[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9663-H9664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS POST OFFICE

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7873) to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 400 Southern Avenue 
Southeast in Washington, District of Columbia, as the ``District of 
Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7873

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

     SECTION 1. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS 
                   POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 400 Southern Avenue Southeast in 
     Washington, District of Columbia, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``District of Columbia Servicemembers and 
     Veterans 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 ``District of Columbia Servicemembers and 
     Veterans Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentlewoman from New Mexico 
(Ms. Herrell) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may

[[Page H9664]]

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.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7873, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 400 Southern 
Avenue Southeast in Washington, District of Columbia, as the ``District 
of Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office.''
  Our Nation's veterans enlist knowing full well that they may be 
injured or killed in service to our country.
  According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are almost 
30,000 veterans living in the District of Columbia, with just over 
22,000 of them being wartime veterans.
  Unfortunately, these brave individuals fight for a country that does 
not afford them the same right to representation enjoyed by other 
Americans.
  This is an oversight that must be remedied.
  It is our responsibility to remember and honor their sacrifices. This 
bill will ensure that their service is never forgotten.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the sacrifices of 
our veterans by naming a post office in the Nation's capital after 
them.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District 
of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the sponsor of the bill.
  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Maloney for marking up 
my bill and helping to bring it to the floor.
  This bill would name the post office at 400 Southern Avenue Southeast 
in the District of Columbia as the District of Columbia Servicemembers 
and Veterans Post Office. While it is important that our country honor 
all servicemembers and veterans, our country owes a special debt of 
gratitude to D.C. servicemembers and veterans, who serve or have served 
their country without voting representation in Congress or full local 
self-government. It is remarkable that they serve a country that denies 
them basic democratic rights, rights they have often been sent overseas 
to defend.
  D.C. residents have served in every war since the Revolutionary War. 
There are approximately 30,000 veterans who live in the District of 
Columbia, and almost 200,000 D.C. residents have served in the military 
since World War I. This bill is one way to recognize their service and 
sacrifice.
  635 D.C. residents were casualties of World War I, a casualty figure 
greater than that of three States during that war. 3,575 D.C. residents 
were casualties of World War II, a casualty figure greater than that of 
four States during that war. 547 D.C. residents were casualties of the 
Korean war, a casualty figure greater than that of eight States during 
that war. 243 D.C. residents were casualties of the Vietnam war, a 
casualty figure greater than that of 10 States during that war.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Ms. HERRELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7873, which honors all 
servicemembers and veterans who reside in the District of Columbia.
  There are approximately 31,000 veterans who currently live in the 
District and more than 200,000 D.C. residents who have served in the 
military since World War I.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill 
honoring American patriots from the Nation's capital city, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 7873, 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. 7873.
  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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