[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 21342-21343]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  MAUDELLE SHIREK POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 438) to designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley, 
California, as the ``Maudelle Shirek Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 438

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

     SECTION 1. MAUDELLE SHIREK POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley, California, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Maudelle Shirek 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 Maudelle Shirek 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.
  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I seek to claim time in opposition to 
the motion.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentlewoman from California in favor 
of the motion?
  Ms. WATSON. Yes, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) will 
control 20 minutes in opposition.
  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.

                              {time}  1500

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 438 would name this post office building after 
long-time Berkeley, California resident Maudelle Shirek. The author of 
this legislation is the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who 
seeks to recognize Ms. Shirek.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, normally I would not come to the floor to oppose a bill 
naming a post office in someone else's district. I am confident I speak 
on behalf of some of the west coast Members of Congress, as well as the 
mainstream American values and certainly have no personal animosity 
towards the lady for whom this post office is named in this bill.
  However, there is a plethora of information on the record that sets 
her apart from, I will say, the most consistent of American values. And 
rather than read those into the Record, Mr. Speaker, I just wish to 
voice my objection.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Government 
Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 
438, legislation naming a postal facility in Berkeley, California, 
after Maudelle Shirek. This measure was introduced by the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Lee) on February 1, 2005.
  Maudelle Shirek, the granddaughter of slaves, was born in Jefferson, 
Arkansas, before moving to the Bay Area over 60 years ago. She became 
an activist and a community leader. Certainly

[[Page 21343]]

emblematic of her community, Ms. Shirek has spent a lifetime fighting 
against injustice, poverty, and housing discrimination. She is now 94 
years old.
  In the 1960s and 1970s, she was active in the anti-war movement. She 
founded two senior centers, was one of the first elected officials to 
address the AIDS epidemic, and helped organize the ``Free Mandela 
Movement.''
  A well-known and outspoken former member of the Berkeley City Council 
and former Berkeley vice mayor, Maudelle Shirek was instrumental in 
encouraging former Congressman Ron V. Dellums to enter politics and has 
served as a role model for many people in the community, especially the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Earlier this year the Young Adult Project 2005, Black History Month 
Celebration honored Maudelle Shirek's ``Life, Legacy and Service.''
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) for 
seeking to honor her constituent in her community, a former member of 
the city council, in this manner and urge swift passage of this 
measure.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, just to make a couple of gentle points, the effort has 
been, at least on the record, as not, I do not want to say fighting 
against injustice, but a record of fighting against justice, 
particularly in the case of the effort to free Mumia Abu-Jamal. I think 
most of us know about that particular case. And I am concerned about a 
role model. I am concerned about young people a generation or two from 
now. When they go back by that post office in Berkeley and look at the 
name on the post office, they are going to ask what were the principles 
that brought this about? And I contend that those principles would be 
running contrary to American values.
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize that on September 
27, 2005, I voted ``yea'' on H.R. 438 (rollcall No. 495), which 
designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 2000 
Allston Way in Berkeley, California, as the ``Maudelle Shirek Post 
Office Building.''
  Ms. Maudelle Shirek was the former vice-mayor of the City of Berkeley 
and Member of Berkeley City Council from 1984 to 2004, between the ages 
of 73 and 93. She was one of California's longest serving elected 
officials.
  For 60 years, Ms. Shirek has been campaigning for fair housing and 
civil rights for all Americans, especially the poor. Ms. Shirek helped 
found two Berkeley seniors centers. Until her health started slowing 
her down, Ms. Shirek helped deliver meals to shut-in seniors and did 
all the grocery shopping for lunches at the New Light Senior Center. In 
addition, Ms. Shirek received a Special Recognition Award in 1997 from 
the Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union for 55 years of tireless 
work in the credit union movement.
  Before voting on H.R. 438, I was fully aware of the aforementioned 
efforts and achievements during Ms. Shirek's life. I found them reason 
to name a Post Office after her.
  However, after I voted ``yea'' on H.R. 438, I was informed of Ms. 
Shirek's active support for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a man 
convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer. Upon learning this, 
I could not, in good faith, support H.R. 438. Had I known this prior to 
voting on H.R. 438, I would have voted ``nay.''
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to make a 
few comments about H.R. 438.
  In the House we routinely name Federal post offices after notable 
Americans. In fact, last year I responded to a request from numerous 
constituents to name the post office in Dunn, NC after the late General 
William C. Lee.
  The bill on the floor today, H.R. 438, would rename the post office 
at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley, California after Ms. Maudelle Shirek. 
I am concerned about the lack of committee review over this bill, as 
H.R. 438 was not heard or marked up by the Government Reform Committee. 
It is the responsibility of the committee of jurisdiction to review the 
qualifications of the individual being honored and to determine if he 
or she should be a candidate for Federal recognition.
  Despite my reservations about the review process for H.R. 438, I will 
vote for this legislation as a matter of routine congressional courtesy 
and respect for the bill's sponsor Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her 
constituents.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to recognize an unsung hero 
and political legend in the East Bay area, Ms. Maudelle Shirek.
  The legislation we are considering here today, H.R. 438, would name 
the post office building at 2000 Allston Way in Berkeley after Maudelle 
Shirek.
  It would have been impossible for the House to consider this bill 
without the timely help of my colleagues, the Chairman and Ranking 
Member of the House Government Reform Committee, Congressmen Tom Davis 
and Henry Waxman. I thank the gentlemen for their assistance.
  I would also like to thank Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Democratic 
Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer for their help in 
bringing this bill to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, this special tribute is long overdue. In fact, in June 
2003, the Berkeley City Council passed a resolution recommending the 
post office naming. I am pleased that we will finally honor Maudelle 
Shirek today.
  Maudelle Shirek was Berkeley's 94-year-old former vice mayor. Until 
last fall, Maudelle was one of California's longest-serving elected 
officials.
  As one of my political heroes, she continues to fight for equality 
and social justice for all. She not only helped me get involved in 
politics but also inspired my predecessor, Congressman Ronald V. 
Dellums, to run for Congress. Her understanding of the importance in 
investing in people has won the solid support of voters in her district 
and admirers around the world as an international leader for peace and 
justice.
  A granddaughter of slaves, Maudelle left her rural Arkansas home and 
came to California in the middle of World War II. Before long she was 
campaigning for fair housing and other civil rights for African 
Americans. She helped found two Berkeley senior centers, and until her 
health started to slow her down, she helped deliver meals to shut-in 
seniors; or if it was a Tuesday, did all the shopping for lunches at 
the New Light Senior Center, which she founded nearly 30 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, Maudelle Shirek entered elected politics in 1983 after 
being forced to retire from a senior center simply for having reached 
the age of 72. Soon after her election to Berkeley City Council, she 
helped end the discriminatory policy of mandatory retirement in 
Berkeley city agencies.
  Maudelle refuses to accept arbitrary limitations. It is one of the 
things we all respect about her. Maudelle remains one of the best 
examples of how one person can make a difference.
  Ms. Maudelle Shirek is a fearless and inspirational woman who for 
over 60 years has tirelessly fought to make this world a fair and just 
place. She has spoken for the voiceless and has been a staunch defender 
of our basic civil rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in supporting 
this resolution, H.R. 438.
  The world would be a better place if we had more Maudelles.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bradley of New Hampshire). 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. 
438.
  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. KING of Iowa. 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.

                          ____________________