[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23640-23641]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  ARTHUR ``PAPPY'' KENNEDY POST OFFICE

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 1882) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 440 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, 
Florida, as the ``Arthur `Pappy' Kennedy Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1882

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
     440 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, Florida, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Arthur `Pappy' Kennedy Post 
     Office''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the facility referred 
     to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy Post Office.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Watson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. 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. 1882.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1882, introduced by the gentlewoman from Florida 
(Ms. Corrine Brown), designates this postal facility in Orlando, 
Florida, as the Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy Post Office Building. All of 
the Members of the Florida delegation have signed on as cosponsors of 
this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House is taking up this 
legislation that honors Pappy Kennedy. He became the first black city 
commissioner in the city of Orlando's history when he was first elected 
in 1972. He was truly a devoted public servant, just the kind of person 
who ought to be honored by this House. Pappy Kennedy sadly passed away 
earlier this year on March 28. With passage of this legislation, this 
Congress can appropriately name a post office in Pappy's hometown that 
will forever celebrate his loyal service.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to again recognize the thoughtful work on this 
legislation by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown), and I 
am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 1882, which honors Arthur ``Pappy'' 
Kennedy, and I urge all Members to support its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1882 designates the facility of the United States 
Post Office located at 440 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, 
Florida, as the Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy Post Office.
  I am pleased to join with our colleagues in the consideration of this 
bill that will name the post office after Pappy Kennedy. The bill was 
sponsored by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) on April 
30, 2003. The bill has met the Committee on Government Reform policies, 
and has been cosponsored by the entire Florida delegation.
  Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy was born in River Junction, Florida, in 
1913. Ten years later, Mr. Kennedy moved to Orlando. He attended high 
school and college in the Florida area, and returned to Orlando to work 
at the Orange Court Hotel.

                              {time}  1545

  A lifetime member of the NAACP, Mr. Kennedy volunteered with many 
organizations: Meals on Wheels, United Negro College Fund, among 
others. He served as a deacon in his church, Shiloh Baptist, and spent 
time working with young people.
  In 1972, Mr. Kennedy was elected Orlando's first African-American 
City Commissioner and had the distinction of being elected by the 
largest percentage between contestants in the 101-year history of the 
city.
  A tireless public servant and advocate, Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy 
passed away on March 28, 2003.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the late 
Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy in this manner, and I urge the adoption of the 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Hastings.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, in light of the fact that the 
original sponsor of the bill has arrived, I would like to yield this 
time to her if she is ready, and then I will speak, time permitting, 
after her.
  With that in mind, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Brown), my good friend, and the good friend of the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.)
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for his support in helping to 
get this bill to the floor and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Crenshaw), in fact, the entire Florida delegation.
  I am delighted to introduce this bill which designates the facility 
of the United States Postal Service located 440 South Orange Blossom 
Trail in Orlando as the Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy Post Office.
  Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy was Orlando's first African-American City 
Commissioner. He was elected to the Orlando City Council in 1972, 
reelected in 1976, and served until 1980. Born in River Junction, 
Florida, in 1913, his family moved to Orlando where he attended the 
Johnson Academy and Jones High School. Upon graduation, he attended 
Bethune-Cookman College, a Historically Black College in my district in 
Daytona Beach.
  There was no stronger advocate of higher education than Pappy 
Kennedy. A man always involved in the community, he was the organizer 
of the Orlando Negro Chamber of Commerce, president of the Jones High 
School Parent-Teacher Association, and instrumental in organizing of 
the Orange County Parent-Teacher Council. He also worked with many, 
many organizations including the Meals on Wheels, the United Negro 
College Fund, and the NAACP.
  Yet, for all of his accomplishments, Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy is best 
known for being Orlando's first African-American City Commissioner.
  And when elected, he had the distinction, according to the Orlando 
City Clerk's Office, of being elected by the largest percentage among 
contestants in the 101-year history of the city.
  I am honored to recognize one of Florida's stellar native Floridians 
with this Post Office designation.
  In closing, it is my understanding that the Kennedy family is in the 
Washington area, and I would like to welcome them and thank all of them

