[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 158 (Monday, September 14, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            ALTHEA MARGARET DAILY MILLS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2969) to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 1401 1st Street North in 
Winter Haven, Florida, as the ``Althea Margaret Daily Mills Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2969

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

     SECTION 1. ALTHEA MARGARET DAILY MILLS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1401 1st Street North in Winter Haven, 
     Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Althea 
     Margaret Daily Mills 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 ``Althea Margaret Daily Mills Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Cloud) 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. 2969, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located 
at 1401 1st Street North in Winter Haven, Florida, as the Althea 
Margaret Daily Mills Post Office Building.
  Althea Mills began her education in Pughsville, which was Winter 
Haven's first Black community. When she moved at the age of 13 to 
Pennsylvania to live with her aunt, Ms. Mills was able to attend 
integrated schools before returning to Winter Haven, which was not 
integrated.
  In 1963, Ms. Mills filed a lawsuit against the Polk County Board of 
Education. The result of the lawsuit allowed her son to attend Winter 
Haven High School, which was all White at that time. Ms. Mills' 
successful lawsuit would later be credited with the integration of all 
Polk County public schools.
  Ms. Mills was also the first Black employee of the United States 
Postal Service in Winter Haven. She later would manage the Florence 
Villa Post Office.
  Althea Mills passed away in 2008. Naming a post office after her 
would commemorate an unsung hero in the fight for desegregation in 
Florida and a trailblazer for civil rights who improved the lives of 
countless students.
  I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida for this 
bill to honor a great public servant and civil rights pioneer.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2969, which would designate 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1401 1st 
Street North in Winter Haven, Florida, as the Althea Margaret Daily 
Mills Post Office Building.
  Althea Margaret Daily Mills had a crucial role in the desegregation 
of Florida. When asked about her motivation to challenge the Polk 
County Board of Public Instruction, Mills said: ``Our instructors were 
just as good, but some of my son's textbooks would go to page 3 and 
then skip to page 35. You can't learn like that.'' This lawsuit 
eventually led to the public integration of all Polk County public 
schools.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 2969.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleague, Congressman Soto, for this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 2969.
  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.

                          ____________________