October 16, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 163 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H8172-H8173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    JOSE RAMOS POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3144) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 8520 Michigan Avenue in Whittier, California, as the 
``Jose Ramos Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3144

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

     SECTION 1. JOSE RAMOS POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 8520 Michigan Avenue in Whittier, 
     California, shall be known and designated as the ``Jose Ramos 
     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 ``Jose Ramos Post Office Building''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROUDA. 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 this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California for 
yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 3144, a bill to designate the 
United States Postal Service Facility located at 8520 Michigan Avenue 
in Whittier, California, as the Jose Ramos Post Office Building.
  Jose Guadalupe Ramos was born September 17, 1948, in East Los 
Angeles. He enlisted in the Army in 1965, while he was a sophomore at 
Garfield High School.
  Mr. Ramos served this country in Vietnam as an Army combat medic, 
often risking his own life caring for others. Mr. Ramos was wounded in 
Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart.
  Upon returning home, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress 
disorder, yet his passion and commitment to our country and his fellow 
servicemembers didn't end.
  Many of our veterans at the time found themselves caught in and 
confused by the crossfire of the public debate over the war in Vietnam. 
At times, some faced sharp criticism and isolation. Mr. Ramos saw this 
and decided that he was going to do something about it.
  He dedicated his time delivering a message of his experience and 
those of his fellow veterans to all those who would listen, traveling 
to universities, schools, and prisons to carry this message.
  He undertook a grueling cross-country bicycle trek to draw attention 
to and advocate for the long overdue ``welcome home'' that Vietnam 
veterans never received.

                              {time}  1530

  I was honored to work with Mr. Ramos and the Welcome Home Vietnam 
Veterans organization that he helped found. At his urging, I used the 
resources of my office to advocate for a national Welcome Home Vietnam 
Veterans Day. In our years of working together in this cause, I had a 
true friend and a partner in that effort. Mr. Ramos' passion inspired 
many.

[[Page H8173]]

  The memories of what he endured in service to our country remained 
with him throughout his life. At times, they presented obstacles. 
However, he cherished the time spent with grandchildren, his 
participation in religious pilgrimages, and enjoying life's simple 
pleasures, like the sunrise and sunset of each passing day.
  We lost Jose Ramos in 2017 to pancreatic cancer, a loss not only for 
his wife, Sylvia, his children, and grandchildren, his loss also left a 
hole in our community in Whittier. Renaming the Whittier Post Office in 
his honor is a fitting tribute to Jose Ramos and a very small token of 
gratitude from a grateful nation for his service.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3144, introduced by 
Representative Linda Sanchez. This bill names a post office located in 
Whittier, California, in honor of Jose Ramos.
  While still in high school, Jose Ramos enlisted in the Army. He 
served as a combat medic in Vietnam, during which time he was wounded. 
For his bravery and service, Mr. Ramos was awarded the Purple Heart.
  Later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, Mr. Ramos 
dedicated his life to supporting his fellow soldiers. Mr. Ramos 
understood the criticism and isolation these veterans went through, and 
he spent many years trying to change the public's perspective of 
servicemembers.
  In his later years, Mr. Ramos spoke at universities and schools about 
his experiences as a soldier. He was an unforgettable figure in his 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROUDA. 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 California (Mr. Rouda) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3144.
  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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