[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6692-6693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RONALD BUCCA POST OFFICE

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4995) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 7 Columbus Avenue in Tuckahoe, New York, as the 
``Ronald Bucca Post Office''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4995

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

     SECTION 1. RONALD BUCCA POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 7 Columbus Avenue in Tuckahoe, New York, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Ronald Bucca 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 ``Ronald Bucca Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from North Carolina.


                             General Leave

  Ms. FOXX. 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 North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4995, offered by the distinguished gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Lowey), would designate the post office building in 
Tuckahoe, New York, as the ``Ronald Bucca Post Office.''
  Ronald Bucca was nicknamed the ``Flying Fireman'' in 1986 after he 
fell spectacularly from a tenement fire escape, spun around a cable 
strung through a backyard, and lived to tell the tale. His specialty 
was rescuing frightened people from the smoke and flames of burning 
buildings during his 23 years as a firefighter. His last 9 years of 
service he acted as the fire marshal. He was also a former nurse and 
reservist in the United States Army Special Forces. Bucca was trained 
as an antiterrorist intelligence expert. And on September 11, 2001, 
Ronald Bucca responded to his call to duty and headed into the city 
toward the Twin Towers. In his quest to assist all those trying to flee 
the fiery scene that day, he lost his life on the 78th floor when the 
South Tower collapsed in flames.
  A valuable member of the fire department and the community, Ronald 
Bucca is sorely missed; and it is only appropriate that we honor him by 
passing H.R. 4995.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time 
as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Lowey), the sponsor of this legislation.

[[Page 6693]]


  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman and the 
distinguished chairwoman for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, which would 
rename the U.S. Post Office in Tuckahoe, New York, after Ronald Bucca. 
I want to thank Mr. Davis and the other members of the Government 
Reform Committee for their support of this bill.
  Born on May 6, 1954, Ronald Bucca spent his life in public service, 
defending our Nation overseas and protecting our communities here at 
home. Over the course of his long and distinguished career as a member 
of the Fire Department of New York, Ron Bucca served with Engine 95, 
Ladder 2, Rescue 1, the Fire Department of New York Terrorist Task 
Force and as a fire marshal. During his time with Rescue 1, Ron was 
severely injured when he fell five stories while attempting to rescue a 
fellow firefighter. When he triumphantly returned to work, he earned 
the nickname the ``Flying Fireman.''
  During the 9/11 attacks, Ron Bucca was one of only two firefighters 
to reach the fire floor of the South Tower. Along with Chief Palmer, 
Ron was stretching a hose line into the 78th floor lobby when the tower 
fell. Ronald Bucca was the first New York City fire marshal to be 
killed in the line of duty.
  In addition to his brave and dedicated career protecting the people 
of New York, Ronald Bucca also performed heroically as a member of the 
Armed Forces. During Ron's military career, he spent time with the 11th 
Special Forces group and the Defense Intelligence Agency, serving as a 
Special Forces first sergeant, a member of the 101st Airborne Division, 
and a Special Forces group defense intelligence analyst.
  For his brave service to our Nation, the military has also honored 
Ronald Bucca. When the 800th Military Police Brigade took command of 
British Enemy Holding Area Freddy in Southern Iraq, it was promptly 
renamed Camp Bucca.
  For Ronald Bucca the military and the fire department honors were 
just the tip of the iceberg. He was also a licensed practical nurse, 
held an associate degree in OSHA and fire science from John Jay 
College, and had a bachelor of science degree in public safety from 
Mercy College.
  For over 20 years Ron and his wife, Eve, made Tuckahoe, New York, 
their home. Ron was actively involved in his children's education and 
encouraged their involvement in the Boy Scouts and various other 
activities.
  I believe Ronald Bucca's life can most appropriately be described by 
those who knew him best, his children. They spoke of him this way: ``He 
was a fireman, a soldier, a nurse, a walking encyclopedia of knowledge, 
and an adventurer. But most of all, he was one of our best friends and 
an incredible dad.''
  Mr. Speaker, Ronald Bucca was a hero in every sense of the word, and 
I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring him by passing this 
legislation.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to improve upon 
such an eloquent statement.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H.R. 4995, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4995.
  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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