[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 1055-1059]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TOM BLILEY POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1748) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 805 Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, as the 
``Tom Bliley Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1748

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

     SECTION 1. TOM BLILEY POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 805 Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, 
     Virginia, shall be known and designated as the ``Tom Bliley 
     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 Tom Bliley Post Office Building.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Putnam) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H.R. 1748.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 1748, introduced by the distinguished gentleman 
from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), a member of the freshman class, designates 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 850 Glen 
Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, as the Tom Bliley Post Office 
Building. Members of the entire House delegation from the Commonwealth 
of Virginia are cosponsors of this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, Tom Bliley began his political career in 1968 when he 
was elected to the Richmond City Council and served as vice-mayor. In 
1970 he was elected mayor and served in that capacity until 1977. He 
returned to the family funeral home business until he announced his 
candidacy for Congress in 1980. He began his service in this Congress 
on the Committee on Commerce and would eventually become chairman after 
the historic 1994 elections. He worked with his colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle to enact major reforms of key industries, including 
telecommunications, banking, securities, the Internet, and satellite 
industries. I think that he would regard the Telecommunications Act of 
1996 as his greatest accomplishment.
  Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 1748.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague from Florida in 
consideration of this resolution, H.R. 1748, legislation naming a post 
office after former Representative Thomas Bliley. H.R. 1748, introduced 
by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor) on May 8, 2001, has met the 
committee requirements and is supported and cosponsored by the entire 
Virginia delegation.

[[Page 1056]]

  Former Representative Bliley, who represented the 7th Congressional 
District in Virginia, served with great distinction and honor in the 
Congress from 1980 to 2000. Former Representative Bliley began his 
political career in Richmond in 1968, first serving on the Richmond 
City Council, then vice-mayor, and later as mayor. A Democrat in State 
politics, Thomas Bliley switched to the GOP when he ran for Congress. 
Prior to leaving Congress, Representative Bliley served as the chairman 
of the House Committee on Commerce, whose agenda tackled such issues as 
telecommunications, energy, and environmental matters.
  Madam Speaker, he was truly an outstanding member of this body.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to speak today in favor of 
legislation I have introduced to rename a post office building in 
Richmond, Virginia, after my predecessor, Representative Tom Bliley. 
Tom Bliley served in this body for 20 years before he retired at the 
end of the 106th Congress. He served with distinction as a valued 
member of the Republican Conference and as chairman of the prestigious 
House Committee on Commerce for 6 years. He was also a man who knew how 
to keep priorities in life. To those who know Tom Bliley, they know his 
faith, family, Georgetown basketball, and tennis are important to him.
  After graduating from Georgetown University, he entered the Navy as 
an officer and would join the family funeral home business after his 
naval service. Tom ran for Richmond City Council in 1968 and won. Two 
years later, in 1970, he won a 2-year term as mayor of Richmond, a 2-
year term that lasted for 7 years.
  After 1977, he left the mayor's office and returned to private life. 
In 1980, Tom Bliley was elected to Congress on the same day as Ronald 
Reagan. He secured his seat on the House Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and immediately began working to return power to the people 
through competition and elimination of bureaucratic waste and 
regulation. His biggest local accomplishment was securing Federal 
funding of the Richmond floodwall. He worked with Members of both sides 
of the aisle to achieve this important funding for the City of 
Richmond. The floodwall helped revitalize the downtown economy and is a 
lasting legacy to Tom Bliley's ability to work with various Members 
with different political philosophies to accomplish a goal for the good 
of the people.
  Tom Bliley worked hard to advance many initiatives and was elevated 
to the chairmanship of the prestigious House Committee on Commerce in 
1994. It was during this time he achieved his greatest accomplishments. 
He was able to find common ground with his colleagues to enact 
telecommunications reform, safe drinking water and food safety 
legislation, FDA reform, securities tort reform, and the Graham-Leach-
Bliley financial services modernization act.
  However, his biggest accomplishment in Congress was the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996, because it is the interstate highway 
act of the digital age. As the author of this act, he spearheaded the 
historic legislation bringing greater choice, lower price, and new 
innovative technologies to consumers. It will go down in history as one 
of the most important bills of the 20th century.
  As an adoptive father, Tom cofounded the Congressional Coalition on 
Adoption and sponsored over 1 dozen different adoption bills. Most 
notably, he secured passage into law of the Adoption Awareness Act and 
was the author of the Hope for Children Act.

