[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JEREMY L. RIDLEN POST OFFICE
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 3579) to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 200 East Main Street in Maroa,
Illinois, as the ``Jeremy L. Ridlen Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3579
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. JEREMY L. RIDLEN POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 200 East Main Street in Maroa, Illinois,
shall be known and designated as the ``Jeremy L. Ridlen Post
Office''.
(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 ``Jeremy L. Ridlen Post Office''.
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. 3579 to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 East Main
Street in Maroa, Illinois, as the Jeremy L. Ridlen Post Office.
Army National Guard Specialist Jeremy L. Ridlen was born in Maroa,
Illinois, where he attended Maroa-Forsyth High School with his twin
brother, Jason. Jeremy and Jason were students at Illinois State
University, where they joined the National Guard and were assigned to
the 1544th Transportation Company. In 2003, the National Guard
activated their unit and deployed them to Fallujah, Iraq, where Jeremy
served as postal clerk.
On May 23, 2004, Jeremy was killed after a truck rigged with
explosives detonated next to his convoy. He was 23 years old.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring Jeremy
L. Ridlen, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, by naming
the post office at 200 East Main Street after him, and 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 this bill, which would name a post
office in Illinois after Army National Guard Specialist Jeremy Ridlen.
Ridlen was born and raised in Maroa, Illinois. Jeremy and twin
brother, Jason, went on to attend Illinois State University, and both
signed up for the National Guard.
They were assigned to the 1544 Transportation Company, which was
activated in 2003 and deployed to Fallujah, Iraq. Jeremy served as the
postal clerk there.
Sadly, on May 23, 2004, Jeremy was killed in an ambush after a truck
exploded next to his convoy.
Specialist Ridlen was an outstanding patriot, and I encourage my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Rodney Davis).
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for
giving us the opportunity to honor a hero, Jeremy Ridlen.
I rise in support of this bill today to designate the United States
Postal Service facility in Maroa, Illinois, as the Jeremy L. Ridlen
Post Office.
Army Specialist Jeremy Ridlen was born and raised in Maroa, Illinois,
where he attended Maroa-Forsyth High School with his twin brother,
Jason.
Jeremy and Jason, like my twin boys, were inseparable. They were
active in their church, played on its softball team, and were included
in its weekly prayer list after they both deployed.
Jeremy and Jason attended Illinois State University and joined the
National Guard shortly thereafter. Their unit, the 1544 Transportation
Company, was deployed to Iraq in 2003. On May 23, 2004, after a truck
rigged with an IED detonated next to his convoy, small arms fire killed
Jeremy in the ambush.
Designating this post office in honor of Jeremy will serve as a
testament to his bravery and a reminder of all those who laid down
their life for the United States of America.
Jeremy Ridlen died serving his country, and for that, he is a hero to
all of us. He put his country above all else, and we thank him for his
service and are thinking of his entire family back in Illinois today.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation.
Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I support this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from
Illinois that as a fellow parent of twins--mine are 22--I send deepest
condolences. Although I know his passing was back in 2004, I know the
pain is fresh for his family. It is an honor to be able to join my
colleagues in helping to name this post office.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3579, 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. 3579.
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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