[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 119 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H6205-H6206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CORPORAL JEFFERY ALLEN WILLIAMS POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4407) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3s101 Rockwell Street in Warrenville, Illinois, as
the ``Corporal Jeffery Allen Williams Post Office Building.''
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4407
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CORPORAL JEFFERY ALLEN WILLIAMS POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3s101 Rockwell Street in Warrenville,
Illinois, shall be known and designated as the ``Corporal
Jeffery Allen Williams 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 ``Corporal Jeffery Allen Williams Post
Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Walker) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands
(Ms. Plaskett) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
{time} 1545
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.
[[Page H6206]]
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4407, introduced by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren).
H.R. 4407 would name the post office on Rockwell Street in
Warrenville, Illinois, in honor of the life and service of Corporal
Jeffery Allen Williams.
Corporal Williams was born in 1985 and graduated from Wheaton
Warrenville South High School in 2003. Shortly after graduating,
Williams joined the Army and trained to become a medical specialist,
dedicating his career and life to help his fellow soldiers.
Williams was deployed to Iraq in 2005, where he was assigned as a
medic in then-Colonel H.R. McMaster's personal security detachment.
Tragically, Corporal Williams was killed in action in Iraq in September
2005.
He is remembered by his troop as a dedicated, tough, and disciplined
medic who always put others before himself. His decorations include the
Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Army Commendation Medal.
We thank Corporal Williams for his service and sacrifice.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill to honor him.
I look forward to hearing more about Corporal Williams from the sponsor
of this bill, Mr. Hultgren, in a few minutes, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Ms. PLASKETT. 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. 4407 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service
at 3s101 Rockwell Street in Warrenville, Illinois, as the Corporal
Jeffery Allen Williams Post Office Building.
Corporal Jeffery Allen Williams began his military career in 2003,
completing his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and qualifying
as a 91W specialist and basic medical technician. He was deployed to
Iraq in February 2005 and was tragically killed in action on September
5 of that year while serving as a medic for the regimental commander's
personal security detachment.
Corporal Williams' awards include the Purple Heart, the Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal, and the Bronze Star, as well as the Combat
Medic Badge.
Corporal Williams was well loved in his community and held a special
regard for the post office, having spent many days in his youth
becoming friends with the office staff.
Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to name the post office in
Warrenville, Illinois, in memory of Corporal Williams and the ultimate
sacrifice he made to his community and this country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 4407, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hultgren), who is the sponsor of this bill.
Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague,
Mr. Walker, for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and in memory of Corporal Jeffery
Allen Williams from my district in Warrenville, Illinois.
Jeff will be remembered by his fellow servicemen and women as a
dedicated, tough, and disciplined medic who always put others before
himself and was committed to his medical mission and fellow soldiers.
Upon graduation from Wheaton Warrenville South High School, Jeff
began his military training in 2003 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He
continued his training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, graduating as a 91
Whiskey medical specialist and basic emergency medical technician. In
January 2004, Jeff was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, with Medical
Troop, Support Squadron of the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Jeff deployed to Iraq in February 2005 with the ambulance platoon and
was assigned as a medic for the regimental commander's personal
security detachment. During his tour, Jeff recognized the dire need for
qualified medics and decided to reenlist in order to further serve his
fellow soldiers and his country.
When his service would eventually end, Jeff intended to continue his
college education and become a physician's assistant after his return
from Iraq. Tragically, while serving in Tal Afar, Iraq, Jeff was killed
in action on September 5, 2005.
During his all too brief but distinguished military career, Jeff
received various awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star
Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal,
and the Army Service Ribbon. Jeff was also awarded the Combat Medic
Badge.
While Jeff is remembered by his Army colleagues as a dedicated and
selfless soldier, he was that and much more to his family and friends
at home. Those in the Warrenville community described Jeff as ``the
gregarious glue that connected our social networks together.''
Jeff's sense of humor was magnetic, and his ability to connect with
people and care about others was incredible. He befriended pretty much
everyone in his class of 700 at Wheaton Warrenville South High School.
Jeff had a special affection for new students and was their first
friend, making a point to sit with them at lunch and including them in
his group of friends.
Everyone who knew Jeff loved him, and there were few people in the
Warrenville community who did not know Jeff.
Jeff and his younger brother were raised by their mother. As the
older brother, Jeff took on many of the household responsibilities,
which included running errands for his mother. Jeff's frequent and
favorite errand was running to the Warrenville Post Office for his
mother. Over time, he came to know employees by name and they him, and
he became friends with most of them. Jeff would go out of his way to
brighten everyone's day there. He would often get lost in conversation,
causing him to arrive home late. His mother came to realize that if
Jeff wasn't home, he likely was at the post office, making friends and
engaging with all who crossed his path.
Therefore, it is entirely appropriate, in honor of Jeff's service to
our Nation, that I am introducing this legislation, H.R. 4407, to name
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3s101
Rockwell Street in Warrenville, Illinois, as the Corporal Jeffery Allen
Williams Post Office Building.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the memory of
Corporal Jeffery Allen Williams by supporting my legislation to name a
post office facility in his hometown after this remarkable young man,
so that his service and sacrifice and his impression on his community
may be long remembered.
Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge passage
of H.R. 4407, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WALKER. 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 North Carolina (Mr. Walker) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4407.
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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