[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12380-12381]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1800
                  SERGEANT JASON W. VAUGHN POST OFFICE

  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2213) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 801 West Eastport Street in Iuka, Mississippi, as 
the ``Sergeant Jason W. Vaughn Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2213

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

     SECTION 1. SERGEANT JASON W. VAUGHN POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 801 West Eastport Street in Iuka, 
     Mississippi, shall be known and designated as the ``Sergeant 
     Jason W. Vaughn 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 ``Sergeant Jason W. Vaughn 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2213, as introduced by the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. 
Nunnelee), would designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 801 West Eastport Street in Iuka, Mississippi, as 
the Sergeant Jason W. Vaughn Post Office.
  This bill is cosponsored by the entire Mississippi State delegation 
and was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
on June 22.
  I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Mississippi (Mr. Nunnelee).
  Mr. NUNNELEE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I am humbled today to rise in memoriam of Army Sergeant 
Jason W. Vaughn of Iuka, Mississippi, who gave his life in defense of 
freedom.
  Sergeant Vaughn was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry 
Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. 
He was only 29 years old.
  Sergeant Vaughn was killed in action on May 10, 2007, when a roadside 
bomb exploded near his vehicle in Baqubah, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi 
Freedom.
  He joined the Army in 2002. Sergeant Vaughn first served in Iraq from 
November of 2003 until 2004. In fact, he was serving his second tour of 
duty when he was killed in action.
  He was the recipient of the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National 
Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, 
and the Global War on Terror Service Medal. Sergeant Vaughn was buried 
with full military honors at Oak Grove Cemetery in Iuka, Mississippi, 
on May 19, 2007. He held the rank of specialist, and he was 
posthumously promoted to sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star Medal, 
the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was a graduate 
of Tishomingo County High School. By all accounts he was a loyal friend 
and a great leader.
  His father, Walter Vaughn, told the Associated Press, ``He had 
friends all over the place. He was an outgoing type of person. The 
world lost a leader. My son was a born leader.''
  RaNae Smith Vaughn spoke proudly of her son: ``Jason was a handsome 
man on the outside and, more importantly, on the inside. We will always 
remember his smile, bear hugs, love of life, positive attitude, and his 
way of making everyone around him feel special. His greatest attribute 
may have been his kind heart. Jay was always extremely considerate of 
the needs of his family and friends. He never forgot to call and give 
his mother and his sister a special greeting on birthdays and other 
special occasions. We as his family are so grateful for the opportunity 
to have had him in our lives. Jason will live on in our hearts and 
minds forever.''
  Sergeant Vaughn also left behind his wife, Contessa W. Vaughn; his 
stepdaughter, Ashley Martin; and a brother and a sister.
  I want to thank my colleagues in the Mississippi delegation and the 
112th Congress for their support of H.R. 2213 to designate the facility 
of the United States Postal Service located at 801 West Eastport Street 
in Iuka, Mississippi, as the Sergeant Jason W. Vaughn Post Office.
  We cannot bring back a husband or a son, but this bill honors his 
memory and his sacrifice. And it will serve as a constant reminder to 
the people of Tishomingo County that freedom is not free.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge passage.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague from the House Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform in support and consideration of H.R. 
2213, which would rename the United States Postal Service facility 
located at 801 West Eastport Street in Iuka, Mississippi, as the 
Sergeant Jason W. Vaughn Post Office.
  H.R. 2213 was introduced on June 16, 2011, by our colleague 
Representative Alan Nunnelee from the State of Mississippi. Currently 
the bill is cosponsored by all four members of the Mississippi 
delegation and was favorably reported out of the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform on June 22, 2011, by voice vote.
  Mr. Speaker, the achievements and honorable service of Sergeant Jason

[[Page 12381]]

Vaughn are certainly worth noting. The son of Walter Glenn and Llalanda 
RaNae Vaughn, Sergeant Vaughn grew up in his hometown of Iuka, 
Mississippi, where he graduated from Tishomingo County High School in 
1996. Following graduation, Sergeant Vaughn enrolled in Northeast 
Mississippi Community College before going on to attend Mississippi 
State University. In 2003 Sergeant Vaughn made the decision to serve 
his country by enlisting in the U.S. Army. Shortly thereafter, Sergeant 
Vaughn became a member of the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 
3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which is based out of Fort Lewis, 
Washington.
  While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sergeant Vaughn was 
tragically killed by an improvised explosive device on May 10, 2007, 
right outside of Baqubah, Iraq. This heroic soldier was only 29 years 
of age when he lost his life in service to our great Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, in recognition of this young man's bravery and 
accomplishments, I ask that we pass the underlying bill without 
reservation and pay tribute to the commitment and sacrifice made by 
Sergeant Jason Vaughn.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage 
of H.R. 2213, and 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. 2213.
  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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