                              {time}  1430

  He was the author of the Hope for Children Act to increase the 
adoption tax credits to $10,000. Tom truly stood up for children 
without voices, and his leadership on adoption issues is missed by a 
grateful Nation.
  Madam Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not recognize another 
individual who Tom would say is most important, and that is his dear 
wife Mary Virginia, who now enjoys Tom even more as he is home that 
much more often, and without her sacrifice over these many, many years 
and decades, Tom could not have been the leader he was for the Richmond 
area as well as the Nation.
  Madam Speaker, at this time I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  It is an honor to speak today in favor of legislation I have 
introduced to rename a post office building after my predecessor, 
Representative Tom Bliley. Tom Bliley served in this body for twenty 
years before he retired at the end of the 106th Congress. He served 
with distinction as a valued member of the Republican caucus and as 
Chairman of the prestigious House Commerce Committee for six years. He 
was also a man who knew to keep priorities in life. To those who know 
Tom Bliley, you know his faith, family, Georgetown basketball, and 
tennis are important to him.
  After graduating from Georgetown University, he entered the navy as 
an officer and learned history doesn't offer many crystal lessons for 
those who serve our nation's affairs but there were a few. The 
strongest lesson he learned and the one most valuable in our roles as 
House Members is that weakness on the part of those who cherish freedom 
inevitably brings a threat to that freedom.
  After his service in the Navy, he joined the family funeral home 
business where he eventually assumed the role of President. During that 
time, he gained important business experience that shaped his attitude 
towards problems facing small business owners. One day, some community 
leaders in Richmond came to him and asked him to run for city council. 
Tom replied he didn't see how he could devote the time to it so they 
called on his father, who headed the business. They said to him, ``This 
community has been good to you. You can give something back by letting 
Tom run for city council.''
  His father agreed. Tom ran. It changed the course of his life, for he 
was in public service for nearly 3 decades upon retiring in January of 
this year. Two years later, in 1970, he won a two-year term as Mayor of 
Richmond--a two year term that lasted for seven years. The seventies 
were some of the most racially divisive years in our nation's history 
and Richmond was no exception. During his tenure as mayor, Richmonders 
were able to pull together and survive these troubled times.
  Richmond survived because people worked together to find a common 
good. His tenure as mayor taught him a lot--lessons that were 
invaluable to him in the years that followed: understanding that the 
other fellow has a point of view, understanding that compromise without 
forsaking your principles is a good thing, and understanding that one 
can always seek a common ground if you keep your eye on the greater 
good.
  After 1977, he left the mayor's office and returned to private life. 
In surprising news to many people in 1980, the incumbent Congressman 
from Richmond announced his retirement and Tom Bliley won the primary 
and was elected to Congress on the same day as Ronald Reagan. He 
secured a seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and 
immediately began working to return power to the people through 
competition and elimination of bureaucratic waste and regulation.
  At the same time, he never forgot where he came from and would 
dutifully mind the business of his constituents. His biggest local 
accomplishment was securing federal funding of the Richmond flood wall. 
He worked with Members of both sides of the aisle to achieve this 
important funding for the city of Richmond. The flood wall helped 
revitalize the downtown economy and is a lasting legacy to Tom Bliley's 
ability to work with variouis members with different political 
philosophies to accomplish a goal for the good of the people.
  Tom Bliley worked hard to advance many initiatives and he would go on 
to say that Republicans caught lightening in the bottle when they swept 
control of the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40 
years in 1994. This historic election elevated Tom Bliley to the 
Chairmanship of the prestigious House Commerce Committee. It was during 
this time he achieved his greatest accomplishments. He was able to find 
common ground with his colleagues to enact telecommunications reform, 
safe drinking water and food safety legislation, FDA reform, securities 
tort reform, reform of the securities laws, Internet tax moratorium 
legislation, International Satellite privatlization, Electronic 
Signatures legislation, Satellite Home Viewer Act, and the Gramm-Leach-
Bliley Financial Services Modernization Act.
  However, his biggest accomplishment in Congress was the 
Telecommunications Act of

