[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 19723-19724]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 EVAN ASA ASHCRAFT POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 5147) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 23055 Sherman Way in West Hills, California, as the 
``Evan Asa Ashcraft Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5147

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

     SECTION 1. EVAN ASA ASHCRAFT POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 23055 Sherman Way in West Hills, 
     California, shall be known and designated as the ``Evan Asa 
     Ashcraft 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 Evan Asa Ashcraft Post Office Building.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 5147, the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this legislation sponsored by 
the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform, 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman). Upon enactment of H.R. 
5147, this post office will forever carry the name of Evan Asa 
Ashcraft. Evan Asa Ashcraft was an army sergeant with the 101st 
Airborne Division.
  Mr. Speaker, Sergeant Ashcraft was killed in Iraq on July 24, 2003, 
when his convoy came under attack from Iraqi militants. Sergeant 
Ashcraft led a division that took part in the assault in northern Iraq 
that killed Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay. Evan was 24 years 
old. All Americans, and those who knew this young man, have felt a 
terrible loss.
  Evan's family said that the West Hills, California, native had 
planned to join the Los Angeles Police Department on his scheduled 
discharge from the Army in what would have been January of 2004. His 
father-in-law, LAPD Lieutenant Loren Farell said the following after 
Evan passed away, and I quote: ``He was a good soldier. He would have 
made a great cop. As for the rest of us, Evan, you are a hero to all of 
us and you are a hero to your country.'' Those are the words of Mr. 
Farell.
  Lieutenant Farell's poignant words speak for all Members of the House 
tonight. Evan Ashcraft was a proud American soldier and his toils 
simultaneously helped to liberate a nation from oppression and defend 
the world from tyranny. Evan is survived by his loving wife, Ashley.
  Once again, Mr. Speaker, I urge the pass of this legislation tonight 
to honor one of our fallen heroes, Evan Ashcraft.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government Reform, I am 
pleased to join my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), in 
consideration of H.R. 5147, which names the post office in West Hills, 
California, after Evan Asa Ashcraft.
  Sergeant Ashcraft, a native of West Hills, California, joined the 
U.S. Army in 2000, specifically the 101st Airborne Division, the 
Screaming Eagles, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. As a member of 
Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry of the 101st, Sergeant 
Ashcraft was deployed to Iraq in March of 2003.
  Shortly after his arrival, he rescued two wounded soldiers, saving 
their lives. Sadly, he lost his life in 2003 after the Humvee he was 
driving was hit by enemy rockets.
  Sergeant Ashcraft was awarded the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. 
He leaves behind a wife, his parents, a brother, and many other family 
members. I commend my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Waxman), the ranking member of the Committee on Government Reform, for 
seeking to honor the sacrifice of Evan Asa Ashcraft by naming a postal 
facility in his hometown, and I urge swift adoption of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to 
conclude.
  Mr. Speaker, tonight we have recognized three heroes who lost their 
lives in service to this Nation. It is a small token of appreciation 
that this Congress extends to recognize these heroes. One was not a 
citizen of this country, a native of the Dominican Republic, who we 
honored with citizenship after he gave his life in service to this 
country. Evan Asa Ashcraft is being recognized with H.R. 5147.
  Each of these are precious lives and each of these are a great sorrow 
and loss for their families. We must think

[[Page 19724]]

and reflect upon all of these heroes, some from my district. And I have 
attended some of those funerals, consoled some of the loved ones who 
lost their sons. Tonight we do recognize again three heroes who served 
this Nation and we wonder about the greatness of this Nation, how men 
and women can go forth and their families can sacrifice them in causes 
that sometimes seem remote.
  I remember speaking to a high school graduation class in central 
Florida. A young man in that class went in service to this Nation and 
was murdered 2 years later by terrorists in Khobar Towers, Brian 
McVeigh, who I never forget, and many other young men and women who 
have lost their lives both in combat and by accident in service to this 
Nation in Iraq.
  I think of those who lost their lives to remove a thug and a drug 
dealer from Panama. I think of those who lost their lives in Europe and 
Kosovo, in that region of the world, to restore stability. And I think 
how great these American heroes are that not only allow us to live in 
freedom, with liberty and a system of justice, but to let others have 
that potential across the globe.
  Sometimes it succeeds and sometimes it does not, but they have given 
their full measure and their families have given their loved ones so 
that others may have even the potential of enjoying the freedoms that 
we Americans take for granted.
  So tonight we have honored three American heroes, and, finally 
tonight I ask the House to pass H.R. 5147 and name a post office 
building in honor of Evan Asa Ashcraft.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring the life of a young man, Evan Asa Ashcraft, whose life was cut 
short serving our nation in Iraq. H.R. 5147, which has been cosponsored 
by the entire California delegation, would name the post office located 
at 23055 Sherman Way in West Hills, California the ``Evan Asa Ashcraft 
Post Office.''
  Evan Ashcraft was smart, talented, and energetic. He represented the 
very best of American values. From an early age, he excelled in school, 
first at Welby Way Gifted Magnet School in West Hills, then at Nobel 
Middle School Magnet in Northridge and El Camino Real High School in 
Woodland Hills.
  Evan was devoted to his family--his wife, Ashley, his mother, Jane, 
his father, Asa, his younger brother, Drew, his stepmother, Beverly, 
and his two stepsisters, Felicia and Theresa.
  By all accounts, Evan was extremely dedicated. Anything he put his 
mind to, he accomplished in grand fashion, and his service in the 
military was no exception. He enlisted in the Army at the age of 20, 
and it did not take long for his superior officers to recognize that he 
was a gifted soldier. Midway through his basic training, Evan was made 
a team leader.
  Evan enjoyed his time with the 101st Airborne division. As was often 
the case in his life, however, he sought a greater challenge and 
volunteered for duty with the elite Army Rangers. Unfortunately, he was 
injured during training and returned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 327th 
Infantry of the 101st.
  On March 1, 2003, Evan was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. He saw action quickly, participating in the liberation 
of Baghdad International Airport and the mission that found two of 
Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Usay.
  A month later, the Humvee Evan was riding in hit a land mind and came 
under enemy fire. Both soldiers accompanying Evan were badly wounded 
and in desperate need of medical attention. Showing no regard for his 
own safety, Evan risked his life to pull the two men to safety. 
According to others on hand that day, were it not for Evan's quick and 
decisive action, both men would have died.
  One of the men Evan saved that day, Sergeant Arcebuce, said, ``Evan 
was always there for his men. He was a natural born leader.''
  Like so many soldiers in Iraq, Evan had big dreams for his life after 
the war. He planned to move back to California with his wife, Ashley, 
start a family, and join the Los Angeles police force. His reason for 
doing so was simple according to Ashley: ``He was a person who really 
wanted to help other people, to protect them.''
  Evan was not able to realize his dreams. He was killed with two other 
soldiers on July 24, 2003, when his Humvee was attacked during a 
reconnasissance mission near Mosul.
  To the people who knew him, Evan represented hope for America's 
future. After he died, his mother wrote, ``This loss is not just mine, 
it's the world's loss . . . Evan will always be with us in spirit. He 
still lives, and will continue to live, in all of us.'' Evan was 
awarded the Bronze Star for bravery, and was posthumously awarded the 
Purple Heart and the rank of Sergeant.
  By naming a post office in Evan's honor in his hometown of West 
Hills, his community and a grateful nation will always be reminded of 
the life, the contributions, and the ultimate sacrifice of this 
extraordinary young man.
  I urge unanimous support for H.R. 5147.
  Mr. MICA. 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 Florida (Mr. Mica) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 5147.
  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.

                          ____________________