[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14784-14785]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LT. DANIEL P. RIORDAN POST OFFICE

  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 324) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 11662 Gravois Road in St. Louis, Missouri, as the 
``Lt. Daniel P. Riordan Post Office.''
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 324

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

     SECTION 1. LT. DANIEL P. RIORDAN POST OFFICE.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 11662 Gravois Road in St. Louis, Missouri, 
     shall be known and designated as the ``Lt. Daniel P. Riordan 
     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 ``Lt. Daniel P. Riordan Post Office''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  We are here today to honor Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan with a post 
office naming in St. Louis, Missouri. This has been brought to our 
attention by Congresswoman Ann Wagner.
  I appreciate her championing this through the Congress. She is in the 
best position to give the background and the reasoning for the naming 
of this post office.
  I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Missouri 
(Mrs. Wagner).
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman very, very much for 
his indulgence in these three post office namings.
  I thank the ranking member, also.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of a brave young man from 
Missouri's Second Congressional District. On June 23, 2007, Missouri's 
Second Congressional District lost a true American hero when United 
States Army First Lieutenant Daniel Riordan made the ultimate sacrifice 
for his country while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of 
this young patriot. Daniel Patrick Riordan was born to Rick and Jeanine 
Riordan on February 17, 1983.
  He had a twin brother, Nick, and an older sister, Suzanne. After 
graduating from Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, Dan attended 
Southeast Missouri State, where he was in the Air Force's ROTC program.
  After graduation, Dan decided to follow his father into the military 
and joined the U.S. Army, quickly becoming known as Lieutenant Dan.
  Lieutenant Dan became a tank commander, and in 2006 he was deployed 
to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a member of Demon 
Company in the 1st Cavalry Division, Dan served with courage and 
determination.
  Despite frequently being outnumbered in enemy territory, Dan was 
always out on point, leading his platoon into battle. Dan took his 
leadership responsibilities literally. As he put it: How can I order my 
men forward if I am not willing to go first?
  To those who knew Dan, his devotion to his country through service 
and sacrifice came as no surprise. He was both a fierce and dedicated 
warrior in the service of our country and a caring and loving gentleman 
who felt a duty to help those in need.
  From a very young age, Dan showed sensitivity beyond his years. At 
the age of 5 or 6, while attending a funeral, Dan's mom found him 
sitting with an elderly woman.
  When she asked him why he was sitting with her, he said she looked 
sad and lonely. It was this kind of compassion that drew him to the 
United States military: his desire to serve, help, and protect those in 
need.
  While at home on leave from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dan consistently 
reassured his family that our country's military efforts were truly 
bringing

[[Page 14785]]

empowerment and freedom to the people of Iraq. He believed in a cause 
greater than himself, that of freedom, democracy, and the dignity of 
all people.
  While in the Army, Dan wrote his mother a letter in case he didn't 
return. One thing that he said was: Don't mourn for me, Mom. Celebrate 
my life.
  Today we celebrate First Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan's life by 
designating the Sappington Branch Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri, 
as the Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan Post Office.
  The United States of America owes Dan a priceless debt that we will 
never be able to fully repay, but we can do our part to ensure that his 
memory lives on.
  Therefore, it is my honor to sponsor H.R. 324, a bill that names the 
Sappington Branch Post Office after such a courageous young man, 
immortalizing a hero who gave up his life in the service to the Nation 
that he loved.
  This legislation will serve as a testament to the dedication and 
sacrifice of First Lieutenant Daniel Riordan, standing as a physical 
reminder of the bravery of one American from Missouri's Second 
Congressional District.
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of 
H.R. 324, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service in St. Louis, Missouri, as Lieutenant Daniel Riordan Post 
Office.
  Daniel Riordan was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and then later at the 
age of 5 moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There he attended the high 
school of St. John Vianney.
  While attending college at Southeast Missouri State University, 
Daniel worked for the Department of Public Safety and the Jackson 
Sheriff's Department.
  In pursuit of his childhood dream of becoming a fighter pilot, Daniel 
also joined the university's Air Force ROTC program.
  Upon graduation, Daniel was commissioned in the U.S. Army, beginning 
his career in the infantry at Fort Benning, Georgia.
  By 2006, he had become a tank commander of the Blue Platoon. In 
October of that year, his unit deployed for a 15-month tour to Iraq.
  Lieutenant Riordan survived many attacks from explosive devices with 
only minor wounds, and he was proud of his unit's brave actions on 
behalf of the Iraqi citizens.
  Sadly, in June of 2007, a massive IED explosion instantly took the 
lives of Lieutenant Riordan and four others in his unit. He was 
posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 324 to remember the brave 
leadership of Lieutenant Daniel Riordan and to honor the sacrifices he 
made for the love of our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I urge the passage of H.R. 
324. Lieutenant Riordan served with great courage and sacrifice for his 
Nation.
  I hope his family, friends, and colleagues, those around him will 
look to him for inspiration, somebody who steps up and answers the call 
of their country.
  I only hope and pray that his family knows how much we all care 
across the country for people like Lieutenant Riordan. I appreciate the 
help on both sides of the aisle to get this passed.
  I really appreciate Congresswoman Wagner, who brought this to 
everybody's attention and really pushed to get it done. I hope we find 
it in our hearts to pass this appropriate bill today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 324.
  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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