[[Page 1057]]

1996 because it is the Interstate Highway Act of the Digital Age. As 
the author of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, he spearheaded 
historic legislation knocking down regulatory barriers to competition 
in the telecommunications industry--bringing greater choice, lower 
prices and new innovative technologies to consumers. It will go down in 
history as one of the most important bills of the 20th century. It is 
the vehicle that fueled the technology revolution that is changing the 
way we live and work in the new century. It is not just about copper 
wires and telephone companies. It is about e-mail, wireless phones, 
satellite television, and lower local phone bills.
  As a result of the Telecommunications Act, consumers now have a 
choice in their local phone company. Thanks to increased telephone 
competition, there are new local phone operators in all 50 states. 
Consumers have access to new, innovative technologies. Companies are 
now offering a bundled package of voice, video, and high-speed Internet 
access. Consumers can now purchase a variety of wireless phones at 
affordable prices.
  The Virginia gentlemen served with distinction but I would be remiss 
not to talk about his wonderful wife, Mary Virginia, his two children, 
and four grandchildren. He reserved Sunday for family time and always 
turned down interviews on Sunday because that is when he took his wife 
to Mass. His commitment to setting aside time on the weekends for his 
family gave him peace and solitude away from the nation's business in 
Washington, D.C.
  As an adoptive father, Tom co-founded the Congressional Coalition on 
Adoption and sponsored over one dozen different adoption bills. Most 
notably, he secured passage into law the Adoption Awareness Act and was 
the author of the Hope for Children Act to increase the adoption tax 
credit to $10,000. I am very pleased to say that my friend, Jim DeMint, 
reintroduced the Hope for Children Act this year and it was signed into 
law by President Bush. Tom truly stood up for children without voices 
and his leadership on adoption issues is missed by a grateful nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis) for yielding me time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of our former congressional 
colleague and former Virginian, Tom Bliley, for his many years of 
public service to Virginia and to the Nation. I am, therefore, proud to 
join my other Virginia colleagues in cosponsoring this bill to name a 
post office in Richmond, Virginia, in his honor.
  Tom Bliley dedicated over 32 years of public service, and 20 of those 
years have been as a Member of Congress representing the Seventh 
Congressional District of Virginia culminating in his chairmanship of 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
  Before coming to Congress he served on city council and as mayor of 
Richmond, Virginia. In addition, Tom is the former president of Joseph 
Bliley Funeral Homes, where he gained an appreciation of the problems 
facing the small businessman. During his lengthy career he gained 
respect of Members from both sides of the aisle and from his 
constituents in the Seventh District. Tom and I both represented parts 
of Richmond, Virginia, for 8 years, and I was fortunate to be able to 
work with him on many issues important to the capital of the 
Commonwealth and, indeed, the Nation.
  He was instrumental in ensuring the resources of the James River were 
efficiently utilized for commerce and recreation. The floodwall 
mentioned by my colleague from Virginia was part of that effort. He and 
I worked together to see that the James River and Kanawha Canal 
riverfront project became a reality. This project restored a portion of 
the historic canal through the city of Richmond, which is a main hub 
for revitalization of the historic riverfront. He even sponsored 
legislation to ensure that the Army Corps of Engineers maintained the 
James River as a navigable waterway so the commercial and trade 
