[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 17, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H5956-H5957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RYAN KEITH COX POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. ROUDA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3305) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 2509 George Mason Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia, 
as the ``Ryan Keith Cox Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3305

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. RYAN KEITH COX POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2509 George Mason Drive in Virginia Beach, 
     Virginia, shall be known and designated as the ``Ryan Keith 
     Cox 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 ``Ryan Keith Cox Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rouda) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROUDA. Madam 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 this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROUDA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of 
H.R. 3305, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 2509 George Mason Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia, 
as the Ryan Keith Cox Post Office Building.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria) to further explain her bill.
  Mrs. LURIA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and heroic 
actions of Ryan Keith Cox.
  On May 31, the year's largest mass shooting in America struck in our 
Virginia Beach community. Keith was

[[Page H5957]]

amongst the 12 wonderful people who lost their lives in the tragedy. In 
his final moments, Keith showed extraordinary bravery.
  Keith was an active and irreplaceable member of our community. He 
regularly attended his father's church, New Hope Baptist Church, where 
he sang in the choir with his renowned golden voice. He had hoped to 
follow his calling and his father's footsteps and become more active in 
the ministry.
  For 12 years, Keith served the city of Virginia Beach as a public 
utilities employee. His coworkers described him as someone who was 
always nice to others and treated colleagues to lunch. One colleague 
called Keith a ``teddy bear'' who always knew what to say to make an 
upset colleague smile.
  Those who knew him said Keith embodied leadership. Keith's friends 
and family agreed that he made his impact by putting the needs of 
others before his own. Keith's last day on Earth was no different.
  During the shooting, Keith led several of his coworkers to safety. 
Keith then refused to take refuge, stating: ``I've got to see if 
anybody else needs help.''
  Keith stood watch and checked on his colleagues, voluntarily exposing 
himself to a deadly line of fire. One of Keith's colleagues summed it 
up: ``If it wasn't for him, there would have been several more people 
who perished.''
  In our community's darkest hour, Keith prioritized the safety of his 
colleagues over his own. He was a true servant leader who made the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  This is our chance to tell Keith's story, to showcase his heroism to 
our community, our Commonwealth, and our Nation. I was proud to 
introduce this bill to name a local post office after Keith. When we 
walk by that post office and see Keith's name, we will think of the 
sacrifice and of the lives that he saved.
  I thank the Virginia delegation for supporting this bipartisan 
legislation to honor Keith's legacy and impact on our Virginia Beach 
community.
  Madam Speaker, I urge support of this bill.
  Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3305, introduced by 
Representative Luria. The bill names a post office located in Virginia 
Beach, Virginia, in honor of Ryan Keith Cox.
  Ryan Keith Cox served the city of Virginia Beach for 12 years. He 
worked in the Public Works Department as an account clerk until he was 
murdered, saving the lives of his friends and coworkers earlier this 
year.
  On the morning of May 31, 2019, a city employee resigned from his job 
at the municipal building where Cox work. That afternoon, the former 
employee returned with evil intentions.
  When a coworker ran into the office with news that there was an 
active shooter, Keith remained calm and thought only of how to keep 
other coworkers safe. He led them to the safety of a small room and 
directed them to barricade the door.
  Then, despite the danger, he continued to look for more of his 
colleagues. By the time the shooting stopped, Keith was among the 12 
innocent victims who were killed. His surviving colleagues remember him 
as a kind, soft-spoken, and big teddy bear.
  Madam Speaker, Keith's heroics will not be forgotten. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ROUDA. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
3305, Designating the facility of the United States Postal Service 
located at 2509 George Mason Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia as the 
``Ryan Keith Cox Post Office Building.'' I appreciate my colleague, the 
gentlelady from Virginia, Mrs. Luria, for introducing this bill.
  Ryan Keith Cox is a Virginia Beach hero, a distinguished public 
servant and one whose legacy will live on forever. We will remember 
Ryan for his heroic actions during the Virginia Beach massacre on May 
31, 2019. He saved dozens of lives by helping his colleagues find a 
safe space to hide during the mass shooting at the Virginia Beach 
Municipal Center. He was killed protecting two of his coworkers 
guarding a cubicle door while his coworkers huddled on the floor 
beneath two desks.
  The Virginia Beach community will remember Ryan as a cherished friend 
and one who always put others before himself. He was soft spoken, 
encouraging, positive and considered by all to be ``a good man''.
  He was active in his Church and participated in Anointed Voices, Men 
of Hope, the Male Chorus and the Men's Ministry at New Hope Baptist 
Church.
  Madam Speaker, the designation of this post office in Ryan Keith 
Cox's honor will forever remind us of his valor and his 12-year long 
career with the City of Virginia Beach. I urge my colleagues to support 
this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Rouda) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3305.
  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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