[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H5629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LITTLE SAIGON VIETNAM WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL POST OFFICE
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 8057) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 9317 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster, California, as the
``Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8057
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LITTLE SAIGON VIETNAM WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL POST
OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 9317 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster,
California, shall be known and designated as the ``Little
Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial 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 ``Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans
Memorial Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Comer) and the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms.
Stansbury) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
General Leave
Mr. COMER. 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 Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Steel).
Mrs. STEEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge passage of H.R. 8057, my
legislation to designate the U.S. Post Office in Westminster as the
Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office.
This recognition honors our Nation's heroes who sacrificed everything
to serve our country in Vietnam. Their sacrifice will never be
forgotten.
Millions of Americans served in our Armed Forces during the Vietnam
war, and 58,000 American soldiers tragically lost their lives.
It will also be deeply meaningful to the vibrant Vietnamese-American
community I represent in Orange County. They reside in an area known as
Little Saigon, a community which adds great value to our region. The
Vietnamese-American community is deeply patriotic, committed to
American ideals of freedom and opportunity.
Many of my constituents sought refuge in our great country in the
wake of the Communist takeover in Vietnam. They suffered through grave
conditions to make it here, going on to have children and grandchildren
who are growing up in the United States.
This tribute would serve as a permanent reminder of our commitment to
those who served. It also will stand as a beacon of hope to freedom-
seeking people in Vietnam and across the globe.
I am so proud to represent and fight for the Vietnamese-American
community. I love representing this patriotic community in Congress. I
thank the committee and House leadership for working with me to advance
this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Ranking Member Raskin in
support of Congresswoman Steel's bill.
This bill would name a post office in Orange County, California,
known as Little Saigon in honor of the veterans of the Vietnam war.
This is truly a symbolic act.
Little Saigon is home to an estimated 140,000 members of the
Vietnamese community, one of the largest and most vibrant Vietnamese
communities outside of Vietnam and in the United States. Many of its
residents came here to the U.S. during the Vietnam war to build a
better life for themselves.
The Vietnam war has left an indelible mark on our country and the
servicemen and -women who served there. Mr. Speaker, 58,000 soldiers
lost their lives during the war, and many more came home bearing the
physical and emotional, the seen and unseen, scars of the war. Their
sacrifices shall never be forgotten.
It is especially fitting that Representative Steel's bill honors
veterans of a war that so many of the residents of Little Saigon fled
to come to America.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Steel for her courage and for bringing this
bill forward.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 8057, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support
this bill, remembering the sacrifices of Vietnamese Americans during
the Vietnam war. I certainly thank the sponsor of the bill, Mrs. Steel
from California, for her great work on getting this bill through the
House.
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 Kentucky (Mr. Comer) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 8057.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________