enterprises would not be compromised.
  I am particularly grateful for his work on the Richmond National 
Battlefield Park legislation which included recognition of the Battle 
of New Market Heights as a premier landmark in African American 
military history.
  With his many accomplishments Tom worked across party lines and with 
his Virginia delegation colleagues to best represent the issues in 
interest to the Seventh Congressional District. It is a fitting tribute 
to his career of public service to honor him with the naming of this 
post office in Richmond, Virginia.
  Madam Speaker, I therefore urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished and 
learned gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble).
  Mr. COBLE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Putnam) for his generous introduction. I appreciate that.
  Madam Speaker, we serve here in the people's House with dozens of 
people who represent a wide array of constituents. Some Congressmen 
stand out as particularly prominent. Tom Bliley is one of these. My 
staff always referred to him as the Virginia gentleman. He is indeed 
the Virginia gentleman, bow tie and all.
  When grading or rating elected officials, Madam Speaker, certain 
qualifications surface; integrity, accessibility, willingness to work, 
among others. Tom Bliley passes these tests with flying colors.
  I have spent a good amount of time in their Richmond, Virginia, home, 
and I came to know Mary Virginia, his wife, well. She has offered him 
continuous and consistent support during his time in public life.
  I have observed Tom Bliley responding to his constituents, expressing 
care, concern, sensitivity as he went about helping them resolve their 
various problems. He served that beautiful historic city on the banks 
of the James River as its mayor, as has been previously stated, prior 
to his having been elected to serve in the people's House where he 
served for two decades.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased, indeed, to heartily endorse the proposal 
to have the post office which serves the West Hampton area in Richmond 
as the Tom Bliley Post Office, the inimitable Virginia gentleman.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I would urge swift passage of 
this measure.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
the Commonwealth of Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to my friend and former colleague from Virginia's Seventh Congressional 
District, Tom Bliley, and also to support H.R. 1748, to designate the 
U.S. Post Office on Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, in the 
chairman's honor. This represents an important way of saluting his 
service to the Commonwealth and to the country.
  Mr. Bliley served as chairman to the House Committee on Energy and 
Commerce for three terms ending in 2000. He was hand-picked by then-
Speaker Gingrich over more senior Members, and his agenda during those 
6 years was quite simply to promote commerce.
  As chairman, Mr. Bliley was a pragmatist, willing to broker deals 
behind doors with ideological friends and foes alike. As a result, the 
committee became one of the most constructive in Congress, promoting 
free and fair markets, standing for consumer choice and common-sense 
safeguards for our health and our environment, and keeping a watchful 
eye on the Federal bureaucracy.
  The pleasant, soft-spoken mortician, once dubbed in a magazine's 
cover story as the most influential funeral director on Earth, started 
his political career in 1968 when civil leaders sought him to run for 
the Richmond City Council. He served the city for almost a decade, not 
only on the council, but also as vice mayor, and then becoming mayor 
until 1977 when he retired to devote more time to his funeral home 
business. However, the chairman was not out of politics for long. He 
enthusiastically reentered when Democrat David Satterfield announced 
his retirement from Congress in 1980.

