[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9971-9973]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 SPC NICHOLAS SCOTT HARTGE POST OFFICE

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass

[[Page 9972]]

the bill (H.R. 3501) to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the 
``SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3501

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

     SECTION 1. SPC NICHOLAS SCOTT HARTGE POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``SPC Nicholas Scott 
     Hartge 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 ``SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Farenthold) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I also ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and to place extraneous materials 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. H.R. 3501, introduced by the gentleman from Indiana 
(Mr. Stutzman), would designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the 
SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office. This bill was introduced on 
November 18, 2011, and was reported favorably from the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform on February 7.
  Nicholas Hartge grew up in Rome City, Indiana, and during high school 
decided to serve his country by joining the military. Nicholas served 
in the Third Platoon in Charlie Company in the First Infantry Division, 
and his company was deployed to Iraq in August of 2006. Nicholas' 
commanding officer, Commander Michael Baka, took note of the young 
man's character and aptitude and helped him begin the process of 
applying to West Point. While the prospect of becoming an officer 
thrilled Specialist Hartge, he never deviated from his devotion to his 
fellow soldiers.
  On May 14, 2007, Specialist Hartge's unit came under heavy attack. 
While maneuvering through enemy fire, the Humvee carrying the 
specialist was struck by a roadside bomb. Nicholas Hartge received a 
Commendation Medal for outstanding achievement in the capture of Abu 
Hassan, a known IED facilitator in Baghdad. He was posthumously awarded 
the Bronze Star for his heroic actions on the day that he was killed.
  Madam Speaker, Specialist Nicholas Scott Hartge is a very worthy and 
appropriate designee of this postal facility naming, and I urge all 
Members to join me in support of this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I 
rise to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 3501, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge 
Post Office.
  The measure before us was first introduced on November 18 by my 
colleague Representative Marlin Stutzman, and in accordance with the 
committee's requirements, this bill is cosponsored by all members of 
the Indiana delegation and was reported out of the committee by 
unanimous consent on February 7, 2012.
  Nicholas Hartge was adamant about joining the military after the 
profound personal effect that the September 11 attacks had on him. He 
enlisted in the Army before graduating from East Noble High School in 
Kendallville, Indiana, in 2005. In August of 2006, he was deployed and 
stationed in Baghdad.
  On May 14, 2007, Hartge was killed when the vehicle he was riding in 
came in contact with an improvised explosive device. Four other 
soldiers on patrol with Hartge sustained burn wounds on as much as 70 
percent of their bodies from the attack.
  Nicholas Scott Hartge made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, 
and his dedication and courage are a testament to the men and women of 
the United States Armed Forces. For this reason, the post office in 
Rome City, Indiana, should be named in his honor. And I ask that we 
pass the underlying bill to honor the service, sacrifice, and valor of 
Specialist Nicholas Scott Hartge.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 5 minutes to my 
distinguished colleague and friend from the State of Indiana.
  Mr. STUTZMAN. I thank the gentleman from Texas as well as the 
gentleman from Missouri for their support today and for the committee 
supporting H.R. 3501. I would also like to thank each of the members of 
the Indiana delegation for their sponsorship of this bill as well.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3501, to designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue 
in Rome City, Indiana, as the SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office.
  Growing up in Rome City, Indiana, Nicholas served his community with 
a smile. A Boy Scout, paperboy, wrestler, and member of the marching 
band, his cheerful manner and work ethic were contagious.
  Nicholas decided to enlist in the Army during his junior year of high 
school. His loving mother, Lori, proudly tells the story of her 
patriotic son who was so eager to serve his country that a freight 
train couldn't stop him.
  Only a week after graduating, Nicholas left for boot camp at Fort 
Benning, Georgia. Nicholas chose to serve in the infantry. In August of 
2006, he and his unit, First Battalion, 26th Infantry, Brigade Combat 
Team, First Infantry Division, were deployed to Iraq.
  Far from the safety of his Indiana home, Specialist Hartge patrolled 
the streets of Adhamiyah, a neighborhood in east-central Baghdad. 
Despite his age, Nicholas' determination and attitude set him apart.

                              {time}  1550

  Members of the 3rd Platoon in Charlie Company knew they could depend 
on him. In the midst of a war zone, Nicholas served with distinction 
and earned the respect of his fellow soldiers and commanders. His gifts 
and strengths were known to those he served with. With the goal of 
attending West Point, he worked with his commanding officer to prepare 
himself for the challenges ahead.
  During a leave, Specialist Hartge came home and took the SAT test in 
preparation for West Point. Although he could have taken a different 
path, Nicholas' devotion to his unit led him to put his pursuit of the 
academy on hold until he finished his combat tour. Putting aside his 
own safety, he returned to Iraq to serve alongside his unit.
  On May 14, 2007, his patrol came under heavy attack. While navigating 
through intense fire, his Humvee hit a roadside bomb. Specialist Hartge 
lost his life in that attack. Specialist Hartge was awarded the Bronze 
Star for his final act of heroism.
  Hoosiers in Rome City and Americans across the country enjoy our 
freedoms because heroes like Nicholas and his family have paid the 
dearest price. We can never take that fact lightly.
  Madam Speaker, Specialist Hartge lost his life serving the country he 
loved. Renaming the post office of the community that loves and 
remembers him is a small, but important, gesture to recognize this 
young man.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge

[[Page 9973]]

passage of H.R. 3501, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FARENTHOLD. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H.R. 3501, honoring Specialist Nicholas Scott Hartge; 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. 3501.
  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. CLAY. Madam 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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