[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3556-H3557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER DAVID FITZGERALD POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6073) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 9925 Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
as the ``Sergeant Christopher David Fitzgerald Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 6073
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER DAVID FITZGERALD POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 9925 Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant
Christopher David Fitzgerald 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 ``Sergeant Christopher David Fitzgerald
Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
General Leave
Mr. GROTHMAN. 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
gentleman from Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would name a
post office in Philadelphia for Sergeant Christopher David Fitzgerald,
a Temple University police officer who was killed in the line of duty
in north Philadelphia in February of 2023.
Officer Fitzgerald was a native of Philadelphia who enrolled in the
Philadelphia Police Academy in 2017 and went on to serve the
Philadelphia Housing Authority and the sheriff's department.
In 2021, he brought his service to Temple University and was
recognized a year later as the Officer of the Year for his work
protecting the Temple community.
I support naming a post office in the memory of Officer Fitzgerald
and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in very strong support of H.R. 6073. I would be delighted at
this point to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania (Mr. Boyle) for any remarks he might choose to make.
Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, my bill, H.R. 6073, honors
the life of Sergeant Christopher Fitzgerald, a constituent who was
tragically killed in the line of duty on February 19, 2023.
My bill designates the postal facility at 9925 Bustleton Avenue in
Philadelphia as the Sergeant Christopher David Fitzgerald Post Office
Building.
[[Page H3557]]
Sergeant Fitzgerald began his service at Temple University as a
police officer in October 2021. Before that, he served with the
Philadelphia County Sheriff's Office for 2\1/2\ years.
He had also served with the Sugar Land Police Department in Texas and
as a Lehigh County corrections officer.
Sergeant Fitzgerald dedicated his life to working in law enforcement
and protecting the people of Philadelphia.
He was a valued member of the Temple University community and was
passionate about serving our city. He was also a dedicated father,
husband, son, brother, and devout Philadelphia sports fan.
He is survived by his wife, Marissa; their four children: Giselle,
Julian, Armani, and Autumn; as well as his mother, father, sister, and
brother.
Sergeant Fitzgerald's commitment to serving the public was absolute,
and he took great pride in his work protecting the Temple University
community and the city of Philadelphia.
His conduct and his life, frankly, provide an extraordinary example
of a life served in commitment to service to others.
The post office will serve as a small but important symbol of our
eternal thanks. When people walk by the post office on Bustleton
Avenue, they will be reminded of the ultimate sacrifice Sergeant
Fitzgerald gave to our city.
While nothing can ever undo this horrible tragedy, I hope with these
small but meaningful acts, we are able to honor one of the most
selfless members of our community who gave his life to protect our city
and honor the family he left behind.
I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this bill to honor a
fallen hero.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RASKIN. Madam Speaker, we urge everyone to support H.R. 6073. I
thank the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania for his thoughtful
remarks.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to
support this bill honoring a local American leader and public servant.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6073.
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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