[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
URSULA ELLEN KENNEDY POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3350) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 340 East 1st Street in Tustin, California, as the
``Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3350
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. URSULA ELLEN KENNEDY POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 340 East 1st Street in Tustin, California,
shall be known and designated as the ``Ursula Ellen Kennedy
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 ``Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Subramanyam) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.
General Leave
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
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 Wisconsin?
There was no objection.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to rename a post office
in Tustin, California, for Ursula Ellen Kennedy.
Ursula and her husband raised three children in Tustin, California.
She was an accomplished author, publishing more than 500 articles and a
book on essays.
In 1978, Ursula became the first woman ever elected to the Tustin
City Council. Twelve years later, Ursula became the first woman elected
to mayor where she served for two terms.
Through her dedicated leadership to the city of Tustin, Ursula
contributed to the creation of senior services, community planning, and
environmental protections, leaving a lasting civic legacy.
She will be remembered for her humor, persistence, and relentless
work ethic.
Mr. Speaker, I call on my House 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 join my colleagues in supporting this bill. I
encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the life of Mayor
Kennedy and her public service for the city of Tustin, California, by
naming this post office after her.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Kim).
Mrs. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3350, to
designate a post office in the city of Tustin, California, as the
Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building.
Ursula Ellen Kennedy made history as the first woman elected to the
Tustin City Council and the first woman to serve as mayor of Tustin.
At a time when few women held public office, Ursula stepped forward
to serve the city she loved. In 1978, she was elected to the Tustin
City Council, and 6 years later, her colleagues chose her to serve as
Tustin's mayor.
However, her story did not begin in city hall. While raising her
family, she became a writer, publishing more than 500 articles and a
book of essays. In her forties, she enrolled in law school, earned her
degree, passed the bar, and built her career as an attorney while
raising her family.
Ursula came to city hall to build a stronger Tustin. When the city's
planning commission was disbanded, she fought to restore it because she
believed residents deserved a voice in their community's future.
She helped guide the development of east Tustin into the neighborhood
we know today as Tustin Ranch. She also championed the senior center
that still serves residents today, helping bring it from vision to
reality. More than three decades later, it remains a lasting testament
to her leadership.
Ursula Kennedy passed away in 2024 at the age of 87. She is
remembered as a woman of vision, humor, fairness, and heart. She leaves
behind a loving family who continues her legacy.
While we can never fully repay leaders like Ursula Kennedy,
dedicating this post office ensures her legacy lives on in the
community she helped build.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Kennedy family for working with me on this
bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3350. May Ursula
Kennedy's life continue to inspire us all.
{time} 1530
Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support me in
passing H.R. 3350, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this
bill naming a post office for Ursula Ellen Kennedy, an author, mother,
and dedicated leader in public service.
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 Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3350.
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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