[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18476-18477]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             JUDGE HARRY AUGUSTUS COLE POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4450) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 900 East Fayette Street in Baltimore, 
Maryland, as the ``Judge Harry Augustus Cole Post Office Building.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4450

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. JUDGE HARRY AUGUSTUS COLE POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 900 East Fayette Street in Baltimore, 
     Maryland, shall be known and designated as the ``Judge Harry 
     Augustus Cole 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 ``Judge Harry Augustus Cole Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Barr) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barr).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. 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. 4450.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill before us, H.R. 4450, was introduced by the 
distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings). This legislation 
designates the post office located at 900 East Fayette Street in 
Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Judge Harry Augustus Cole Post Office.'' 
H.R. 4450 is cosponsored by the entire House delegation of the State of 
Maryland.
  Harry Augustus Cole was educated in the Baltimore City Public School 
System and graduated from Morgan State University in 1943. He served 
our Nation with distinction during World War II and then graduated from 
the University of Maryland School of Law, after which he practiced 
criminal and civil rights law.
  Judge Cole is a man of many firsts. He was the first African American 
assistant attorney general in Baltimore City, the first African 
American to be elected to the State Senate of Maryland, the first 
chairman of the Maryland Advisory Committee to the United States Civil 
Rights Commission, and the first African American to be named to the 
Maryland Court of Appeals.

[[Page 18477]]

  Mr. Speaker, Judge Cole is most deserving of being honored by having 
a post office named after him in the city to which he has contributed 
so much for so long and where he has spent much of his life.
  I urge our colleagues to support H.R. 4450, and I commend the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for introducing this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4450. This legislation is the 
product of the work of my good friend, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Cummings), who represents both the State of Maryland and the City of 
Baltimore.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the prime sponsor of this legislation, to 
allow him to articulate to the House his reasons to commend it for 
passage.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the gentleman from New York 
(Chairman McHugh) and certainly the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Fattah), the ranking member, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Barr), and 
to all those on the Subcommittee on Postal Service for their support in 
bringing this bill to the floor of the House.
  I believe that persons who have made meaningful contributions to 
society should be recognized. The naming of a postal building in one's 
honor is truly a salute to the accomplishments and public service of an 
individual.
  H.R. 4450 designates the United States Post Office building located 
at 900 East Fayette Street in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Judge Harry 
Augustus Cole Post Office Building.''
  Judge Harry Augustus Cole was a man of many firsts. Judge Cole was 
the first African American assistant attorney general in Maryland, the 
first African American to be elected to the State Senate of Maryland, 
the first chairman of the Maryland Advisory Committee to the United 
States Civil Rights Commission, and the first African American to be 
named to Maryland's highest court, the Maryland Court of Appeals.
  Educated in Baltimore City Public Schools, Judge Cole graduated from 
Morgan State University in 1943. I might add that he later served as 
the chairman of the Board of Regents of that institution. While at 
Morgan, however, he served as the president of the student council and 
the founder and the first editor in chief of the Spokesman College 
Newspaper.
  A World War II veteran, Judge Cole graduated from the University of 
Maryland Law School, my alma mater, and practiced criminal and civil 
rights law for many years. He was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha 
Fraternity, the oldest African American fraternity in the country.
  Unfortunately, he passed away on February 14, 1999.
  Harry Cole, who is one of my role models, is fondly remembered for 
his quick wit and sharp sense of humor. He was a man who always helped 
those in need and was always there for the indigent. He offered his 
services free of charge and was not looking for any kind of fame or 
thanks. Judge Cole extended his hand without ever seeking 
acknowledgment. I think it is time he is honored for the contributions 
he gave not only to the City of Baltimore, but to the State of Maryland 
and to this country.
  He was also a distinguished veteran and served proudly in our United 
States Army. He is survived by his wife, Doris, and his three 
daughters, Susan, Harriette and Stephanie.
  I urge my colleagues to support this postal naming bill that salutes 
a person from my district who was an outstanding veteran, an 
outstanding jurist, and spent his life providing service to others.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARR of Georgia. 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 Georgia (Mr. Barr) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4450.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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