[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6871-6872]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER (SEAL) LOUIS 
                ``LOU'' J. LANGLAIS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3218) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 836 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, California as the 
``Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis 
`Lou' J. Langlais Post Office Building'', as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3218

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

     SECTION 1. SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR MASTER CHIEF PETTY 
                   OFFICER (SEAL) LOUIS ``LOU'' J. LANGLAIS POST 
                   OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1221 State Street, Suite 12, Santa 
     Barbara, California, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) 
     Louis `Lou' J. Langlais Post Office Building''.
       (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 ``Special Warfare Operator Master Chief 
     Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis `Lou' J. Langlais Post Office 
     Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALKER. 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 material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3218, introduced by 
Congresswoman Lois Capps of California.
  Master Chief Lou Langlais served in the military for 25 years. He was 
in his final tour in Afghanistan when enemy fire shot down his 
helicopter, killing him and 29 other Americans.
  I will ask my colleague and the sponsor of this bill, Congresswoman 
Lois Capps, to share the incredible story of Master Chief Langlais, but 
I first want to urge Members to support this bill and name a post 
office after Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer Louis 
``Lou'' J. Langlais. Hearing his story of lifelong service is 
inspiring, and I am hopeful that permanently naming the post office in 
the remembrance of his sacrifice will serve to inspire generations to 
come.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Capps), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3218, which 
would designate the United States Postal Service facility that is 
actually on State Street in Santa Barbara as the Special Warfare 
Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis ``Lou'' J. Langlais 
Post Office Building.
  Lou was a soldier and beloved family man. He dedicated his life to 
protecting our freedom and our country. This is an important bill not 
only for my community of Santa Barbara, but for the memory of a brave 
member of our armed services we lost way too soon. Naming the Santa 
Barbara post office in honor of Lou Langlais is a fitting tribute.
  Born in Quebec, Lou grew up on the central coast. He was an avid rock 
and mountain climber who spent much of his free time rock climbing some 
of California's most renowned and challenging locations, including 
Yosemite National Park and Joshua Tree National Park.
  After graduating from Santa Barbara High School, Lou joined the Navy 
in 1986. He spent 3 years on a warship before being accepted into and 
graduating from SEAL training class 162 in February 1989. He was a 
member of the Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, and served in the 
Persian Gulf War with distinction and valor.
  Then in 2000, Lou joined the highly selective Naval Special Warfare 
Development Group, where he eventually rose to become a troop leader in 
the Navy SEALs' elite Team Six before serving multiple tours in 
Afghanistan and Iraq.
  During his 25-year military career, Lou earned many personal and unit 
decorations, including five Bronze Stars with Valor, the Purple Heart, 
a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps 
Achievement Medals, and three Presidential Unit Citations, as well as 
several other campaign and unit decorations.
  It is also important to note that he is most remembered as a trusted 
friend, family member, and teammate for so many.
  On August 6, 2011, Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Langlais was 
one of 30 Americans killed in action when their helicopter was shot 
down in eastern Afghanistan. At the time, he was serving what was 
supposed to be his very last deployment. He had plans to return home to 
his family and continue his service as a trainer in the Navy SEAL 
program. But alas, he made the ultimate sacrifice.

                              {time}  1830

  Lou is survived by his wife, Anya, and their two sons, Gabe and Jake, 
who also have given so much for their country. This bill honors them 
for their sacrifice and perseverance in the face of tragedy.
  As our community and Nation still mourn, I am proud to have authored 
this legislation. The naming of the Santa Barbara post office after 
Master Chief Lou Langlais is a fitting tribute and a way for Santa 
Barbara to remember and honor one of our own.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to recognize the 
incredible achievements of Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer 
Lou Langlais as well as the ultimate sacrifice he made for this 
country.
  I urge the passage of H.R. 3218.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page 6872]]

the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3218, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill designate 
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1221 State 
Street, Suite 12, Santa Barbara, California, as the `Special Warfare 
Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis ``Lou'' J. Langlais 
Post Office Building'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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