[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12379-12380]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              CORPORAL STEVEN BLAINE RICCIONE POST OFFICE

  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2244) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 67 Castle Street in Geneva, New York, as the 
``Corporal Steven Blaine Riccione Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2244

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

     SECTION 1. CORPORAL STEVEN BLAINE RICCIONE POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 67 Castle Street in Geneva, New York, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Corporal Steven Blaine 
     Riccione 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 ``Corporal Steven Blaine Riccione Post 
     Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LANKFORD. 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 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANKFORD. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2244, introduced by the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Hanna), would designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 67 Castle Street in Geneva, New York, as the 
Corporal Steven Blaine Riccione Post Office.
  The bill is cosponsored by the entire New York State delegation and 
was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on 
June 22.
  With that, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Hanna).
  Mr. HANNA. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2244, which 
designates a post office in Geneva, New York, as the Corporal Steven 
Blaine Riccione Post Office.
  I introduced this legislation to extend long overdue recognition to a 
national hero from the 24th Congressional District.
  Corporal Steven Riccione was a native of Geneva, New York. He was a 
Geneva High School graduate who volunteered to join the Army in 1967 
during the Vietnam War.
  While on a search and destroy mission with his platoon in Vietnam, 
Corporal Riccione came under intense enemy fire and became pinned down. 
Riccione, then a private, saw a machine gunner in his platoon get 
wounded. As Major General E.M. Strong described in his October 1967 
account: ``Private Riccione, with complete disregard for his own 
safety, rushed from his covered position through a vicious hail of 
enemy fire to aid his wounded comrade.
  ``He continuously exposed himself to the withering hail of enemy 
fire, standing up at times, to place effective fire on enemy positions. 
When his weapon was struck by an enemy bullet and was demolished, he 
undauntedly picked up a machine gun and charged an enemy bunker, 
killing two enemy soldiers.
  ``Shortly after, Private Riccione was mortality wounded while helping 
to evacuate wounded personnel under heavy enemy fire.
  ``Private Riccione's devotion to duty and personal courage were in 
keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect 
great credit upon himself and the United States Army.''
  Corporal Riccione was killed in action while helping to evacuate 
wounded American soldiers.
  As a result of Private Riccione's actions, Major General Strong 
recommended him for the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, and the 
Bronze Star Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, which he was 
posthumously awarded. He was also promoted to corporal.
  Mr. Speaker, Corporal Riccione is a source of great pride to his 
family, his community in Geneva, my congressional district, and indeed 
to a grateful Nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so that Corporal 
Riccione's memory may be honored in his own hometown of Geneva, New 
York, for generations to come.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform minority, I am pleased to present for consideration 
H.R. 2244, which would rename the United States Postal Service facility 
at 67 Castle Street in Geneva, New York, as the Corporal Steven Blaine 
Riccione Post Office Building.

[[Page 12380]]

  The measure before us was first introduced by Representative Richard 
Hanna from New York on June 21, 2011 and, in accordance with committee 
requirements, is cosponsored by all members of the New York delegation. 
Further, H.R. 2244 was taken up by the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform on June 22, 2011, where it was favorably reported out 
of committee by voice vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to briefly highlight some of the 
achievements and honorable service of Corporal Riccione.
  Corporal Steven Riccione was 20 years old when he volunteered to join 
the United States Army during the Vietnam War. A native of Geneva, New 
York, and a graduate of Geneva High School, Corporal Riccione served 
our Nation admirably up to the point of his death in the Quang Tin 
province of South Vietnam on September 27, 1967. Corporal Riccione died 
in action while helping evacuate wounded soldiers after a fierce battle 
with North Vietnamese troops.
  No greater gift can one give than to give his life in service to his 
country and his fellow men. I urge passage of H.R. 2244.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, this is a privilege to be given this 
chance to honor a great individual who gave his life for our Nation, 
and I join with the entire delegation of New York to encourage this 
House to pass this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lankford) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2244.
  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. LANKFORD. 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 and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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