[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H321-H322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
         CORPORAL JEFFREY ROBERT STANDFEST POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3613) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 202 Trumbull Street in Saint Clair, 
Michigan, as the ``Corporal Jeffrey Robert Standfest Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3613

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

     SECTION 1. CORPORAL JEFFREY ROBERT STANDFEST POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 202 Trumbull Street in Saint Clair, 
     Michigan, shall be known and designated as the ``Corporal 
     Jeffrey Robert Standfest Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other

[[Page H322]]

     record of the United States to the facility referred to in 
     subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``Corporal Jeffrey Robert Standfest 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 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 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. 3613 to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 Trumbull 
Street in Saint Clair, Michigan, as the Corporal Jeffrey Robert 
Standfest Post Office Building.
  Corporal Jeffrey Robert Standfest was born on April 24, 1987. He was 
a 2005 graduate of Saint Clair High School where, during his senior 
year, he won 12 of his 14 cross-country races and was named the Times 
Herald newspaper's Runner of the Year. He also ran cross-country during 
his tenure at Oakland University and helped lead his team to a 
conference championship.
  Described as an all-American kid, he joined the military because his 
grandfather had served in the Marines during World War II. Due to his 
constant demonstration of maturity and leadership, Corporal Standfest 
was selected to become one of his unit's few dog handlers, in addition 
to his role as a combat engineer.
  In Afghanistan, he had been operating alongside his fellow engineers 
as a dog handler to detect IEDs and assist the route clearance platoon. 
Sadly, while attempting to clear a building on June 16, 2010, tragedy 
struck in the Helmand province of Afghanistan when Corporal Standfest, 
along with his bomb-sniffing dog, Sergeant Ruppert, was killed by an 
IED. Corporal Standfest was only 23 years old.
  In the aftermath of his death, then-Governor Granholm lowered flags 
to halfstaff. Corporal Standfest was posthumously awarded the Purple 
Heart. He was previously awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, National 
Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on 
Terrorism Medal, and the NATO medal.
  Naming a post office after Corporal Standfest is appropriate, given 
his dedication to his country. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
honoring Corporal Standfest.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill which honors Corporal 
Jeffrey Robert Standfest. Inspired by his grandfather, a Marine in 
World War II, this all-American kid joined the military as a combat 
engineer. Corporal Standfest was later selected to become one of his 
unit's few dog handlers, a testament to his maturity.
  Tragically, Corporal Standfest was killed by an IED on June 16, 2010, 
while clearing a building in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. His 
bomb-sniffing dog, Sergeant Ruppert, was also killed. Corporal 
Standfest was only 23 years old.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this bill 
honoring a true American hero. I support this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan 
(Mrs. McClain).
  Mrs. McCLAIN. Mr. Speaker, the House will vote on my bill to rename 
the Saint Clair Post Office after Marine Corporal Jeffrey Robert 
Standfest. Before we do, I want to tell you a little bit about the life 
of this brave young man.
  Mr. Speaker, Corporal Standfest was described by those who knew him 
as respectful, family-oriented, dedicated, hardworking, and the all-
American kid.
  He was a runner at Saint Clair High School where he graduated in 
2005. His success as a runner, along with his reputation as a leader, 
continued during his time at Oakland University. In 2008, wanting to 
follow in the footsteps of his grandfather who served our Nation during 
World War II, Jeff enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was deployed to 
Afghanistan as a combat engineer and a K9 handler. Tragically on June 
16, Corporal Standfest and his canine, Sergeant Ruppert, were killed by 
an IED. He was only 23 years old.
  Mr. Speaker, we must always remember that the rights and freedoms we 
as Americans hold dear are only secured through the courage and 
sacrifice of those who serve. Eleven years later, his memory, his 
courage, and his sacrifice are kept alive by his parents, Timothy and 
Karen, and his sister, Jaclyn, all of whom knew him and loved him.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill could never heal the wounds of losing him, but 
passage of this bill will demonstrate to his loved ones that Congress 
and this country will never forget his bravery and ultimate sacrifice. 
Passage of this bill will ensure that the residents of Saint Clair will 
always be reminded about their high school star runner, the all-
American kid who answered the call to serve and gave his life in 
defense of this great country.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Michigan 
for coming down here to speak about such a brave American hero.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close. I do 
support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage and 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. 3613.
  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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