[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 199 (Wednesday, December 21, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H9933-H9934]
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 (S. 4411) 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:

                                S. 4411

       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 gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. 
Comer) 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 3 minutes 
to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia), the sponsor of the House 
companion bill.
  Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Maloney for all 
the support she has given me in getting this bill to the floor. It 
looks like we are almost there.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give my strong support for S. 4411, the 
Vanessa Guillen postal facility renaming bill.
  I thank my Senate counterparts for their work on this important 
legislation and all of my colleagues in the Texas delegation for 
cosponsoring this legislation.
  I am proud to champion and sponsor this bill in the House, and I 
encourage all of my colleagues to support its swift passage today.
  Vanessa was born to the parents of immigrants and grew up in my 
district in Houston. She was a standout athlete in high school, and 
from a young age, she knew she wanted to serve her country in the U.S. 
Army. She would tell people: I am going to join the Army.
  She participated in the ROTC in her high school and knew that Army 
life was for her. She enlisted right after high school graduation and 
was eventually assigned to Fort Hood military base in Texas.
  She was a rising star before her life was tragically cut short in 
April 2020 at the young age of 20 years old.
  Her story has brought much-needed attention to address sexual 
harassment and sexual assault in the military. Her story has led to 
changes being implemented at Fort Hood and other military installations 
throughout the country and throughout the world.
  Mr. Speaker, we can't bring Vanessa back, but we can continue her 
legacy by renaming the post office close to her

[[Page H9934]]

high school in her honor. This building will serve as a reminder to the 
community of her sacrifice and dedication to our country. I am proud to 
champion and sponsor this bill. It has already passed the House earlier 
this Congress on a bipartisan basis.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask for a ``yes'' vote on S. 4411. Let's continue 
Vanessa's legacy. Let's continue fighting for justice for Vanessa.
  Mr. COMER. 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 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.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this postal naming bill honoring 
Vanessa Guillen's life and legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage passage, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I join my 
colleagues in honoring the life of this young woman by naming a post 
office in Houston, Texas, after her.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of S. 4411, 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, S. 4411.
  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.

                          ____________________