[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H2847-H2848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1530
JAMES J. HOWARD POST OFFICE
Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 1431) to designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 2407 State Route 71, Suite 1, in Spring Lake,
New Jersey, as the ``James J. Howard Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1431
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. JAMES J. HOWARD POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 2407 State Route 71, Suite 1, in Spring
Lake, New Jersey, shall be known and designated as the
``James J. Howard 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 ``James J. Howard Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Gill) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) 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. Mr. Speaker, 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 Spring Lake, New Jersey, for Congressman James J.
Howard.
Howard served our country in the U.S. Navy before beginning a career
in education, where he worked his way up from teacher to acting
principal in Wall Township, New Jersey.
In 1964, Howard was elected to represent New Jersey's Third
Congressional District. During his time in Congress, Congressman Howard
became known for his strong advocacy for his district and the
environment.
As chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee,
Congressman Howard championed important legislation related to highway
safety and antidrunk driving.
He passed away in 1988 and is survived by his wife, Marlene, and his
three daughters.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today also in support of H.R. 1431, introduced by
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) to name the post office in
Spring Lake, New Jersey, after Mr. James Howard.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Virginia for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill to name the post office in
Spring Lake, New Jersey, after my predecessor and mentor, Congressman
Jim Howard. I thank Representative Smith and the rest of the New Jersey
delegation for cosponsoring the bill.
As Representative of New Jersey's Third District for over 20 years,
from 1965 to 1988, Jim Howard was a strong force in Congress. Through
his work as the chairman of the Public Works and Transportation
Committee, he wrote and passed legislation that genuinely saved
thousands of lives: laws to tackle drunk driving, passenger safety, and
the first-ever 55-mile-per-hour speed limit on Federal highways.
Jim also came up with his Howard Plan, which was the very first time
mass transit and highway legislation were combined into one surface
transportation bill, because he recognized that rebuilding our
infrastructure wouldn't just improve people's lives, it would mean
economic growth and jobs throughout the country.
[[Page H2848]]
For his home State, he helped secure crucial Federal funding for
beach restoration, the rebuilding of the Barnegat Inlet, and the
electrification of the North Jersey Coast Rail Line, all projects that
New Jerseyans still benefit from to this day.
While Jim was a strong champion for revitalizing our Nation's
infrastructure, he was an even stronger force for New Jersey's coastal
communities and environmental protection. Through major legislation
like the Superfund Act of 1986, the Groundwater Protection Act, and the
Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act, he never forgot that
New Jersey suffered greatly from toxic waste sites, ocean dumping, or
plastic pollution.
He even successfully fought back against the Presidential veto by
sponsoring and passing the 1987 Clean Water Act, which helped create
the Clean Water State Revolving Fund that still provides millions of
dollars in funding every year for a range of water quality
infrastructure projects across the country.
Now, before his passing, Jim resided in Spring Lake, New Jersey, with
his wife, who still lives there. Marlene and the rest of Jim's family
were critical to his success as a Congressman. His very first political
campaign in 1964 was run from his kitchen table, using his family's
savings of about $5,000 to run for office.
With Marlene as his campaign manager, his slogan was: ``He cares
about people. It is that simple.'' It really encapsulated Jim's work
and demeanor. Being a Democrat from this part of New Jersey, which was
very conservative at the time, he had to listen to anyone's opinion and
always sought common ground. He never stopped fighting for working-
class people.
It is only right that Jim's important and lasting legacy in New
Jersey and the rest of the country be recognized at his local post
office. This is not being renamed. It never had a name, so it will be
now named for him.
I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill to honor a
great man and Congressman.
Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Madam Speaker, in closing, I thank the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for his comments, and I encourage my
colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to
support this bill naming a post office for Congressman James J. Howard.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Van Duyne). 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. 1431.
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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