[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
D. EDWINA STEPHENS POST OFFICE BUILDING
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2324) to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 2800 South Adams Street in
Tallahassee, Florida, as the ``D. Edwina Stephens Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2324
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. D. EDWINA STEPHENS POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 2800 South Adams Street in Tallahassee,
Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``D. Edwina
Stephens 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 ``D. Edwina Stephens Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr.
LaTurner) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
General Leave
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members 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 Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2324, to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2800 South
Adams Street in Tallahassee, Florida, as the D. Edwina Stephens Post
Office.
Edwina Stephens is remembered as a unique and influential community
activist who touched people's lives in numerous roles for over 50
years.
Born in Rocky Ford, Georgia, Edwina spent the majority of her adult
life as a member of the Tallahassee community. Professionally, she was
known as a fabulous nurse who pioneered changes in Tallahassee's local
healthcare industry at Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Memorial
Hospital.
In the community, she was recognized for being an acclaimed
environmentalist and tireless activist who successfully campaigned
against cases of environmental disenfranchisement and fought inequality
of neighborhood services in underserved communities.
Ms. Stephens' achievements in Tallahassee include facilitating the
hiring of Black cashiers at Winn-Dixie stores, leading the successful
crusade to shut down the Medical Waste Facility on the southside, and
spearheading the infrastructure revitalization for the Southside. These
activities improved the quality of life not only for Southside
residents, but for all the people of Tallahassee.
In addition to her mission of advocating for positive change, Edwina
was a historian and visionary for many ongoing projects. Ms. Stephens
is also remembered as a warm, caring woman who possessed political grit
and organizational skills needed to foster enduring relationships
between government, media, and the community.
I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring a pioneer in the
healthcare community by naming the post office at 2800 South Adams
Street as the D. Edwina Stephens Post Office.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2324, which would name a
Tallahassee post office after D. Edwina Stephens.
Edwina Stephens was a community activist, a civil rights icon, and
nurse, working to improve Tallahassee's Southside neighborhoods. She
was affectionately known as the ``Mother of Southside.'' She was also
awarded the ``Florida Finest Award'' by former Governor Lawton Chiles.
Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Florida
delegation, I am proud to help honor a daughter of the State of
Florida, and I urge passage of H.R. 2324, and I yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2324.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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