[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H827-H828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ARETHA FRANKLIN POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3976) to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue 
in Detroit, Michigan, as the ``Aretha Franklin Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3976

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

     SECTION 1. ARETHA FRANKLIN POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, 
     Michigan, shall be known and designated as the ``Aretha 
     Franklin 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 ``Aretha Franklin Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Meadows) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. 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 this 
measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. 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. 3976, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located 
at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the Aretha 
Franklin Post Office Building.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Representative Brenda 
Lawrence, for introducing this important measure to honor a cultural 
and civil rights heroine.
  Aretha Franklin, the ``Queen of Soul,'' was an American singer, 
songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist from Detroit, Michigan. 
Over her career, Aretha Franklin was awarded 18 Grammy awards, along 
with various lifetime achievement recognitions.
  Her unique vocal style not only influenced generations of future 
singers, but it also earned her the number one spot on Rolling Stone 
magazine's list of the Greatest Singers of All Time.
  Aretha Franklin was also a champion for civil rights and women's 
rights. She frequently donated to civil rights groups, and two of her 
biggest hits, ``Respect'' and ``You Make Me Feel Like a Natural 
Woman,'' became anthems for social change movements across the country.
  In 1987, she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and 
Roll Hall of Fame. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom 
from President George W. Bush in 2005.
  Aretha Franklin died of advanced pancreatic cancer on August 16, 
2018, in Detroit, Michigan. Naming a post office in the city she 
cherished so fondly would recognize her important cultural and civic 
accomplishments.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3976, introduced by my friend, 
Representative Brenda Lawrence.
  This bill, as has been mentioned, names a post office located in 
Detroit, Michigan, in honor of the ``Queen of Soul,'' Aretha Franklin.
  Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and 
civil rights activist, and so we want to give honor where honor is due.
  She began her career as a child singing at her church in Detroit. For 
the next six decades, her distinctive voice captivated listeners and 
influenced countless other singers.

[[Page H828]]

  So it is my delight to rise in support of this particular bill. It is 
out of ``Respect'' for my good friend from Michigan, and so we will 
``Say a Little Prayer'' and hope that this goes through.

                              {time}  1615

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time 
as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), 
the author of this bill.
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  I will start by thanking the leadership on the Committee on Oversight 
and Reform for marking up this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3976, which would rename 
a post office in my hometown of Detroit after the Queen of Soul, Aretha 
Franklin. As was mentioned earlier, she was an 18 Grammy Award winner; 
a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and the first woman to be 
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
  She performed at three inaugural events for Presidents Carter, 
Clinton, and Barack Obama. She was a woman who was respected on both 
sides of the aisle where President Bush issued her the Medal of 
Freedom.
  ``A Natural Woman'' singer, she was more than just a music icon. She 
was a civil rights advocate who used her platform and voice to advocate 
for racial equality.
  I knew her personally and she would talk to me about being a child 
and having Martin Luther King in her home with her dad discussing 
policies and what they were going to do to fight together for racial 
equality.
  In 1967, Aretha released ``Respect,'' which became a rally cry for 
racial and gender political movements of the time.
  Although people remember Aretha Franklin as the ``Queen of Soul'' she 
was more than just a vocalist. Aretha used her platform to become a 
beacon of hope for people during the civil rights movement and her 
voice served as a perfect guiding light.
  In 1967, she toured with Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier to raise 
money for Dr. Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership 
Conference. The organization was in a dire financial state and would 
soon become the Poor People's Campaign.
  In 1970, few people knew Aretha Franklin posted bond for Angela 
Davis, a prominent activist who was jailed on trumped-up charges. In 
1970, a Jet magazine article quoted Aretha Franklin: ``Black people 
will be free. I have been locked up for disturbing the peace in Detroit 
and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace. 
Jail is hell to be in. I'm going to see her free if there is any 
justice in our courts . . . because she's a Black woman and she wants 
freedom for Black people.''
  In her 1999 autobiography, ``Aretha: From These Roots'' described the 
impact Detroit had on her childhood and career. ``Detroiters realize 
how deeply I appreciate the city in which I was raised. And it is in 
Detroit that I continue to cultivate my career; it is to Detroit that I 
direct most of my charitable activities; and it is from Detroit that I 
receive much love and support, which I reciprocate.''
  No matter how famous she became worldwide, Aretha always gave back to 
the city she grew up in. She frequently hosted community events for 
congregants in her father's church, and she donated to organizations 
like Save the Children and Easterseals and supported local food banks 
across Detroit.
  In the year after her passing, an outpouring of support has led to 
the renaming of Detroit monuments in her honor--and I am so proud and 
happy to stand here today, personally knowing her, traveling with her 
on her tours--to include a post office near her home in Detroit to the 
list of ways to commemorate this amazing woman.
  While there is little that can truly demonstrate our appreciation for 
Aretha Franklin, I hope her family knows how proud and thankful we all 
are for her lifelong support.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to give a little support R-E-S-P-E-
C-T, to this legislation.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ 
minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Madam Chair for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3976, the bill 
sponsored by my colleague, Mrs. Lawrence, and by the members of the 
Michigan delegation.
  This bill honors the ``Queen of Soul,'' Aretha Franklin, and her 
innumerable contributions to music. Her faith in Detroit and its people 
is what I remember as much as her voice. This legislation serves as a 
fitting tribute to her esteemed legacy.
  Aretha Franklin grew up singing at the New Bethel Baptist Church with 
her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin. Aretha's father was a good and dear 
friend to John Dingell, helping him early in his career. The two of 
them fought side by side in the fifties and the sixties for civil 
rights legislation.
  Aretha's career includes more than 20 Grammy Awards, the first woman 
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and receiving the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  However, it is Aretha's message through music of respect, love, and 
faith that will stay with us for generations.
  Today, I stand with my Michigan colleagues and urge every Member to 
honor Aretha Franklin's legacy. Her contributions to our country are 
deserving of this recognition, and maybe we need to have her up there, 
up there with John, ``say a little prayer'' for us.
  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I will just cut to the chase. Let's get 
this thing done and get it over with and make sure that we show the 
``respect'' that we should.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3976. I had the opportunity to 
meet Aretha Franklin several times. She was a great friend of Charlie 
Rangel and would often perform for his events. She very generously gave 
her time to raise money for all kinds of civic rights events. She was a 
remarkable person and a great singer.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to support this important legislation, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Carson of Indiana). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. 
Maloney) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3976.
  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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