[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17127-17128]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             TROOPER JOSHUA D. MILLER POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2415) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 11 Dock Street in Pittston, Pennsylvania, as the 
``Trooper Joshua D. Miller Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2415

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

     SECTION 1. TROOPER JOSHUA D. MILLER POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 11 Dock Street in Pittston, Pennsylvania, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Trooper Joshua D. 
     Miller 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 ``Trooper Joshua D. Miller Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Farenthold) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 2415, introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Barletta) would designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 11 Dock Street in Pittston, Pennsylvania, as the 
``Trooper Joshua D. Miller Post Office Building.''
  This bill is cosponsored by the entire Pennsylvania State delegation, 
and was favorably reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform on the 3rd of November.
  Mr. Speaker, while we've considered multiple bills this afternoon to 
designate postal facilities for fallen military heroes, H.R. 2415 gives 
us the opportunity to honor those who wear a different kind of 
uniform--our country's law enforcement officers.
  Specifically, this legislation would name the post office in 
Pittston, Pennsylvania, for Joshua Miller, a Pennsylvania State trooper 
who was shot and killed in the line of duty on June 7, 2009.
  A veteran of the Marine Corps, Trooper Miller was attempting to save 
a 9-year-old boy from a man who had kidnapped a child at gunpoint when 
he was tragically shot by the suspect. For going above and beyond a 
police officer's duty to protect and serve, I thank Trooper Miller and 
all of those who wear the badge on a daily basis for their selfless 
service and dedication to our community.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield as much time as he 
may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of 
Pennsylvania, the sponsor of this legislation, Mr. Barletta.
  Mr. BARLETTA. I thank the gentleman from Texas for those kind 
remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the life and remember the 
sacrifice of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Joshua D. Miller of 
Pittston.
  Trooper Miller was shot and killed on June 7, 2009, while attempting 
to apprehend a kidnapper who took a 9-year-old boy from his mother at 
gunpoint and fled. As he and his partner were trying to apprehend the 
suspect, Trooper Miller was shot in the upper chest and in the leg. 
While they returned fire, another State trooper and a local law 
enforcement officer were able to smash the window in the kidnapper's 
vehicle, grab the 9-year-old boy and carry him to safety.
  Trooper Miller was flown to a hospital, but he died from his wounds.
  Josh was born on June 13, 1974, a son of Walter Miller of Pittston 
and Peggy Miller of Plymouth. Josh graduated from Pittston Area High 
School, class of 1992. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 
1993, serving honorably and achieving the rank of corporal before his 
discharge.
  Upon separation from active duty, Josh worked at the Monroe County 
Correctional Facility. He enrolled at Lackawanna Junior College and 
attended the Act 120 course. Upon graduation, Josh joined the 
Tunkhannock Borough Police Department in 1999. He worked there until 
September of 2002, when he joined the Pennsylvania State Police.
  Trooper Miller first worked at the Bethlehem barracks, then at the 
Swiftwater barracks in Monroe County. While there, he was selected to 
be a member of an elite unit that conducted aggressive patrols. Trooper 
Miller took pride in training new troopers and hoped to instill his 
work ethic in them.
  In 2001, Josh met his wife, Angela, and they were married in October 
of 2005. He had three daughters: Justine, Breana, and Joslyn.
  After his death, thousands attended his viewing. More than 1,700 law 
enforcement officers from across the country attended his funeral. 
During the service, then-Governor Ed Rendell awarded Trooper Miller a 
posthumous Medal of Honor.
  On the day he was shot and killed in the line of duty, Trooper Miller 
sent an email to a colleague. In it he wrote, ``I will not let anything 
happen to my brothers on my watch.''

[[Page 17128]]

  After years of dedicated service as a U.S. Marine, as a law 
enforcement officer, and as a Pennsylvania State Police trooper, 
Trooper Miller ended his final watch on June 7, 2009. He died while 
saving a boy from a kidnapper with a gun. He died serving his 
community, his commonwealth, and his country.
  That is why I encourage you to support H.R. 2415 and name the United 
States Postal Service facility at 11 Dock Street, Pittston, 
Pennsylvania, the ``Trooper Joshua D. Miller Post Office Building.''
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 2415, a bill to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 11 Dock Street 
in Pittston, Pennsylvania, as the ``Trooper Joshua D. Miller Post 
Office Building.''
  The measure before us was authored by Congressman Lou Barletta, and 
cosponsored by all of the members of the Pennsylvania delegation.
  H.R. 2415 was favorably reported out of the House Oversight and 
Government Reform Committee by unanimous consent on November 3, 2011.

                              {time}  1740

  Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua D. Miller spent his life serving 
his country, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and his local community.
  Born to Walter and Peggy Miller in 1974, Trooper Miller enlisted in 
the Marine Corps in 1993. Upon discharge, he returned to Pennsylvania 
and joined the Tunkhannock Borough Police Department before becoming a 
Pennsylvania State trooper.
  Trooper Miller was a member of an elite unit of troopers assigned to 
handle the most dangerous cases. He made the ultimate sacrifice in the 
line of duty while trying to rescue a 9-year-old boy who had been 
kidnapped at gunpoint and was being held hostage. The young boy was 
ultimately released and returned safely to his family.
  On the day of his death, Trooper Miller wrote in an email to a 
colleague: ``I will not let anything happen to my brothers on my 
watch.'' His life exemplified his commitment to serving his community 
and protecting his fellow officers.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that we pass H.R. 2415 to recognize the life and 
sacrifice of Pennsylvania State Trooper Joshua D. Miller.
  I have no requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
strong support of H.R. 2415.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Farenthold) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2415.
  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. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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