri. I know the family does.
I knew Corporal Rivers. He attended the same high school as my
children. I know his mom and dad very well. He is another example--as
we have heard time and time again on this floor--of young men and women
willing to sacrifice their lives not only for their country, but for
their fellow soldiers and marines. It is an honor to stand here with my
friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) to urge passage of this
bill.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the gentleman from Missouri aware
that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to urge the passage of this
legislation for Lance Corporal Rivers, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Palmer) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4646.
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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