[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALEXANDER JEFFERSON POST OFFICE

  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 3640) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 155 South Main Street in Mount Clemens, Michigan, as 
the ``Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3640

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

     SECTION 1. LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALEXANDER JEFFERSON POST 
                   OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 155 South Main Street in Mount Clemens, 
     Michigan, shall be known and designated as the ``Lieutenant 
     Colonel Alexander Jefferson Post Office''.
       (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 ``Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson 
     Post Office''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. LaTurner) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LaTURNER. 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 Kansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3640, which names a post office 
in Mount Clemens, Michigan, for Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson.
  Jefferson served in the military during World War II, completing 
combat training at Selfridge Field in Mount Clemens and pilot training 
at the Tuskegee Army Airfield.
  During his time with the Tuskegee Airmen, Jefferson was shot down 
over France and captured by Nazi ground troops. He was imprisoned in 
German-occupied Poland before being freed by General George Patton's 
U.S. Third Army.
  Jefferson returned to Michigan where he became a U.S. Postal Service 
letter carrier, earned a teaching certificate, and obtained a master's 
degree in education from Wayne State University.
  Jefferson taught elementary school science in Detroit, was appointed 
assistant principal, and retired in 1979 after 31 years of service to 
Detroit Public Schools.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3640.
  Lieutenant Jefferson was born in 1921 in Detroit, Michigan.
  After graduating from Chadsey High School and earning his bachelor's 
degree in chemistry and biology from Clark College, he was accepted 
into the Aviation Cadet Training Program in the U.S. Army Corps. He 
completed combat training in Michigan and pilot training at the 
Tuskegee Army Airfield.
  Jefferson served the cause of democracy and freedom faithfully in 
World War II in our struggle against fascism and totalitarianism in 
Europe.
  As a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, he was shot down and captured by 
Nazi troops. He suffered great hardship as a prisoner of war in Nazi-
occupied Poland until he was finally freed by General George Patton's 
Third Army, which was busy liberating people from fascists all over 
Europe.
  When he returned home from war, Jefferson took a job as a letter 
carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He later earned his teaching 
certificate and a master's degree in education at Wayne State.
  He taught elementary school science in Detroit, was appointed an 
assistant principal, and in 1979 retired with 31 years of service in 
public education, as well as all of his years fighting for America and 
for freedom.
  I urge my colleagues to honor the life and service of Lieutenant 
Colonel Jefferson by naming this post office in Mount Clemens, 
Michigan, after him.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I encourage my 
colleagues to support this commonsense legislation and yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. LaTurner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 3640.
  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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