[[Page 23641]]

for their inspiration and support in the life of this heroic civil 
rights leader, Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy.
  I urge all of the Members to support the naming of this post office.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers. I want to 
again congratulate my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Corrine Brown), for her work on this meaningful legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Hastings).
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tremendous 
support of H.R. 1882, a bill to name an Orlando, Florida, Post Office 
after Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy.
  I am especially pleased because the bill recognizes the 
accomplishments of a political trailblazer for all of us in Florida, 
and, especially for African Americans. I am further pleased by virtue 
of the fact that among the great things that Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy 
produced, children of his that are friends of mine, including one of 
them, his son, who is named Arthur as well, is my chief of staff in my 
office here, where I am privileged to serve in the United States 
Congress.
  While Pappy may not be with us today to see this honor bestowed upon 
him, I know that his son and daughter and six grandchildren and 11 
great grandchildren, and I note that some of them are with us today, 
share in the joy and excitement of this historic day.
  As previously mentioned, Pappy was born in River Junction, Florida. I 
know where River Junction is; most Floridians do not. The reason I know 
about little towns is I am from Altamont Springs, Florida, which is 10 
miles north of where Pappy made most of his career. At the young age of 
10, he moved to Orlando where he would attend high school and become a 
pioneer in breaking down racial barriers. Throughout his life, Pappy 
Kennedy spoke up for those who could not speak for themselves, 
motivated others to improve their lives and was a tireless advocate for 
the poor and oppressed.
  In 1976, as previously mentioned, he became the first African 
American to be elected to the Orlando city council. His popularity 
amongst the voters was obvious by virtue of the strength of the vote 
that he pulled in his election and then in his reelection, the largest 
victory to date of any Orlando commissioner. His election to the city 
council ended a string of unsuccessful attempts by African Americans to 
gain representation in Orlando's political arena. His election also 
paved the way for many women to successfully run for political office 
in Orange County. While serving on the council, he led the fight for 
single-member districts in Orlando. That change in election procedure 
resulted in the number of African Americans serving on the city council 
to double and others to go on to serve on the county commission and 
school board and the State legislature.
  Interestingly, the change in election procedure that he so tirelessly 
fought for actually placed his political future in jeopardy. Yet 
despite the risk, Pappy's popularity prevailed, and he served on the 
city council for a total of 7 years. In addition to politics, he was a 
civic activist in the truest sense. He helped organize the former 
Orlando Negro Chamber of Commerce and was an active volunteer for the 
United Negro College Fund, the NAACP, Meals on Wheels and the Chamber 
of Commerce. Mr. Kennedy also served as president or chairman of the 
Jones High School Parent-Teacher Association, the Orange County United 
Appeal, the Orange County Heart Fund and the Orange County Easter Seal 
campaign.
  It has been said that the true success of a leader must not only be 
measured by what he or she accomplishes while they are in a position to 
lead, but also in the size of the footprint that they leave behind. The 
footprint Pappy Kennedy left remains visible today in Orlando and 
throughout the State of Florida. The walls broken down by Pappy Kennedy 
in 1976 helped open the doors of public service for African Americans 
throughout Florida. As someone who worked to break down the walls of 
racial injustice with Pappy Kennedy, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Corrine Brown), Carrie Meek and others, it is an honor and privilege to 
speak on the floor of the House of Representatives today in support of 
this bill.
  His life was one filled with political, religious and civic activism 
of the highest level. He inspired many, including myself, and the bill 
that this body is considering today is an appropriate tribute to a true 
American hero. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1882.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown).
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) a question. While we are all in 
the Third Congressional District very excited about the naming of the 
post office, I have gotten many comments about the status of this 
particular post office. I have contacted U.S. Postal personnel. I would 
like for the gentleman and other Members to work to get it upgraded so 
it can be the quality that we all want representing Pappy Kennedy.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. If the gentlewoman will yield, I can assure 
her that I will work tirelessly in that effort and the previous naming 
of a post office is of a post office in a very similar condition in 
Riviera. I rather suspect that they should be brought to the quality of 
all of the postal services, and the gentlewoman, myself and other 
members of the Florida delegation I am sure will do everything we can, 
especially for the one for Arthur ``Pappy'' Kennedy.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. I thank the gentleman.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I will work with my colleagues to see that the upgrading of this post 
office happens.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Schrock). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1882.
  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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