[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 21340-21341]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1445
          STAFF SERGEANT MICHAEL SCHAFER POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3703) to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 8501 Philatelic Drive in Spring 
Hill, Florida, as the ``Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer Post Office 
Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3703

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

     SECTION 1. STAFF SERGEANT MICHAEL SCHAFER POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 8501 Philatelic Drive in Spring Hill, 
     Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Staff 
     Sergeant Michael Schafer 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 ``Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bradley of New Hampshire). Pursuant to 
the rule, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) and the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-
Waite).


                             General Leave

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. 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 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3703. I introduced this 
bill to honor the life of fallen U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael 
Schafer. On July 25 this year, while fighting extremist forces in 
Afghanistan, Sergeant Schafer made the ultimate sacrifice for our great 
Nation that he loved so dearly.
  I sincerely appreciate leadership's willingness to schedule this 
legislation for consideration today. I can only hope that with the 
enactment of H.R. 3703, Michael's widow, parents, and family will be 
comforted by this small token on behalf of a Nation that is eternally 
grateful for Michael's service.
  Michael Schafer, a native of the beautiful town of Spring Hill in my 
district, answered the call to service by enlisting in the Army in 
1998. At the age of 25, Michael had already served tours of duty in 
Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He became the team leader of the Chosen 
Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. In 
addition to being an excellent soldier, he was a model citizen, a 
dutiful son, and a very caring husband.
  Tragically, enemy combatants ambushed Sergeant Schafer and his squad 
in Oruzgan, Afghanistan, on July 25, 2005. They fired shots at the 
American forces. One shot struck Sergeant Schafer. Although wounded, he 
still managed to alert the rest of his team to the imminent danger and 
ordered them to evacuate the area. However, another shot then killed 
him.
  The Army posthumously awarded Sergeant Schafer the Silver Star and 
Purple Heart. The Army recognized that his last act saved the lives of 
at least two of his own soldiers. I am deeply humbled by the brave and 
selfless actions of this young hero.
  I urge my distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring the 
sacrifice made by Michael Schafer to defend the freedom of our great 
Nation, and I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) for 
making possible House passage of this legislation.

[[Page 21341]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. 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 the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) in 
consideration of H.R. 3703, legislation naming a postal facility in 
Spring Hill, Florida, after Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer, a 
courageous soldier who was killed in Afghanistan.
  This measure, which was introduced by the gentlewoman from Florida on 
September 8, 2005, and unanimously reported by the Committee on 
Government Reform on September 15, 2005, enjoys the support and 
cosponsorship of many Members, including the entire Florida delegation.
  Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer grew up in Spring Hill and enlisted in 
the Army in 1998, serving tours of duty in Kosovo, Iraq, and 
Afghanistan. Sergeant Schafer was the team leader of the Chosen 
Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.
  On July 25, 2005, Staff Sergeant Schafer was killed in action while 
leading his team on patrol in Oruzgan, Afghanistan. Enemy combatants 
ambushed his squad and wounded him with a bullet. Before the second 
fatal shot was fired, Sergeant Schafer alerted his team to the imminent 
danger and ordered them to run. The Army awarded him both the Silver 
Star and the Purple Heart, recognizing that his last actions saved the 
lives of at least two of his soldiers at the sacrifice of his own life.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for seeking to honor the legacy 
of Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer whose loyalty to his company saved 
his soldiers' lives. I urge the swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional 
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 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3703.
  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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