[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5505-5506]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               MAXINE S. POSTAL UNITED STATES POST OFFICE

  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3917) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 695 Marconi Boulevard in Copiague, New York, as the 
``Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3917

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

     SECTION 1. MAXINE S. POSTAL UNITED STATES POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 695 Marconi Boulevard in Copiague, New 
     York, shall be known and designated as the ``Maxine S. Postal 
     United States 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 Maxine S. Postal United States Post 
     Office.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. CARTER. 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 the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3917, introduced by the distinguished gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Israel), designates the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 695 Marconi Boulevard in Copiague, New 
York, as the ``Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office Building.''
  Since first being elected in 1987, Maxine Postal was an esteemed 
member of the Suffolk County Legislature in New York. There is little 
question that she was an effective public servant and respected across 
political party lines. Her hallmarks in the legislature included 
fighting for tax relief, promoting community recycling programs, and 
revitalizing area recreation centers for citizens of Suffolk County.
  Outside of her work in the legislature, her community contributions 
included serving as treasurer of the Amityville Board of Education and 
founding a library and a local soccer league.
  Mr. Speaker, one cannot capture the worth of a local leader like 
Maxine Postal in a mere list of accomplishments. That is why I am 
pleased that enactment of this legislation will immortalize her legacy 
by naming a post office after her in the town she represented in the 
county legislature.
  Mr. Speaker, Maxine Postal sadly passed away on New Year's Day, 2004, 
succumbing to a rare brain disorder known as CJD. She had announced her 
resignation from the legislature just days before she died. Maxine 
Postal was a valued public servant who is most deserving of this post 
office commemoration.
  I thank the gentleman from New York for advancing this legislation 
through the Committee on Government Reform to the House floor for 
consideration today. I urge all Members to support H.R. 3917 that 
honors Maxine Postal.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased 
to join with my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 3917, 
legislation naming a postal facility in Copiague, New York, after 
Maxine Postal. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Israel) on March 9, 2004, and unanimously reported by our 
committee on March 18, 2004, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of 
the entire New York delegation.
  Maxine Postal was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1942. She grew up in 
Brooklyn, was educated in Brooklyn, and taught school in Brooklyn. In 
1968, she opened the Busy Bee Nursery School and Kindergarten in 
Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Postal used her vast teaching experience and 
expertise to serve as president of the Hauppauge Library Board and 
later as president of the Amityville Board of Education.
  In the late 1980s, Mrs. Postal was elected to the Suffolk County 
Legislature where she served for 15 years until her death of 
Creutzfeldt-Jakob, a rare brain disorder, on New Year's Day at a 
hospice on West Palm Beach, Florida.
  While an active member of the county legislature, Mrs. Postal was a 
liberal Democrat, I like that, dedicated to improving the lives of 
those in her community. She was a tireless advocate for

[[Page 5506]]

the homeless, the downtrodden, and the poor, using her position on the 
social services committee to better living conditions for those living 
on the streets. She was a woman of the people who fought for everyone 
and championed the rights of all to live free from discrimination and 
oppression.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join the sponsor in honoring the life of 
Maxine Postal and pleased that we are seeking to remember her good 
works, her good deeds, her advocacy for the poor, the downtrodden, 
those who are oftentimes forgotten. So it is my pleasure to urge swift 
passage of this resolution.
  I know that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel) had wanted to be 
present but could not make it, and I wanted to indicate that so that, 
as sponsor of this legislation, his name is listed in the Record as 
individuals pick up the Congressional Record and see or read the 
proceedings.
  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to first begin by thanking the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), the Gentleman from California (Mr. 
Waxman) and all members of the Committee of Government Reform for 
reporting H.R. 3917 so promptly.
  I also thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for managing debate on this bill that honors 
former Suffolk County Presiding Officer Maxine S. Postal, who died so 
tragically this past January after a courageous battle with the rare 
brain disorder Creutzfeld-Jakob.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Members to support H.R. 3917, a bill 
I introduced that designates the Copiague, New York post office as the 
Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office.
  The speed this legislation moved through the House is a tribute to 
the great respect and admiration held for Maxine Postal. She was a good 
friend and wonderful public servant.
  Maxine was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 24, 1942. She 
graduated from Brooklyn College, achieving a master's degree in fine 
arts.
  For the past three decades, Maxine served her Long Island community 
with distinction and tireless dedication.
  I had the honor of first knowing Maxine and working with her in 1987, 
when she became the first woman to represent the 15th Legislative 
District in Suffolk County.
  Maxine achieved many legislative accomplishments, including efforts 
to protect the environment through recycling and preserving open space, 
ease the tax burden, ensure access to better health care and treatment, 
and work to revitalize and beautify community centers.
  She never stopped fighting for the best interests of the people she 
represented, the working families of Suffolk County.
  Maxine died on New Year's Day, a few weeks after being diagnosed with 
Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease. CJD is an extremely rare brain disorder, 
affecting only one person in a million.
  Maxine was diagnosed with the sporadic form, which is not associated 
with contaminated beef like the variant form. In most cases, CJD causes 
the rapid development of neurological and neuro-muscular symptoms and 
often proves fatal in less than a year after the disorder becomes 
apparent.
  To those of us who knew Maxine, we will remember her bravery and 
courageous battle against this fatal disease.
  We will continue to miss her, but will always be inspired by her 
leadership. She had an unparalleled ability to stand firmly on 
principle while bringing diverse views together in bipartisan 
coalitions that moved Suffolk County forward.
  Franky, not just Suffolk Country but New York and our country could 
use more elected officials like Maxine Postal. She is a model of what a 
public servant can and should be.
  The Maxine S. Postal United States Post Office will serve as a 
lasting tribute to her many years of public service and her invaluable 
impact on Suffolk County. So that years from now, a new generation of 
Long Islanders will cherish her service and honor her memory.
  She was an extraordinary New Yorker, a proud American and a vital 
member of our community.
  I ask for my colleagues' unanimous support of H.R. 3917 in honor of 
Maxine S. Postal's bravery and outstanding accomplishments.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H.R. 3917. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3917.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. CARTER. 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.

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