[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9664-H9665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CORPORAL HUNTER LOPEZ MEMORIAL POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7988) to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 79125 Corporate Centre 
Drive in La Quinta, California, as the ``Corporal Hunter Lopez Memorial 
Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7988

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

     SECTION 1. CORPORAL HUNTER LOPEZ MEMORIAL POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 79125 Corporate Centre Drive in La Quinta, 
     California, shall be known and designated as the ``Corporal 
     Hunter Lopez Memorial 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 ``Corporal Hunter Lopez Memorial Post 
     Office Building''.

  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 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 yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7988, to designate the 
facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 79125 Corporate Centre 
Drive in La Quinta, California, as the Corporal Hunter Lopez Memorial 
Post Office Building.
  Corporal Lopez was born in Palm Springs, California, on January 15, 
1999. After graduating from La Quinta High School, Corporal Lopez 
joined the Marine Corps and served for 4 years. His first 3 years were 
spent with the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, 5th Platoon before 
he joined the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Golf Company.
  With the 2nd Battalion, Corporal Lopez served in Operation Allies 
Refuge, contributing to the largest airlift in history and aiding in 
the evacuation of over 120,000 of our fellow Americans, allies, and 
Afghans.
  On August 26, 2021, Corporal Lopez was stationed at the airport in 
Kabul, where he and his fellow Marines successfully pulled children to 
safety before a fatal explosion. Corporal Hunter Lopez and 12 other 
marines were killed in the explosion.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
bravery of Corporal Lopez by naming a post office in La Quinta, 
California, after him.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1515

  Ms. HERRELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7988, which honors 
Corporal Hunter Lopez.
  Corporal Lopez was born in Palm Springs, California, to parents who 
were employed by the Riverside County Sheriff. He grew up to join the 
U.S. Marine Corps.
  His first 3 years were spent with the Fleet Antiterrorism Security 
Team Company A, 5th Platoon. His fourth and final year in the Marines 
was spent with the 2nd Battalion 1st Marine Division, Golf Company, 1st 
Platoon, 3rd Squad.
  It was just last year, while serving with the 2nd Battalion, that 
Corporal Lopez was involved in Operation Allies Refuge, which involved 
the evacuation of 120,000 of our fellow Americans, allies, and Afghans 
from Afghanistan.

[[Page H9665]]

  On August 26, 2021, Corporal Lopez was stationed at the Kabul 
airport, where crowds were growing increasingly desperate. Corporal 
Lopez spotted two young girls trapped under the weight of a fleeing 
crowd, about to be crushed. He helped pull the two girls to safety 
right as a bomb exploded at Abbey Gate.
  Corporal Lopez and 12 other servicemembers were tragically killed 
that day.
  I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this bill honoring a 
war hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for those abroad who yearned 
to enjoy the freedoms and liberty we all cherish in America.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 7988, 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. 7988.
  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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