[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4787-H4788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 2240
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BARRETT LYLE AUSTIN POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 91) to designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 810 South Pendleton Street in
Easley, South Carolina, as the ``Private First Class Barrett Lyle
Austin Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 91
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS BARRETT LYLE AUSTIN POST
OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 810 South Pendleton Street in Easley,
South Carolina, shall be known and designated as the
``Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin 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 ``Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin
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 myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 91 to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 810 South
Pendleton Street, Easley, South Carolina, as the Private First Class
Barrett Lyle Austin Post Office Building.
Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin was born in Easley, South
Carolina, on November 10, 1992. In 2011, he graduated from Pickens High
School. Following his graduation, he enlisted and was sworn in at Fort
Jackson, South Carolina.
[[Page H4788]]
In August 2012, Private First Class Austin graduated basic training
and advanced infantry training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, as a
combat engineer.
Immediately following, he was stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia,
where he was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th
Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. He was later
deployed to Afghanistan in 2013.
On April 17, 2013, Private First Class Austin suffered massive head
and chest trauma after an attack while driving an armored truck on
patrol in Wardak Province, Afghanistan.
On April 21, 2013, at the age of 20, Private First Class Austin
succumbed to his injuries in Landstuhl, Germany. Posthumously, he was
awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Palmetto State Hero award, and the
South Carolina Governor's Award for Extraordinary Sacrifice and
Heroism.
I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of
Private First Class Austin by naming the post office at 810 South
Pendleton Street in Easley, South Carolina, as the Private First Class
Barrett Lyle Austin Post Office Building.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. MACE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from South
Carolina (Mr. Duncan), the sponsor of this bill.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 91 to honor
Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin, a fallen son of South Carolina
who gave his life in service to our country, by designating the Easley,
South Carolina post office the Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin
Post Office Building.
This resolution is cosponsored by the entire South Carolina
delegation and supported by the city of Easley, their city council, as
well as the family of Private First Class Barrett Lyle Austin, his
parents, Curt and Yolanda Austin.
Not long after he won his stripes as a private first class in the
Army, he was driving an armored truck on patrol in the Wardak Province
of Afghanistan when insurgents attacked. A bomb exploded, and he
suffered massive head and chest trauma. Private First Class Austin died
in Germany days later, on April 21, 2013, at the young age of 20.
Private First Class Austin was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart,
Bronze Star, Palmetto State Hero award, and the South Carolina
Governor's Award for Extraordinary Sacrifice and Heroism.
Private First Class Austin was an avid sportsman, a 2011 graduate of
Pickens High School, and a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church in
Easley.
I attended his service, and the pastor said he was awarded the medals
posthumously, but he was awarded the jewels in his crown the minute he
entered the pearly gates. He was that kind of believer.
He was an inspiration to many. He is an American hero and deserves to
be honored for his bravery and sacrifice for our country as a soldier
defending our freedoms and security.
As John 15:13 says, greater love has no one than this, that someone
lay down his life for his friends. Barrett did that.
I thank the committee and Ranking Member Comer for bringing this
measure to the floor and allowing us to honor our fallen heroes. Again,
I urge passage of the legislation.
Ms. MACE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill
honoring Easley, South Carolina native and American hero, Private First
Class Austin. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of
H.R. 91, 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. 91.
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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