[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12384-12385]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     MATTHEW A. PUCINO POST OFFICE

  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2062) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 45 Meetinghouse Lane in Sagamore Beach, 
Massachusetts, as the ``Matthew A. Pucino Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2062

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

     SECTION 1. MATTHEW A. PUCINO POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 45 Meetinghouse Lane in Sagamore Beach, 
     Massachusetts, shall be known and designated as the ``Matthew 
     A. Pucino 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 ``Matthew A. Pucino 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 
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 Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LANKFORD. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2062 was introduced by the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Keating). It would designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 45 Meetinghouse Lane in 
Sagamore Beach, Massachusetts, as the Matthew A. Pucino Post Office. 
The bill was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform on June 22.
  Matthew Pucino, a United States Army Special Forces soldier, born in 
Hudson, Massachusetts, was killed in Afghanistan on November 23, 2009, 
when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
  Matthew enlisted in the United States Army in 2002 as a Special 
Forces candidate and went on to earn the Green Beret as an engineer 
sergeant. Matthew was conducting a combat patrol in eastern Afghanistan 
near the Pakistani border when his all-terrain vehicle was struck.
  He was an intelligence sergeant with the 20th Special Forces Group, 
and he had been on his second deployment. He had also served in Iraq 
with the 5th Special Forces Group. As a result of his bravery in his 
first deployment in Iraq, Matthew was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze 
Star, Army Commendation, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medals.
  According to his cousin, Anthony, Matthew joined the military after 
the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks because he wanted to help 
protect America and Americans.
  Mr. Pucino was 34 years old. He left his wife, Crystal; his parents, 
Albert and Kathryn Pucino of Orlando, Florida; and his sister, Lisa.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in support of this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the author of this measure, Mr. Keating of 
Massachusetts.
  Mr. KEATING. I thank the gentleman for yielding his time.
  I rise today to honor Sergeant Matthew A. Pucino of Sagamore Beach, 
Massachusetts, who lost his life on November 23, 2009, after his 
vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting a 
mounted patrol in Afghanistan.
  Sergeant Pucino enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002 as a Special Forces 
candidate. He went on to complete the Special Forces qualification 
course and earned the coveted Green Beret as a Special Forces engineer 
sergeant. In July of 2009, he deployed for the third time in support of 
Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of the Combined Joint Special 
Operations Task Force in Afghanistan.
  Sergeant Pucino was highly decorated, which is a testament not just 
to

[[Page 12385]]

his abilities as a soldier, but to his true character. This includes 
such honors as the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, the Army 
Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense 
Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service 
Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army 
Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist 
Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
  In tribute to Sergeant Pucino's ultimate sacrifice for our country, I 
have joined with my colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation in 
introducing H.R. 2062 to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 45 Meetinghouse Lane in Sagamore Beach, 
Massachusetts, as the Matthew A. Pucino Post Office.
  I respectfully urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this 
legislation in honor of Sergeant Pucino--a hero, not just to the 
citizens of Massachusetts, but to all Americans.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from 
Massachusetts on this very thoughtful measure, I urge its passage, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANKFORD. I join with the gentleman to urge all Members to pass 
H.R. 2062, 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. 2062.
  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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