[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3562-H3563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                GEORGE HENRY WHITE POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 7607) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US 
Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape 
May, New Jersey, as the ``George Henry White Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7607

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

     SECTION 1. GEORGE HENRY WHITE POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner 
     of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of 
     Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``George Henry White 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 ``George Henry White 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. 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 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Van Drew).
  Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would find it difficult to find someone else who would 
be more appropriate in having this post office named after him than Dr. 
White. He is a great man.
  Under really difficult and trying circumstances, he became a 
physician, and he took care of so many people in that role as well, but 
it wasn't enough just for him to succeed and become a physician. He 
also decided that he wanted to get involved in banking and help people, 
especially African Americans, to be successful, to have successful 
businesses, to be able to move forward, to be able to compete. He 
wanted to teach them, and did, how to bank and be a part of what was 
the banking administration and services.
  That still wasn't enough for him. He founded a town in the great 
State of New Jersey in the southern part of the State known as 
Whitesboro. The entire town is named after him because of the good work 
that he did and because of what he accomplished. That town today is a 
successful, thriving town, part of Middle Township in Cape May County, 
New Jersey.
  It still wasn't enough for Dr. White. He became a Member of Congress 
and was the last African-American Member of Congress until the mid-20th 
century.
  When one thinks of somebody who represents American exceptionalism 
and Americanism, someone who was willing to work so hard to make sure 
that he could continue to be a role model for what he wanted to achieve 
and what he wanted to do, not for himself, but for the community, for 
everyone, regardless of whomever they were and wherever they came from, 
they may think of him. He was a great man.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time that this post office be named after him to 
be part of the town that is named after him. It is only appropriate. He 
is worthy.
  Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7607, renaming a post office 
in Cape May County, New Jersey, after a dedicated public servant, 
George Henry White, who served as one of the last African-American 
Congressmen in the Reconstruction era from 1897 to 1901, before the so-
called redemption took place and a series of racist, white supremacist 
laws were passed, wiping out the Black vote.
  White is recognized locally for his contributions in establishing the 
town of Whitesboro. He was an early member

[[Page H3563]]

of the NAACP, a civil rights activist, an educator, a lawyer, and a 
banker.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join us in honoring the 
life of Dr. White and his important service by naming a post office in 
the county of Cape May, New Jersey, after him.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage my House 
colleagues to support this bill honoring a great American and a great 
public servant.
  Mr. Speaker, 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. 7607.
  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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