[[Page 1058]]

  Since his first election to Congress, the chairman was recognized by 
many organizations for his work. He served in various roles with the 
NATO Parliamentary Assembly. From November of 1994 to October of 1998, 
he was chairman of its economic committee, and in November 1998, he 
became one of four Vice Presidents, and with the resignation of its 
President in May of 2000, the chairman became acting President.
  His commitment to balancing the Federal budget earned him the 
National Watchdog of the Treasury's ``Golden Bulldog Award'' every year 
since 1981. He was named a Guardian of Small Business by the NFIB. He 
has been called the most powerful Virginian since Harry Byrd, and the 
National Journal cited him as Mr. Smooth.
  Madam Speaker, I join with my fellow Virginia colleagues in honoring 
Tom Bliley, thanking the chairman for his service to our Commonwealth 
and to our Nation. He has been a friend and mentor to me and many 
others. His presence in this Chamber has been missed, and I urge 
passage of this bill.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, it is clear that the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. 
Bliley, whom we honor today, has earned the respect of his colleagues 
on both sides of the aisle and is highly deserving of this honor. 
Therefore, Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this measure.
  Mr. FORBES. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of this 
legislation, I wanted to offer my strong support for this bill and to 
express my admiration for Congressman Tom Bliley and his distinguished 
career.
  Even before his election to Congress in 1980, Congressman Bliley had 
already accomplished what many would consider a lifetime of service to 
his country. He was born just south of the James River in Westover 
Hills. After graduating from Georgetown University, Tom Bliley joined 
the Navy as an officer where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. Between 
1970 and 1977 Congressman Bliley served as Mayor of Richmond. It was 
his steady hand and wisdom that were credited for guiding the city 
through some of its most turbulent times.
  Many of us here in Congress came to know Congressman Bliley during 
his twenty years of service in the House of Representatives. 
Congressman Bliley retired at the end of the 106th Congress as the 
distinguished Chairman of the House Commerce Committee. While I did not 
have the honor of serving with Tom Bliley in Congress, I did have the 
opportunity to work closely with Congressman Bliley on many occasions 
during my time in the Virginia General Assembly and have always admired 
his demeanor and dedication to making Virginia and America a better 
place.
  We often see in politics today elected officials that come to 
Washington to serve themselves rather than their constituents. We often 
see politicians that cannot resist the temptation to engage in 
destructive politics. After all, we are all human. However, during his 
time in Congress Tom Bliley never forgot the people who sent him to 
Washington and why they sent him in the first place. During every 
minute of his time in Congress Tom Bliley always had the respect and 
admiration of his colleagues. Few can make such a claim.
  Madam Speaker, I hope the soon to be Tom Bliley Post Office Building 
will serve as bold tribute to a distinguished Virginian and a noble 
statesman.
  Mr. SCHROCK. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today in 
support of H.R. 1748, which will honor our good friend, Congressman Tom 
Bliley. For over thirty years, Tom served the people of Richmond and 
the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  As a Vice Mayor and Mayor of Richmond and as the Congressman 
representing Virginia's Third and Seventh Districts, Tom worked to 
bring opposing sides together on issues of contention. As Chairman of 
the House Committee on Commerce, Chairman Bliley brought together 
lawmakers with very differing views to find consensus on some of the 
most important laws regulating telecommunications, capital markets, 
energy, and healthcare. At the same time, Tom stuck to his guns and 
remained a staunch conservative.
  Tom took the helm of the Commerce Committee when we were beginning to 
see the first stages of the Information Age in the late 1990s. In the 
six years that he was chairman, the Internet grew exponentially and the 
telecommunications industry made many important developments. Chairman 
Bliley avoided knee-jerk reactions to regulate these growing 
industries, allowing them to grow and flourish.
  In addition to serving as a powerful committee chairman, Tom was an 
ardent advocate for his constituents, making no apologies for working 
to gain federal support for important projects in his district. From 
the floodwall along the James River in Richmond to renovation of Main 
Street Station, Tom looked after his district very closely.
  Perhaps Tom's most valuable achievements in Congress were in the area 
of adoption advocacy and legislation. The adoption tax credit 
legislation that he shepherded became known as the Tom Bliley Adoption 
Tax Credit and I am pleased that Congress was able to include expansion 
of the tax credit in the tax relief legislation passed last year.
