[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 21]
[House]
[Pages 29543-29544]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     NEW BRIDGE LANDING POST OFFICE

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2130) to redesignate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 650 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, New 
Jersey, as the ``New Bridge Landing Post Office,'' as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2130

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

     SECTION 1. NEW BRIDGE LANDING POST OFFICE.

       (a) Redesignation.--The facility of the United States 
     Postal Service located at 121 Kinderkamack Road in River 
     Edge, New Jersey, and known as the North Hackensack Station 
     Post Office, shall be known and designated as the ``New 
     Bridge Landing Post Office''.
       (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 New Bridge Landing Post Office.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
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 the bill under consideration.
  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.
  ``These are the times that try men's souls.'' Mr. Speaker, political 
theorist Thomas Paine uttered these famous words during the cold of 
November 1776. When the American Revolution commenced, the colonial 
freedom fighters battled the mighty British forces while barefoot and 
often wearing little more than blankets and torn clothing. The early 
days of the war featured humiliating, devastating losses for the 
overwhelmed Colonial Army.
  On November 20, 1776, General George Washington led his troops in a 
retreat over the Hackensack River across the New Bridge Landing. Once 
they reached safety, General Washington and his men set up the first 
headquarters of the new Continental Army at New Bridge. Thomas Paine 
was inspired to write the first essays of the American Crisis near the 
New Bridge landing site, intended to rally Americans during the first 
days of our Nation. The New Bridge landing provided General 
Washington's troops with an important chance to regroup. This gave 
Americans a small boost that led to the unlikely defeat of the Royal 
British Army and the independence for the brand new United States of 
America.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation, H.R. 2130, introduced by the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) renames a post office in River Edge, New 
Jersey, as the New Bridge Landing Post Office Building. This 
designation, on this historic site, will serve as an appropriate 
reminder of the struggle that Americans endured during the 
Revolutionary War.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the gentleman from New Jersey for this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, 
I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 2130, 
legislation naming a postal facility as the New Bridge Landing. H.R. 
2130, which was introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Garrett) on May 15, 2003, was unanimously approved by the Committee on 
Government Reform on November 6, 2003. This measure has the support and 
cosponsorship of the entire New Jersey congressional delegation.
  According to preservation New Jersey, New Bridge Landing has great 
historical significance. The Landing, an inland port situated on a 
strategic site, was an important shipping point for hundreds of years 
and was the scene of many fights during the Revolutionary War. Other 
historic structures that helped make up New Bridge Landing are the 
Steuben House, a stone Dutch mansion built in 1750; a 19th century 
swinging bridge; a tidal mill site; and the site of New Bridge Landing, 
a river embarkation point. Three other buildings were moved to the site 
to save them from demolition: The Demerest House, the Westervelt Barn 
and the Campbell-Christie House.
  According to the Bergen County Historical Society, throughout the war 
the New Bridge was considered an important, strategic route, guarded by 
troops from both sides at different times. George Washington's retreat 
across this bridge on November 20, 1776, saved his troops from 
entrapment by advancing troops.
  Mr. Speaker, given the historic nature of New Bridge Landing, it 
seems quite appropriate to redesignate this postal facility in River 
Edge, New Jersey. I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
2130, a bill to redesignate the United States Postal Service facility 
at 121 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, NJ, as the New Bridge Landing 
Post Office.
  As a life-long resident of New Jersey, a history buff, and the 
Congressman who formerly represented the Borough of River Edge for my 
first 6 years in Congress, I am delighted to be a cosponsor of 
legislation that will highlight the unique, strategic role that New 
Jersey, and specifically River Edge, played in the birth of

[[Page 29544]]

our Nation and the Continental Army's success in the Revolutionary War. 
Renaming the River Edge postal facility--located just two blocks away 
from Historic New Bridge Landing--will help ensure that future 
generations will have a window into New Jersey's colonial life that was 
home to more Revolutionary War engagements than any other of the 13 
original colonies.
  New Bridge Landing has played a pivotal role in the development of 
River Edge since Native Americans first inhabited the area. During the 
Revolutionary War, GEN George Washington retreated from historic Fort 
Lee across New Bridge Landing, leading the unprecedented march of a 
ragtag band of volunteer soldiers and a committed people in pursuit of 
the timeless ideals of liberty, freedom, and equality that our Nation 
enjoys today. Its proximity to the Hackensack River later made it a hub 
for industrial development; it was used as both a tidal mill and 
bustling shipping point for iron.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and gratitude for those 
revolutionary fighters that I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
support of H.R. 2130, so that future generations of New Jerseyans will 
remember what those heroic patriots accomplished at New Bridge Landing 
so long ago.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I do not believe I am going to 
have any additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers and I support 
H.R. 2130. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 2130, 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 
121 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, New Jersey, as the `New Bridge 
Landing Post Office'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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