[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4783-H4784]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  VANESSA GUILLEN POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 224) to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, 
Texas, as the ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

[[Page H4784]]

  


                                H.R. 224

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

     SECTION 1. VANESSA GUILLEN POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, Texas, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Vanessa Guillen 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 ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentlewoman from South 
Carolina (Ms. Mace) 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 2 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia), the sponsor of this bill.
  Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for bringing 
this bill forward, a bill that is literally very important, not just to 
the Guillen family but to so many constituents in my district.
  I also recognize that we are in the midst of celebrating the 1-year 
anniversary of Vanessa Guillen's death.
  Vanessa was one of my constituents before she was transferred to Fort 
Hood military base for her Army training. She was a rising star before 
her life was tragically cut short.
  As Members of Congress, we have the moral obligation to honor 
Vanessa's memory and enact change that will end violence in our 
military installations.
  Her story has captivated Americans of all backgrounds. It brought 
much-needed attention to sexual assault in the military, and it has led 
to changes being implemented at Fort Hood and at military bases 
throughout the Nation and, in fact, the world.
  I will not rest until there is justice for Vanessa Guillen and her 
family. There is still much work that will need to be done. But the 
naming of a post office in her memory this year of her first 
anniversary would be but a small gesture on the part of this Congress 
in naming a post office after her to memorialize her work and her 
legacy.
  Ms. MACE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Houston native and Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen was 
stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. In April 2020, she was reported missing 
from her unit.
  Tragically, her body was found 2 months later along the Leon River 
near Fort Hood. It is believed Specialist Guillen was killed by a 
fellow soldier at Fort Hood who had been harassing her and stalking 
her.
  Specialist Guillen's death spurred a national policy conversation 
about the way in which sexual harassment claims have been handled by 
the military.
  I strongly support this postal-naming bill, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute this naming of a 
Houston post office after Vanessa Guillen and to congratulate my 
colleague, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, whose constituent Vanessa was, 
for her leadership in recognizing the importance of the life and legacy 
of Vanessa Guillen. She was a hero in life and a hero in death.
  As the story is told, all of her life she wanted to be in the United 
States Army, and she was an impeccable member of the United States 
military. Her tragic story is not one that she deserved, the violent 
death, the sexual assault, the lack of oversight, the lack of knowledge 
and investigation and process that would have really saved her life.
  She did her duty. She made those in positions of power aware of the 
journey and the trials and tribulations that she was facing. Yet, her 
life was lost but not her legacy, not her story, and not the response 
that has come about through the United States Congress. And that will 
continue.
  As I heard my colleague say, she will not rest until Vanessa Guillen 
gets justice. This is one step of honor for all little girls to know 
what a brave and wonderful young woman she was and to be able to say to 
her family that we will never forget her story.
  I honor her tonight; I honor her legacy; I honor her bravery; and I 
honor her story.
  What are we to say to the young girls who seek to be part of the 
United States military and to fight and stand for their country? Yes, 
they can model their lives after the service given by Vanessa Guillen.
  I thank her, brave that she was and, yes, a servant of the people of 
the United States. I thank her, and I salute her.
  Congratulations for this post office to her family and her community 
and to Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, in the interest of 
time, I wish to be associated with the words of my colleagues in honor 
of Vanessa Guillen. I thank my colleague, Sylvia Garcia, for putting 
this important legislation forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 224, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5302 Galveston 
Road in Houston, Texas, as the ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office 
Building.''
  Ms. Vanessa Guillen was born to the parents of immigrants and grew up 
in Houston, Texas. In high school, she was a stand-out athlete and 
graduated in the top 15 percent of her class.
  At a young age, Ms. Guillen knew that she wanted to serve her country 
in the United States Army. In June 2018, she joined the Army and 
trained as a 91F, Small Arms and Artillery Repairer. Tragically at the 
age of 20, Private First Class Guillen was killed while serving at Fort 
Hood leaving a hole in the hearts of her family and the community. 
Private First Class Guillen was posthumously promoted to the rank of 
Specialist on July 1, 2020.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of 
this young woman by naming the Post Office at 5302 Galveston Road in 
Houston, Texas, as the ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building.''
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 224.
  Mr. Speaker, if there are no further speakers, I am prepared to 
close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MACE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for giving a voice to 
thousands of women who don't have one with this postal-naming bill 
tonight. I support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 224, 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. 224.
  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. CLYDE. 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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