  Though he has retired from Congress, Tom has not ended his service to 
the Commonwealth of Virginia. He now sits on the Board of Visitors for 
the University of Virginia and Affiliated Schools, working to improve 
higher education quality and expand educational opportunities in 
Virginia.
  I am pleased to be a co-sponsor of H.R. 1748, which will recognize 
Chairman Bliley for his service to Virginia and his country. His record 
of distinguished service demonstrates to us all his commitment to the 
values and principles of freedom and public service. The Tom Bliley 
Post Office Building will be a testament to his service and dedication, 
and I urge passage of this legislation.
  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1748, a 
bill to designate the United States Postal Service building located at 
805 Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, as the ``Tom Bliley Post 
Office Building.''
  Before his departure from the House of Representatives at the 
conclusion of the 106th Congress, Tom Bliley and I had served together 
for two decades on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. As 
Chairman of the Committee on Commerce during the 104th, 105th, and 
106th Congresses, Tom worked to address difficult topics across the 
vast range of the Committee's jurisdiction.
  Tom reached out in a bipartisan manner to move important legislation 
through the Committee, including the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 
the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, the State Children's 
Health Insurance Program, the Food and Drug Administration 
Modernization Act of 1997, and Digital Signatures legislation. I note 
that this bipartisanship on the Committee came during a time of intense 
partisanship in the House.
  When we were adversaries, Tom remained a gentleman and a friend. I 
value his friendship and thank him for his.
  I congratulate Tom on his two decades of worthy service to his 
constituents, the Committee, and the House of Representatives, and can 
think of no more fitting way to honor him and his fine public service 
than by dedicating this U.S. Post Office building in his honor.
  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today and join 
fellow members of the Virginia delegation and other colleagues in 
support of H.R. 1748, to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 805 Glen Burnie Road in Richmond, Virginia, 
as the ``Tom Bliley Post Office Building,'' and to pay tribute to our 
former Virginia colleague who retired from this House at the end of the 
106th Congress.
  Tom Bliley is a true Virginia gentleman who epitomizes the highest 
ideals of public service. He came to Congress with me in 1981. It was 
an honor to serve side by side with him for 20 years. Tom was a perfect 
match for Virginia's 7th District which includes the city of Richmond, 
as this is a district replete with a tradition of true statesmen.
  Tom left the Congress, having served as chairman of the Commerce 
Committee, a responsibility he took seriously and performed with 
incredible legislative skill and expertise. He showed an amazing 
ability to deal with such complex issues as the electric utility grid 
and Medicaid formulas to home medical services and drug discounts for 
veterans.
  Tom had a diverse political career before even making his way to 
Capitol Hill. He was first elected to the Richmond Council as a 
conservative Democrat in 1968, then as mayor of Richmond from 1970-77, 
and eventually to the House of Representatives--this time as a 
Republican. His unique background enabled him to work to achieve 
bipartisan results while never losing sight of the issues which were 
important to his district and his constituents.
  It is a fitting tribute that a postal facility in his hometown of 
Richmond will bear his name and will honor his years of service to the 
Commonwealth of Virginia and to the nation.
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this 
effort to honor my friend Tom Bliley.
  Tom Bliley was first elected to this body in 1980, after a successful 
career as a businessman and serving on the City Council and later as 
Mayor of Richmond. Throughout his service in Congress, Tom Bliley was a 
strong advocate of fiscal responsibility, the free market

[[Page 1059]]

and consumer choice. As Chairman of the House Commerce Committee for 
three terms, he steered some of the most significant legislation 
through Congress in recent years.
  Chairman Bliley also served as the dean of the Virginia delegation 
and, true to this role, he was a leader to all of our Members. We all 
enjoyed his friendship, and great sense of humor. Tom fought hard to 
represent the interests of his congressional district, constantly 
attending to the needs in his local community. Virginia has benefitted 
enormously from Congressman Bliley's lifetime of public service. A 
master in the art of bipartisan compromise, bold leadership, and 
legislative vision, Tom Bliley is an example to all of us. Honoring his 
tenure in the House of Representatives by designating the Tom Bliley 
Post Office is a fitting farewell.
  Mr. Putnam. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1748.
  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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