[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17824-17825]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1415
                         LARRY COX POST OFFICE

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 5434) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 40 South Walnut Street in Chillicothe, Ohio, 
as the ``Larry Cox Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5434

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

     SECTION 1. LARRY COX POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 40 South Walnut Street in Chillicothe, 
     Ohio, shall be known and designated as the ``Larry Cox 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 ``Larry Cox Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members 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. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5434 offered by the distinguished gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Ney) would designate the post office building in Chillicothe, 
Ohio, as the Larry Cox Post Office.
  Larry Cox began his career with the Chillicothe police department in 
1986. From that point until his untimely death in April of 2005, he 
devoted himself to protecting and improving the community around him. 
He served as a DARE officer for city and parochial schools teaching 
students about the dangers of drug use, and made a positive impact on 
their lives that really is immeasurable. He devoted much of his 
personal time to mentoring students and greatly enjoyed chaperoning 
school dances and functions.
  The day of Officer Cox's death is marked both by his courage and his 
commitment to the police force. He was off duty, but he did not 
hesitate to come to the aid of fellow officers who were pursuing a 
fleeing suspect. The suspect shot and killed Officer Cox, and he will 
be deeply missed by his family and the community of Chillicothe, Ohio.
  In recognition of this brave officer, I hope that all Members will 
join me in naming the Chillicothe postal facility in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Government Reform Committee, I 
am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 5434, which 
names a postal facility in Chillicothe, Ohio, after Officer Larry Cox. 
H.R. 5434 was introduced by Representative Robert Ney on May 19, 2006.
  This measure, which was unanimously reported by the Government Reform 
Committee on June 8, 2006, was cosponsored by the entire Ohio 
Congressional delegation. Officer Cox, a member of the Chillicothe 
police department for 19 years, was serving as a Drug Abuse Resistance 
Education, DARE officer, at the time of his death. Although off duty, 
Officer Cox was shot and killed on April 25, 2005, as he chased and 
confronted a robbery suspect.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this measure as a fitting tribute to the 
service and bravery of Officer Larry Cox and urge its passage.
  I don't believe that I am going to have any additional speakers on 
this item and therefore yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield as much time as he 
may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Ohio (Mr. 
Ney), the author of this bill.
  Mr. NEY. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) for bringing this bill forth and my colleague, the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for supporting this important bill, 
important not only to the memory of Officer Larry Cox, but important to 
the memory of law enforcement also.
  Yesterday was, of course, the anniversary of 9/11, and so many 
people, Mr. Speaker, tragically lost their lives, but it was evident 
and mentioned yesterday so many times over and over about law 
enforcement and the firefighters that went in to try to save others and 
put themselves right into harm's way.
  We can only remember a few years ago here in the U.S. Capitol when 9/
11 happened, and at that time the officers were telling people to clear 
the buildings as thousands of people left this Capitol, yet the 
officers stayed here to put themselves again in harm's way. So over and 
over again we have seen it on Capitol Hill with law enforcement, and we 
have to be so respectful of law enforcement and firefighters.
  In today's case, talking about a wonderful individual, I rise today 
to support H.R. 5434, a bill to name the post office in Chillicothe, 
Ohio, in the 18th District I represent, in honor of Police Officer 
Larry Cox. I also want to thank Rob Cogan of our staff and Denise 
Wilson of Government Reform for making this bill possible today.
  Officer Cox was a man of dignity and compassion, a 19-year veteran of 
the Chillicothe police force in Chillicothe, Ohio. Officer Cox was a 
devoted law enforcement official who had dedicated his life to one of 
our Nation's noblest fights, keeping our children away from drugs.
  As a DARE officer, Officer Cox was able to provide impressionable 
elementary school students with the guidance and support that many 
could not find anywhere else. Having been a star athlete growing up, 
Officer Cox knew the pressures these young students face, and he was 
always quick to offer a kind word and listening ear to any student who 
needed a little extra attention.
  On the evening of Thursday, April 21, 2005, as Officer Cox walked 
home from visiting his parents, he surprised a fleeing robbery suspect, 
who then shot him in an utterly senseless act of violence. He was 44 
years old. Officer Larry Cox is survived by his wife, Teresa, and his 
son, Evan, as well as his parents and sister.
  It is times like these that we can question sometimes the world we 
live in, but we must not let the senseless act blind us from the good 
that is around, the compassion of our teachers, the innocence of our 
children, and the ultimate bravery of our law enforcement officials. 
For it is these things that Officer Cox was born of and ultimately died 
for.
  So I stand here today to honor the life of Officer Larry Cox, to 
honor each and every law enforcement official that risks his or her 
life to protect the most treasured pieces of our community. Officer Cox 
understood these treasures. Officer Cox years ago, I believe, looked in 
the mirror and saw himself as the person who would accept 
responsibility to make this a safer and better world. That is the type 
of individual that Officer Larry Cox was. He understood the importance 
of the treasures and the paramount importance of caring for others.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation naming 
the Larry Cox Post Office in Chillicothe, Ohio.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I also have no other demands for time. 
I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 5434, and I yield 
back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page 17825]]

the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5434.
  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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