[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16] [House] [Pages 21341-21342] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RANDALL D. SHUGHART POST OFFICE BUILDING Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2062) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 57 West Street in Newville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Randall D. Shughart Post Office Building''. The Clerk read as follows: H.R. 2062 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. RANDALL D. SHUGHART POST OFFICE BUILDING. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 57 West Street in Newville, Pennsylvania, shall be known and designated as the ``Randall D. Shughart 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 ``Randall D. Shughart Post Office Building''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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, H.R. 2062 honors a soldier of the highest distinction, Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart of the U.S. Army's Special Operations Command. Along with my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), I strongly support H.R. 2062 which designates this post office in Newville, Pennsylvania, as the Randall D. Shughart Post Office Building. On October 3, 1993, while serving as a sniper team member with the Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sergeant Shughart embarked on a mission that would leave him fatally wounded. While performing precision sniper fires at a helicopter crash site, Sergeant Shughart and his team leader, Master Sergeant Gary Gordon, volunteered to be inserted into the crossfire in order to save a wounded soldier below, knowing that there were no ground troops available to secure the area. After having to abort the first mission due to enemy ground fire, Sergeant Shughart descended 100 meters south of the crash site. Only armed with a long-range rifle and sidearm, SFC Shughart fought his way to the fallen helicopter facing tremendous opposition. Upon arriving at the site, Sergeant Shughart secured the perimeter by offering protective fire for the pilot of the aircraft so he could escape to safety. Sadly, upon the depletion of his ammunition, Sergeant Shughart was killed in the crossfire. The unmistaken and important heroic acts by Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart were later depicted in the feature film ``Blackhawk Down'' in 2001. I certainly want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) for his work on this very important issue, recognizing the courageous actions of a true American hero. The men and women who protect our country deserve appropriate recognition for their service and commitment to their country, and that is just what this bill does: it recognizes Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart, whose courageous actions in combat cost him his life, by naming a post office after him. This will serve as a constant reminder to the entire community of his brave actions when his Nation called. At this moment, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, because of his role on the Select Bipartisan Committee Investigating the Response to and Preparation for Hurricane Katrina, is unable to be with us here. Nevertheless, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania again for his leading effort on this legislation that honors one of America's great heroes, Randall Shughart. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleague in support of naming a post office after Sergeant Shughart, and we join the entire Pennsylvania delegation in support of this measure. Mr. Speaker, Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart was an exemplary member of America's Armed Forces who went above the call of duty to save his team member's life. I commend my colleague for sponsoring this measure, and I urge the swift passage of the bill. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 2062, legislation naming a postal facility in Newville, Pennsylvania, after the late Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart. This measure, which was introduced by Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA) on May 3, 2005, and unanimously reported by the Committee on Government Reform on September 15, 2005, enjoys the support and co-sponsorship of the entire Pennsylvania delegation. Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart, born in Newville, Pennsylvania, served in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. On October 3, 1993, Shughart provided precision sniper fire from the lead helicopter at an assault on a building and at two Black Hawk helicopter crash sites. Sergeant Shughart and [[Page 21342]] his team leader, Master Sergeant Gary Gordon, learned that ground forces weren't available to secure the crash site and protect four critically injured crew members. Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted for an on-the-ground rescue, well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After three requests, Shughart received permission to perform this volunteer mission. Once inserted, Sergeant Shughart and his team leader fought their way through intense enemy fire to reach the critically injured crew members. Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft and killed an undetermined number of attackers while protecting the downed crew. He continued his protective fire until his ammunition was depleted and he was fatally wounded. For his heroic actions, Sgt. First Class Shughart was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. Mr. Speaker, designating the post office in Newville, Pennsylvania is an excellent way to honor the memory of Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart. Sergeant Shughart was an exemplary member of America's armed forces who went above the call of duty to save his team member's life. I commend my colleague for sponsoring this measure and I urge the swift passage of this bill. Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart, a central Pennsylvanian who received the military's highest decoration--the Medal of Honor-- posthumously for his service in Mogadishu, Somalia. He is from Newville, Pennsylvania, and served as a Sniper Team Member under United States Army Special Operations Command. He was deployed with Task Force Ranger to Mogadishu and his heroic actions were highlighted in the movie ``Black Hawk Down.'' This bill will name a Newville post office after this American hero whose selfless duty cost him his life but saved another. During a combat mission, a helicopter was shot down leaving critically injured soldiers vulnerable. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, without hesitation, volunteered to be reinserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite knowing a growing number of combatants were closing in on the site. They were not granted permission, but knowing their fellow soldiers needed help, they continued to make the request. On their third attempt, they received permission for this volunteer operation and headed back into combat. Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only a sniper rifle and a pistol, Shughart and his team leader fought their way through a dense urban neighborhood to reach the critically injured crew members. Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft and established a perimeter. However, they were in a very vulnerable position as the insurgents continued their assault on the site. Shughart used his long-range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers to protect the downed crew. Randall Shughart continued his fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded, but his actions saved the pilot's life. Shughart's extraordinary heroism, commitment to duty and devotion to his fellow soldiers is just one example of the amazing work of the U.S. military--naming a post office after this American hero is the least we can do. The men and women of our armed forces are fighting abroad today so we do not have to fight them here. It is only appropriate that we honor their services and sacrifices. And today, we are moving forward in naming a post office in Newville, Pennsylvania, after this defender of freedom who volunteered for a dangerous mission to save his fellow soldier's life. Not every town is privileged to have a Medal of Honor recipient--in fact it is rare. Now, the entire Newville community will have a reminder of Randall Shughart, a recipient of the military's highest honor and an American hero to everyone. Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, 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. 2062. 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. ____________________