[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9668-H9669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              JESUS ANTONIO COLLAZOS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 7082) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 2200 North George Mason Drive in 
Arlington, Virginia, as the ``Jesus Antonio Collazos Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7082

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

     SECTION 1. JESUS ANTONIO COLLAZOS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2200 North George Mason Drive in 
     Arlington, Virginia, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Jesus Antonio Collazos 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 ``Jesus Antonio Collazos 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 rise today in support of H.R. 7082, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2200 North 
George Mason Drive in Arlington, Virginia, as the ``Jesus Antonio 
Collazos Post Office Building.''
  Mr. Collazos was born on April 3, 1952, in Cali, Colombia. Despite 
the adversity he faced, he became the first in his family to graduate 
from high school.
  After high school his mother and sisters decided to immigrate to the 
United States, but he elected to stay in Colombia and pursue a degree 
in accounting.
  In 1978, Mr. Collazos decided to follow his family to Washington 
D.C., in hopes of making the ``American Dream'' his reality. He worked 
a job in maintenance where he suffered a horrible accident.
  After his accident, he got an accounting position at the Channel Inn 
and later the Sheraton Hotel. Motivated by his own struggles, he helped 
countless immigrants find work and housing during this time.
  He eventually grew unhappy with accounting and pursued a career at 
the U.S. Postal Service, where he made countless connections with the 
clients on his route.
  Unfortunately, at the start of the pandemic, he was diagnosed with an 
aggressive form of cancer and COVID-19. He passed away on June 26, 
2020.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the sacrifices of 
Mr. Collazos by naming a Post Office in Arlington, Virginia, after him.
  Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 7082.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Beyer), chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.
  Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I thank chairwoman Maloney for all of her 
leadership.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of my bill, H.R. 
7082, which would designate the post office on 2200 North George Mason 
Drive in Arlington as the Jesus Antonio Collazos Post Office Building.
  Jesus was the epitome of the American Dream.

[[Page H9669]]

  He was born in 1953 in Colombia and grew up in a modest, hardworking 
family. Even at a young age, he was passionate about education and 
wanted to help his community and did so by helping teach literacy while 
still a high school student.
  After graduating high school, Jesus attended the University of de San 
Buenaventura Cali to pursue a degree in accounting.
  In 1978, Jesus immigrated to Washington, D.C., to reunite with his 
mother and sisters in the hopes of seeking a better future.
  In 1980, Jesus married the love of his life, Luz Miriam, who is here 
today with their children, Vanessa and Michael.
  After working in accounting positions at various hotels, he applied 
to work for the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier, where 
he would embark on a 25-year career.
  He made an impression early on and was given a temporary assignment 
in leadership which turned into a permanent offer. He ultimately turned 
it down to remain a letter carrier.
  This turned out to be the right decision, as Jesus preferred to spend 
his days outdoors, building relationships on his route, and connecting 
with the neighborhood. He fell in love with that neighborhood so much 
that he waited patiently for the right opportunity to buy his own 
family home there. When the day came, his affable personality gave him 
an advantage over other buyers. So much so that the seller accepted his 
offer despite it being the lowest of all bids.
  In 1999, Jesus and Luz moved their family from an apartment to a new 
single-family home on his mail route becoming his own mailman.
  Motivated by a desire to spend more time with his family and 
particularly his friends, he retired in February 2019.
  At the start of the pandemic, he discovered a lump on the side of his 
neck that turned out to be an aggressive cancer. On Monday, May 4, 
2020, during his first oncology appointment, he was sent to the 
emergency room for COVID. He spent the next two weeks in ICU and 
suffered a stroke. And on June 6, Jesus took his last breath.
  He was one of millions of Americans taken from us by COVID-19, but 
Jesus was also a treasure to our local community. Jesus will be 
remembered for his infectious personality, outstanding work ethic, and 
loyalty to his loved ones.
  After his death, the Collazos family immediately began to receive an 
outpouring of love via messages, calls, cards, and meals from countless 
family members and friends. An outdoor memorial service for Jesus was 
held on June 26, 2020, where many came together to honor his memory.
  The SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield an 
additional 1 minute to the gentleman.
  Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman.
  As a testament to Jesus' impact, his U.S. Postal Service coworkers 
opened his outdoor memorial service with a mail truck parade.
  We were lucky to have Jesus Collazos in our community. May his life 
be a reminder of the positive impact immigrants, new Americans, have on 
this country. Please join me, the Collazos family, and the Arlington 
community in honoring Jesus' memory by voting ``yes.''

                              {time}  1545

  Ms. HERRELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7082, which honors 
Jesus Antonio Collazos, a former U.S. Postal Service employee.
  Mr. Collazos immigrated to the United States from Colombia in 1978 
with hopes of making the American Dream a reality.
  Jesus had a 25-year career with the Postal Service, most of which was 
spent at a post office near D.C. in Arlington, Virginia.
  He made a good impression early on in his career and was offered a 
leadership position. However, he ultimately turned down the position, 
continuing his work as a letter carrier because he preferred to spend 
his time outdoors and foster relationships with the people on his 
delivery route.
  It is fitting that the post office on George Mason Drive in 
Arlington, Virginia, be renamed for Mr. Collazos.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill 
honoring a dedicated local public servant, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 7082, 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. 7082.
  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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