[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2] [House] [Pages 2723-2725] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]JOEL T. BROYHILL POSTAL BUILDING Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3699) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, as the ``Joel T. Broyhill Postal Building''. The Clerk read as follows: H.R. 3699 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. JOEL T. BROYHILL POSTAL BUILDING. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, shall be known and designated as the ``Joel T. Broyhill Postal 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 ``Joel T. Broyhill Postal Building''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) 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. 3699. 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, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) introduced this bill, H.R. 3699, on February 29 of this year, with each Member of the House delegation from the State of Virginia supporting the legislation, which is the standing policy on the Committee on Government Reform. As noted, Mr. Speaker, this bill designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, as the ``Joel T. Broyhill Postal Building.'' The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed the legislation and has determined the enactment of H.R. 3699 would have no significant impact upon the Federal budget. Spending by the Postal Service is classified as off-budget and, thus, is not subject to pay-as-you-go procedures. As well, the bill contains no intergovernmental or private sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. It would impose no cost on State, local, or tribal governments. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the record of this subcommittee in working with particularly the distinguished gentleman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah), the ranking minority member, in having the opportunity to bring a host of postal naming bills to this floor. Today we have two bills that certainly are no exception, two bills that seek to name facilities after individuals who, as their predecessors have done, have so admirably served their country, have served, in these instances, their Congress and their government here in Washington, and most importantly have served their communities. {time} 1430 I am going to be pleased in a moment to yield to our good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), for a full description of the background of our first designee. But I would just say that this is an individual who was elected to the 83rd Congress in 1955 and for 22 years served in this House proudly. Of interest, he was the first Member of Congress to represent what was then the newly created 10th Congressional District of Virginia, where he served as a member on the Republican side of the aisle. It is also important to note, Mr. Speaker, that Congressman Broyhill was also a member of what was then the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, that committee at the time that oversaw the activities of the postal service and, as such, I think is particularly worthy of this particular designation. His time in Congress, I think, would merit such a designation, but Congressman Broyhill accumulated a record of service that extends far beyond the halls of this hallowed institution. He was a decorated veteran. He served in World War II as a captain and, at age 25, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was taken prisoner and held in a German POW camp until he heroically escaped and rejoined the advancing allied forces. In short, Mr. Speaker, this is an individual that dedicated most of his life to service of his country, both in a public fashion and, as we have just heard, in his military capacity as well. Congressman Broyhill today is the father of three daughters and one step-daughter and resides not far from this body, in Arlington, Virginia. It is with great pride, Mr. Speaker, that I bring this bill to the floor and ask for its enthusiastic adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join with the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) in the consideration of two postal-naming bills. Both bills honor fine individuals who have contributed much to the improvement of their country and their State. First, we will consider H.R. 3699, which honors Joel Broyhill. When the time is appropriate, Mr. Speaker, after we hear from the prime sponsor, I will yield to my colleague, the gentleman from the fine State of Virginia (Mr. Moran), to make some further comments on this bill. Mr. Speaker: H.R. 3699 and H.R. 3701, both sponsored by Congressman Frank [[Page 2724]] Wolf, have met the committee cosponsorship requirement and are supported by the entire Virginia congressional delegation. It must be voted that the persons honored by H.R. 3699 and H.R. 3701--former members of Congress--Joel Broyhill and Joseph Fisher, both represented the congressional district currently held by Congressman Frank Wolf. As the Ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on the Postal Service, I would like to thank Chairman Burton and Chairman McHugh for their support and assistance in the accommodation and timely consideration of these postal naming bills. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3699, to designate the United States Postal Service located at 8409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, as the ``Joel T. Broyhill Postal Building,'' was introduced by Congressman Wolf on Tuesday, February 29, 2000, with the support and cosponsorship of the entire Virginia delegation. Congressman Joel T. Broyhill was born in 1919 in Hopewell, Virginia. A World War II Army veteran, he fought in the famous ``Battle of the Bulge,'' was captured and held as a POW in a German camp until his escape. Mr. Broyhill returned to Virginia and was elected to Congress in 1952, representing the 1oth District for 22 years. He served as a Republican member of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, the Committee on the District of Columbia, and the Committee on Ways and Means. I urge swift adoption of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), who is the primary author of this bill, a gentleman who has worked very hard to bring these two very meritorious measures to the floor before us today. Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege, as the representative of the 10th Congressional District of Virginia, to speak today in very strong support of legislation I introduced which would designate the postal facility located at 8409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, as the Joel T. Broyhill Postal Building. I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) of the Subcommittee on Postal Service and the entire Committee on Government Reform for moving this legislation very, very fast. The Honorable Joel T. Broyhill was elected to Congress in 1952 and began his career in the service in the House as a Republican Member in 1953 in the 83rd Congress. I can still remember looking down and seeing Congressman Broyhill as he served here on the floor for so many years. Born in Hopewell, Virginia, on November 4, 1919, Joel Broyhill served 22 years as a representative of the 10th Congressional District. He was the first Member of Congress to represent the newly created 10th. He began his congressional career and service as a member, as the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) said, of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and the District of Columbia, and later became a member of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means. Constituent services, assisting people he represented, was the cornerstone of Joel Broyhill's service in Congress. According to the Almanac of American Politics in 1972, and I quote, they said, ``There were few offices that took care of constituents' needs and complaints with more efficiency.'' Congressman Broyhill estimated that he aided more than 100,000 10th Congressional District residents in his 20-plus year service in office. The almanac also describes Congressman Broyhill as a Member of Congress and says that he ``should be credited with voting his conscience.'' Congressman Broyhill is a decorated veteran and for 4 years served bravely, along with thousands of other young American soldiers, in World War II as a captain in the 106th Infantry Division. At the age of 25, Captain Broyhill fought in one of the most decisive and costly conflicts in World War II, the famous, the infamous, the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken prisoner and held in a German POW camp until he heroically escaped and was able to rejoin advancing allied forces. Congressman Broyhill has dedicated most of his life to serving his country in both war and peace, in public and in a military capacity. His commitment and his devotion to public service is deserving of recognition, and it is appropriate that the postal building at 3409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, be renamed in his honor. He also loved this body and loved this House, and I appreciate the fact that the House has honored him with this. Congressman Broyhill is the father of three daughters, one step- daughter and resides today in Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the entire Virginia congressional delegation has sponsored this legislation today, and we join in asking our colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 3699 to honor former Congressman Joel T. Broyhill through the naming of the Joel T. Broyhill Postal Building in Merrifield, Virginia. I would also like to announce that Senator Warner has introduced identical legislation in the Senate where we hope it goes for a quick passage. Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran). Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah). Mr. Speaker, it is entirely appropriate that we name the central post office facility in Merrifield, Virginia, after Joel Broyhill. Mr. Broyhill served Arlington County and Fairfax County and Northern Virginia extraordinarily well during his long public career. It was a transitional period during those days and Mr. Broyhill earned a reputation for excellent service to his constituency, particularly Federal workers. A native of Hopewell, Virginia, this distinguished gentleman attended public schools, graduated from Fork Union Military Academy, and then, upon completion of his studies at George Washington University, enlisted in the Army. The gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) have described his courage and valor. He escaped the German forces after the Battle of the Bulge and then rejoined advancing American forces. After his distinguished career in the military ended, he did not end his public service. After concluding his military career, he resumed real estate pursuits but then ran for Congress. His base was his long service with the Arlington County Chamber of Congress, the County Planning Commission in Arlington, and then served for 22 years in the United States Congress. He was a vigilant advocate for Federal workers. He served his country well. As the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) has said, he was credited with always voting his conscience. It is entirely appropriate, Mr. Speaker, that we recognize his commitment and devotion to public service by naming this central post office in his honor. Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to honor Mr. Joel T. Broyhill. I am proud to be a co-sponsor along with my colleagues from Northern Virginia, Congressmen Frank Wolf and Jom Moran, of H.R. 3699, designating that the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, to be known as ``Joel T. Broyhill Postal Building.'' Mr. Broyhill has served a distinguished career in the United States Army and as a Representative from Virginia's 10th Congressional District. Born in Hopewell, Virginia, November 1919, the Honorable Joel Broyhill was first elected to the Eighty-third Congress in 1952 as a Republican and served for 22 years as representative of the 10th Congressional District. He was the first elected representative of the newly created district. He served as a member of the House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, and a committee nearest to my heart, the Committee on the District of Columbia and the Committee on Ways and Means. Congressman Broyhill, a decorated veteran, served four years in World War II as a Captain in the 106th Infantry Division. At age 25, he fought in the ``Battle of the Bulge'' and was held captive in a German POW camp until he heroically escaped and made his way back to the advancing Allied armies. The Honorable Joel Broyhill has dedicated his life to serving his country in both the military and as a public official. The Almanac of American Politics stated that Congressman Broyhill ``should be credited by voting his conscience.'' His commitment and dedication to [[Page 2725]] public service is deserving of recognition, and it is appropriate that the postal building at 3409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor such a man as Joel Broyhill. He was ably served his country and community. I know my colleagues join me in honoring and thanking Joel for his many years of dedicated service to the people of Virginia's 10th Congressional District. Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, I would simply urge all our Members to support this very worthy piece of legislation honoring an equally worthy individual. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). 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. 3699. The question was taken. Mr. McHUGH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. ____________________