[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2802-2804]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN FALLEN MILITARY HEROES OF LOUISVILLE MEMORIAL POST 
                            OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4454) to designate the facility of the United 
States Postal Service located at 3050 Hunsinger Lane in Louisville, 
Kentucky, as the ``Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of 
Louisville Memorial Post Office Building'', in honor of the service men 
and women from Louisville, Kentucky, who died in service during 
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4454

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

     SECTION 1. IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN FALLEN MILITARY HEROES OF 
                   LOUISVILLE MEMORIAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 3050 Hunsinger Lane in Louisville, 
     Kentucky, shall be known and designated as the ``Iraq and 
     Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of Louisville Memorial 
     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 ``Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Military 
     Heroes of Louisville Memorial Post Office Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, now I would like to yield such 
time as he might consume to the sponsor of this legislation, 
Representative John Yarmuth from Kentucky.
  Mr. YARMUTH. I thank my colleague.

[[Page 2803]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the eight American heroes from 
Louisville, Kentucky, who were taken from us in the prime of their 
lives these last 5 years.
  While they did not serve together, they all shared a special bond of 
selfless dedication, love of country, and immeasurable courage. Those 
noble qualities did not originate when they volunteered to serve in the 
Armed Forces, but their time serving greatly enhanced and magnified 
those attributes. In his service, each man proved the valor time and 
time again, readily meeting every challenge that confronted him with 
loyalty and devotion. Tragically, and long before we were ready to say 
good-bye, these brave souls made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting 
for the United States of America, seven in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
one in Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom.
  Still, for all they shared, these men were also characterized by a 
wonderful individuality: an incredible athlete and officer, a great dad 
who would have been a great coach, a third generation warrior called to 
heaven before he could answer another call to preach the Word of God, a 
peacekeeper in Bosnia who wanted to come home to Louisville and 
continue to keep the peace in his hometown, an EMS worker known for 
empathy, an unflappable National Guardsman, a decorated military 
officer, and a poet and performer who could light up the stage and 
brighten your day.
  Some of these men were known for their sense of humor, others by a 
sense of purpose, and with each of them, their fellow servicemembers 
knew they could be depended upon in the most dire circumstances. The 
men we honor today saved lives, and every one of them is an American 
hero.
  Some of them spent a short time in the military; others spent half 
their lives in the service. And all gave their lives for this country, 
for our history, for our citizens, and most of all, for our future.
  We are, each one of us, poorer for their loss but infinitely richer 
for the time they spent on this planet and the contributions that they 
made to our community and this Nation.
  For the families who lost a son, a husband, a father, and for the 
many who lost a good friend, this is a wound that time can never fully 
heal. The grief we all share for their loss is not fleeting and demands 
a memorial of equal permanence. In recognition of these great heroes, I 
am proposing legislation to rename the Hikes Point Post Office the Iraq 
and Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of Louisville Memorial Post 
Office in my congressional district, the Third District of Kentucky.
  As our friends, neighbors, and I conduct our daily business in our 
community, this building will stand in testament for the tremendous 
sacrifice made by eight brave Louisvillians. When their families see 
the memorial, I hope they are reminded they are not alone in their 
grief, not alone in their appreciation for the deeds of these men, and 
not alone in the celebration of the lives of eight extraordinary 
individuals who gave us everything they had in their short time on 
Earth.
  Sergeant Michael Acklin II, Captain Clayton Lee Adamkavicius, Lance 
Corporal Robert Lynch, Sergeant Darrin K. Potter, Sergeant First Class 
Christopher Phelps, Staff Sergeant George S. Rentschler, Petty Officer 
Third Class Jeffrey L. Wiener, and Sergeant David Neil Wimberg.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in offering these 
men this honor which will have the same permanence as their positive 
impact on our country, by renaming the Hikes Point Post Office the Iraq 
and Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of Louisville Memorial Post 
Office.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  I rise today to urge passage of this bill designating the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 3050 Hunsinger Lane in 
Louisville, Kentucky, as the ``Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Military 
Heroes of Louisville Memorial Post Office Building.''

                              {time}  1100

  In the wake of the attacks of September 11, the United States struck 
back against those forces that wished to destroy not only this Nation, 
but all people that do not agree with their limited views on freedom, 
justice, and democracy. Every day across this great Nation, men and 
women answer the call to duty to combat these forces. Many have paid 
the ultimate price. Others have been wounded. But their sacrifice came 
so others may live safe and free. For that, we are eternally grateful.
  Since the beginning of this conflict, eight heroic servicepeople from 
Louisville, Kentucky, have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. We 
honor their sacrifice with this postal designation. This also serves to 
honor those who may lose their lives in service to our country in the 
future.
  These brave citizens of Louisville, like so many other Americans, 
lost their lives protecting us from those people who fight against the 
rights and privileges that we as Americans enjoy. I urge that we pass 
this bill so that their memory and sacrifice will not be forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I join Representative John Yarmuth and his fellow colleagues 
from the Bluegrass State of Kentucky in considering H.R. 4454, which 
renames the postal facility at 3050 Hunsinger Lane in Louisville, 
Kentucky, as the Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of 
Louisville Memorial Post Office Building.
  As stated in the measure at hand, it was first introduced by 
Congressman John Yarmuth on December 11, 2007, and is cosponsored by 
all members of the Kentucky congressional delegation. The measure was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where it 
was considered and passed by voice vote on January 29, 2008.
  H.R. 4454 is intended to remember the lives, service, and legacy of 
dozens of military men and women from the Louisville, Kentucky, area, 
who died in service during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. By renaming this particular Louisville, Kentucky, post 
office, H.R. 4454 would set into motion the creation of a living 
tribute to the sacrifices made by so many of Kentucky's sons and 
daughters who gave their lives abroad in order to ensure our protection 
here in the homeland, an honor befitting the thousands of military men 
and women, past and present, from every State of the Union, that have 
unselfishly given themselves in service and battle for America.
  H.R. 4454 will help to memorialize for generations to come the memory 
of Louisville, Kentucky's fallen loved ones.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I ask that we too pay tribute to the sacrifices made 
by these great American heroes and sheroes and pass H.R. 4454.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of 
H.R. 4454, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time. I would urge passage of this legislation, and yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4454.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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.

[[Page 2804]]



                          ____________________