[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 179 (Wednesday, December 4, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H6331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1445
ARMY 1ST LT. JOHN KUULEI KAUHAIHAO POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 8909) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 82-6110 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, Hawaii,
as the ``Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8909
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ARMY 1ST LT. JOHN KUULEI KAUHAIHAO POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 82-6110 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook,
Hawaii, shall be known and designated as the ``Army 1st Lt.
John Kuulei Kauhaihao 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 ``Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post
Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Langworthy) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-
Cortez) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. LANGWORTHY. 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 New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of this bill, which would rename a post office in
Hawaii for First Lieutenant John Kuulei Kauhaihao.
Mr. Kauhaihao exhibited exceptional heroism while serving under the
1st Cavalry Division against armed forces in the Republic of Vietnam. I
support naming a post office in memory of First Lieutenant Kauhaihao,
and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8909.
I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Tokuda) for any
remarks she may have.
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in strong support of H.R.
8909.
In January of this year, The Wall That Heals, a replica of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial on The National Mall made its inaugural visit
to the island of Hawaii. It was there in front of West Panel 18 that I
met Shirley Kauhaihao, the widow and high school sweetheart of Army
First Lieutenant John Kuulei Kauhaihao. She and her daughters were
putting flowers and a lei in front of line 40 where his name is etched.
On September 5, 1969, at the age of 27, Lieutenant Kauhaihao, or
Lieutenant K, as he was affectionately called, was leading his men on a
reconnaissance in force operation in Tay Ninh province when his platoon
came under enemy fire. With extraordinary courage, he launched over 30
hand grenades in 15 minutes at enemy bunkers while simultaneously
drawing fire on himself, so that his men could sight enemy gunners.
Eventually, he ordered the withdrawal of his platoon and crawled over
100 meters of fire-swept terrain, dragging vital equipment and helping
wounded soldiers to safety. While they moved to rejoin their company,
Lieutenant K saw an enemy squad moving up on his platoon and quickly
moved to engage. He was mortally wounded that day. It was the fourth
birthday of his son, Charles.
For his bravery and sacrifice, Lieutenant K was posthumously awarded
the Distinguished Service Cross, our Nation's second highest combat
award. His fearless and selfless actions at the cost of his life
reflect great honor upon himself, his family, and the ``ahupua'a''
``land division'' of Honaunau where he was born and where he lived.
Naming the post office in the community where generations of
Lieutenant K's family lived and still live is more than just honoring
and celebrating a fallen ``kama'aina'' ``local resident'' warrior who
gave his life for our Nation.
It is a tribute to an entire generation of men and women who served
in Vietnam and who came back to a country that took far too long to
honor their service and that is still trying to make this right.
It is a reminder of the incredible sacrifices made by those who serve
in uniform and the loved ones waiting at home--past, present, and
future--to whom we are forever indebted and who allow us to live in
freedom today.
That day in Hilo, standing next to Shirley as she pointed out
Lieutenant K's name on the wall to me, I couldn't help but feel like he
had finally come home.
Mr. Speaker, 55 years have passed since Lieutenant K's death, and his
widow, children, and generations of their ``mo'opuna''
``grandchildren'' have continued to live in service to their community,
the island of Hawaii, and the State of Hawaii.
Passing H.R. 8909 to designate the United States Post Office in
Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the Army First Lieutenant John Kuulei
Kauhaihao Post Office is a tribute to him and the legacy of service
that lives on through the lives he saved and through his ``family''
``ohana.''
Every day when Shirley heads into town or goes to volunteer at the
Greenwell Botanical Gardens, she passes by that post office. I hope
seeing John's name each time she drives by will make her feel like he
is a little closer to home and that he will never be forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair and ranking member of the committee
for their work on this bill.
Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am
prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I also have no further speakers. I
urge the passage of H.R. 8909 and yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored and proud to support this
legislation to honor a true American hero, First Lieutenant Kauhaihao.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Langworthy) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8909.
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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