[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 9, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H5098-H5099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BRIGADIER GENERAL FREDERICK R. LOPEZ POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 2175) to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 130 South Patterson Avenue in Santa Barbara,
California, as the ``Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez Post Office
Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2175
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. BRIGADIER GENERAL FREDERICK R. LOPEZ POST OFFICE
BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 130 South Patterson Avenue in Santa
Barbara, California, shall be known and designated as the
``Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez 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 ``Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez
Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Gill) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. GILL of Texas. 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 Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. GILL of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would rename a
post office in Santa Barbara, California, for Brigadier General
Frederick R. Lopez.
Brigadier General Frederick Lopez served in the U.S. Marine Corps for
31 years, both in Active Duty and in the Marine Corps Reserve. As a
result of his service, he has been awarded numerous decorations and
medals.
Beyond his military service, Lopez served 7 years for McDonnell
Douglas Aircraft Company as a flight test engineer and 29 years for
Raytheon as an electronic warfare engineer and director of engineering.
Lopez has been an active member for his community, serving on the
board of directors at the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation in
Santa Barbara and has served with the National Academies of Science and
Engineering.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2175.
During his 31 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Brigadier General
Frederick R. Lopez was deployed to South Vietnam during the Vietnam war
to
[[Page H5099]]
lead infantry and sniper units and later held leadership positions,
including Deputy Commanding General for the 1st Marine Expeditionary
Force.
He earned numerous honors, including the Navy Distinguished Service
Medal and Bronze Star with a Combat V, marking a distinguished military
career.
In addition to his military achievements, Brigadier General Lopez
worked in aerospace and defense, served on national security boards,
and remained actively engaged in veterans' advocacy activities.
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Congressman Carbajal, for
advocating on behalf of his constituents and bringing this bill to the
floor. I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of
Brigadier General Lopez by naming a post office in Santa Barbara,
California, after him.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1740
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Carbajal).
Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage every Member of
this Chamber to support this legislation honoring one of Santa Barbara
County's own, Brigadier General Frederick R. Lopez.
My bill would name the South Patterson Avenue post office in
recognition of General Lopez's distinguished legacy of service and his
dedication to our country, serving in the United States Marine Corps
for over 30 years, both in Active Duty and the Reserves.
General Lopez was born in Santa Barbara as the oldest of six siblings
and spent his childhood between the communities of Santa Barbara and
Lompoc, and later in Goleta.
After graduating from Lompoc High School, he attended Cal Poly San
Luis Obispo, where he earned a degree in mathematics.
Upon graduation, General Lopez joined the United States Marine Corps
in 1967. Soon after, he was deployed overseas for the Vietnam war,
serving as an infantry rifle platoon commander and a regimental sniper
platoon commander, as well. His service earned him both a Bronze Star
and a Combat Action Ribbon, as well as the respect of the marines he
served with.
Over his 30 years of service, General Lopez served in a number of
critical leadership roles, including as a company commander of the Air
Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, commanding general for the 4th Marine
Division, and deputy commanding general of the 1st Expeditionary Force.
He is a distinguished graduate of the NATO Joint Warfare Officers
Course, the Naval War College Strategy and Policy Course, the Armed
Forces Work Colleges National Security Course, the Senior Reserve
Components Officers Course at the U.S. Army War College, and five other
professional military schools.
Outside of his military service, General Lopez has been an active
member of his community, serving on the board of directors of many
organizations, including the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation in
Santa Barbara. He has also been a member of the Military Order of the
World Wars for over 20 years. He was elected the 90th National
Commander-in-Chief for the MOWW in 2020 and serves as the local Colonel
George C. Woolsey Chapter commander.
General Lopez's service is beyond worthy of recognition by Congress.
He represents the best of our servicemembers, and his leadership will
inspire others to continue in his footsteps for years and decades to
come, serving our Nation and the military families of the central
coast.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and
thanking General Lopez for his exemplary service to our country by
passing my bill to name the South Patterson Avenue post office in his
honor.
Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge the
passage of H.R. 2175. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bill,
naming the post office for Brigadier General Frederick Lopez, a highly
decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
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 Texas (Mr. Gill) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2175.
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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