[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 10] [House] [Page 14725] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]VICKI COCEANO POST OFFICE BUILDING Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3985) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14900 Southwest 30th Street in Miramar City, Florida, as the ``Vicki Coceano Post Office Building''. The Clerk read as follows: H.R. 3985 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. VICKI COCEANO POST OFFICE BUILDING. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14900 Southwest 30th Street in Miramar, Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Vicki Coceano 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 ``Vicki Coceano Post Office Building''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh). General Leave Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3985. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York? There was no objection. Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of standing on this floor just last week as we proposed four similar naming bills and made the comment that I felt very strongly then, and I continue to believe in that we are indeed fortunate to have the efforts of so many Members of this body from across the country who work so hard and have done such a tremendous job in identifying truly worthy individuals to which and upon whom we can extend this honor of a post office naming. {time} 1515 I would like to pay my compliments and thanks to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), the primary sponsor of this legislation, for keeping us on track in that regard and for helping us to uphold a record in which we all take a great deal of pride. As the Clerk has read, Mr. Speaker, this bill does indeed designate the United States Postal Service building located at 14900 Southwest 30th Street in Miramar, Florida, as the Vicki Coceano Post Office Building. H.R. 3985 was amended by the full committee but only as a result of a necessary technical correction to the address that was originally identified by the Postal Service, and has no other substantive impact upon the bill itself. We are indeed fortunate, as we just heard on the previous piece of legislation, to have the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) with us, and I know that he is prepared to make a very full statement about Ms. Coceano. I do not want to take away from that opportunity, but let me note that as we attempt to do on all of these bills we have looked over the background and the contributions of this very special lady, a special lady, who I understand is affectionately known in her community as Mayor Vicki, which I think speaks volumes about the affection and the respect of those who know her best and how they view this very, very unique individual. As a resident of South Florida for some 40 years, I understand that is a fairly remarkable achievement in a State that benefits from the migration of many people from my State, for example. So she has been there for 4 decades contributing to her community, as her nickname suggests, serving in public office and serving in a distinguished way, but clearly her contributions extend far beyond that of running for mayor or some other public position. She has been a contributor, a volunteer and a doer in a wide range of activities that have certainly benefited her community. But through such efforts as on the White House Conference on Aging and others, she has not limited her scope and her influence to the wonderful community of Miramar but has attempted to serve this entire nation. So it is with a great deal of pride that I rise today to put forward this bill and to commend, as I said, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and the entire Florida delegation who have joined in the cosponsoring of the bill, and I urge all of our colleagues to join us in supporting this initiative. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) for his warm and generous comment. I am deeply appreciative. Additionally, I would like to thank our full committee chairman, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), for assisting my office in expediting this matter before the end of this portion of our session. I would also like to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) again for giving me the privilege of going forward today in this regard, as well as the ranking member, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), who has been extremely helpful to us. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3985. I introduced this bill earlier in the year to name a post office in my hometown of Miramar, Florida, for Vicki Coceano. The city commission of the City of Miramar passed a resolution overwhelmingly supportive of this measure before I undertook any action at all. Additionally, my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutsch), in whose district this facility actually exists, was also extremely supportive. For me, it becomes a moment of personal privilege. I am now in my fourth term here in the United States Congress. And I have had the good fortune of doing a significant number of things on behalf of the people that I represent in the district that I am privileged to serve. And I would hope on behalf of this Nation and indeed the entire Earth that some of my actions have been helpful. But none gives me any greater pride than to offer this measure today for indeed as is the case with a lot of Members who come forward with legislation, today it is a point of real privilege for me because Vicki Coceano is a person that I have known for 38 years. And I have known her to be more than forthright as a citizen. In the days of segregation, it was Vicki Coceano that spoke out frequently with reference to matters of this kind. So, Mr. Speaker, and I would also say to my dear friends in South Florida, this honor is altogether fitting and appropriate. In the few minutes that I have, let me say a little more about a wonderful woman in South Florida, Vicki Coceano, that the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) so rightfully brought up, Mayor Vicki. Mayor Vicki, as she is affectionately known by some, Vicki by some of us, and has preferred it that way, has resided in South Florida for more than 40 years and has generously given both her time and talents throughout that period to make Broward County, which its largest city is Fort Lauderdale but its proudest city is Miramar, during that period of time to make it a better place to live and work. She was elected to serve as a Miramar city commissioner in 1977 and elected mayor in 1989, serving the people of Miramar for more than 20 years, indeed all of its existence. There is one who has departed, former Mayor Calhoun, who I know is looking down on us today as we take this action and is proud of the fact that Vicki is being a recipient of this honor. Vicki has also served on many boards at the Federal, State and county levels, including the Blue Ribbon Committee for Broward County Schools, the Area Agency on Aging and the White House Conference on Aging. Above all, Vicki has always been interested in our Nation's youth, recognizing that they are tomorrow's leaders and that our future rests in their hands. She spearheaded a successful fund-raising campaign to build a youth center and has since been honored with a Spirit of Life Humanitarian Award. Though struggling with illness at this time, Mayor Vicki is still very much involved with the planning and zoning board; serves on the executive committee of the Area Agency on Aging and is a volunteer at the Broward County Humana Hospital. For Vicki Coceano, civil service is part of a life blended with optimism, fervency and genuine care for those she serves. Her commitment has both shaped her legacy and the life of Miramar's residents. Coceano was recently awarded the Spirit of Life Humanitarian Award at a banquet in which the proceeds will benefit the Mayor Vicki Coceano Cancer Research Fellowship at the National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute. In addition, her name brandishes both the Broward County Hall of Fame and the Broward County Women's Hall of Fame. The new post office in Miramar will service the transactions and connections people forge each day. If we can add Mayor Vicki's name to this building, it would certainly be fitting for a leader who understands the power of communicating the language of change and articulating its power through her actions, commitments and spirit. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that all 22 of my Florida colleagues have cosponsored this bill with me, and I am equally proud that Senator Bob Graham has introduced an identical bill in the Senate. Clearly, Floridians know and wish to honor Vicki Coceano. I am delighted to see this honor bestowed today upon a delightful woman that has served us so much. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, let me again thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for bringing to us the name of an individual, as we heard in some detail, who really does bespeak what is good and right about this country and, more importantly, good and right about its people. We are indebted to him and to all of his colleagues who joined with him in supporting it. Finally, I would urge of all of our Members here today to support us in passing this very worthy bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3985, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14900 Southwest 30th Street in Miramar, Florida, as the `Vicki Coceano Post Office Building'.''. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________