[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11882-11883]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             FOUNTAIN COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL POST OFFICE

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 2802) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, as the 
``Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post Office''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2802

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

     SECTION 1. FOUNTAIN COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Fountain County 
     Veterans Memorial 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 ``Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post 
     Office''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOSAR. 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 Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2802, introduced by Representative Todd Rokita of 
Indiana, would designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, as the 
Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post Office.
  America as a nation is indebted to those who have risked their lives 
to preserve the freedoms that each of us holds so dearly. This post 
office dedication in the county seat of Covington will remind the 
citizens of Fountain Valley of sacrifices made by its men

[[Page 11883]]

and women in service of their country. Additionally, naming the post 
office after the Fountain County veterans honors the families and loved 
ones who made the unimaginable sacrifice of parting with, and for those 
still worrying about, cherished loved ones serving overseas.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H.R. 
2802, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 418 Liberty Street in Covington, Indiana, as the 
Fountain County Veterans Memorial Post Office.
  The legislation before us honors the brave men and women from 
Fountain County, Indiana, who have served in our Armed Forces. These 
servicemembers have put this country before themselves by dedicating 
their lives to defending the freedoms we as Americans hold so dear. 
Their sacrifices should never be taken for granted, nor should they 
ever be forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this 
legislation, and, with that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield as many minutes as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Rokita), a distinguished colleague.
  Mr. ROKITA. Well, I thank, first of all, the gentleman from Arizona 
for yielding his time and for his leadership here in the House of 
Representatives, especially this evening with the good work that he is 
managing here on the floor. I know, being his friend, that it is a 
labor of love for him as it is for almost all of us, and so I just want 
to, here, on the record, thank him for his continued service in the 
House.
  I also want to thank the ranking member for his willingness in 
addressing and considering this legislation. It is important to the 
people of Indiana, and I am grateful for his leadership as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation that I was 
honored to introduce and support in memory of the fallen soldiers of 
Fountain County, Indiana.
  Lance Corporal Josh Witsman was a marine from Covington, Indiana, and 
was so very proud to have been born in the United States, and 
especially Indiana, which he often referred to as ``God's country.''
  Lance Corporal Witsman firmly believed in the freedoms enshrined in 
our founding documents that have helped define our American 
exceptionalism. He felt humbled by, honored to, and responsible for 
fighting to uphold those very freedoms and standards which we talk 
about so often here on the House floor, and that Americans talk about 
throughout the country. He was not only humbled to serve his country, 
but he was humbled to serve next to his fellow military brothers, whom 
he would often boast to about how great Indiana was.
  And, Mr. Speaker, he loved his family. He would often call his mother 
at home and sing the song, ``Paint Me a Birmingham,'' only to swap in 
his hometown of Covington for Birmingham. He couldn't wait to return 
home to Indiana to be with all of them.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, that day never came. You see, Lance Corporal Josh 
Witsman died in the line of duty during his second tour of duty in 
Afghanistan while serving with Weapons Company 2nd Battalion, 5th 
Marines, on May 30, 2012. He was just 23.

                              {time}  1645

  Josh's service and sacrifice were the inspiration for this bill, and 
it started with an idea from one of Josh's close friends. That friend, 
Noah Townsend, was in the supermarket one day, and he overheard a young 
Hoosier ask her parents who Josh Witsman was.
  The child's parents explained that Josh was a soldier who had given 
his life for her freedom. Noah knew he had to find a way to make sure 
Josh's memory and his sacrifice would be remembered in his hometown of 
Covington.
  Noah racked his brain for a few days trying to think what would be a 
fitting memorial for Josh and his service. Later that week, Noah would 
be driving down Liberty Street, and as he drove past the post office, 
it hit him--Congress renames post offices for individuals who have made 
some contribution to their city, State, or country, undoubtedly all 
deserved.
  Certainly, Josh's sacrifice and that of his family is worthy of 
recognition in any number of ways, including naming a post office in 
the city he called home, but recognition of his own work wasn't Josh's 
way.
  Before Noah Townsend came to me with this idea, he talked with Josh's 
parents. Josh's mother, Kayla Witsman, was thankful for the gesture, 
but she could hear her son saying: Mom, it is not just about me.
  This young man, who gave his life for his country, and his mother's 
interpretation of what his wishes would have been is correct. There are 
so many heroes that have given their lives for this country worthy of a 
similar recognition.
  In Fountain County, there have been nearly 50 families who have lost 
someone in service to their country. Let me assure you, Fountain County 
is not a large population center in Indiana. As wonderful and as 
welcoming as it is, full of great Hoosiers, it is a farming community. 
It is not big, except in geography, and 50 families from that community 
had some die serving their country.
  That is why this legislation does not mention Josh Witsman's name. I 
am proposing that we rename this post office on behalf of not only the 
Witsman family, but all of the nearly 50 families in Fountain County 
who have lost loved ones in service to our Nation.
  It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that this will serve as an everlasting 
tribute to the sacrifices of these soldiers and their families.
  In closing, I would also like to thank the entire Indiana House 
delegation for their support of this legislation as well. On behalf of 
Josh Witsman's family and all those who have sacrificed, I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to vote for this 
legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2802.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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