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

[Page H8174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            STAFF SERGEANT DYLAN ELCHIN POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. ROUDA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3207) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 114 Mill Street in Hookstown, Pennsylvania, as the 
``Staff Sergeant Dylan Elchin Post Office Building'', as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3207

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

     SECTION 1. STAFF SERGEANT DYLAN ELCHIN POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 114 Mill Street in Hookstown, 
     Pennsylvania, shall be known and designated as the ``Staff 
     Sergeant Dylan Elchin 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 ``Staff Sergeant Dylan Elchin Post Office 
     Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Carson of Indiana). 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 he may consume to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Lamb).
  Mr. LAMB. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3207, my bill to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
114 Mill Street in Hookstown, Pennsylvania, as the Staff Sergeant Dylan 
Elchin Post Office Building.
  Staff Sergeant Elchin served our country valiantly in the United 
States Air Force and was killed in action in November of 2018. He was a 
special tactics combat controller who was deployed to Afghanistan in 
August of last year as part of the U.S. Army Special Operations Force 
Operational Detachment-Alpha team.
  Staff Sergeant Elchin's role included advising the ground force 
commander, directing air support aircraft, and supporting offensive 
combat operations. Dylan repeatedly disregarded his personal safety to 
coordinate lifesaving strikes and combat enemy fighters. Dylan's 
bravery was credited with saving the lives of many of his fellow 
soldiers and airmen.
  At Staff Sergeant Elchin's funeral last year, we heard how, 
throughout all of the difficult conditions that Staff Sergeant Elchin 
experienced in Afghanistan, he was always cheerful, always 
enthusiastic, and always someone who inspired his fellow airmen no 
matter what. Mr. Speaker, I believe this is because Staff Sergeant 
Elchin was living his dream.
  Staff Sergeant Elchin was born in Brighton Township, Pennsylvania, 
and grew up in Beaver County, and from the earliest age he had an 
interest in serving our country. Staff Sergeant Elchin was eager to 
follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, who served 8 years, 
himself, in the United States Army.
  At the age of 14, Dylan immersed himself in military history, 
especially the Vietnam and Gulf wars, and this passion fueled his 
desire to serve.
  Dylan enlisted in the Air Force as a special tactics combat 
controller, the best of the best, immediately after graduating from 
Hopewell High School in 2012. Dylan was assigned to the 26th Special 
Tactics Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. Dylan was 
trained for combat operations, like precision strike and personnel 
recovery, and he was especially skilled in reconnaissance, air traffic 
control, and terminal attack control operations.
  Staff Sergeant Elchin's awards and decorations include the Bronze 
Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the 
NATO Medal, and many others. Dylan was incredibly young to be honored 
in so many ways, which is a testament to his bravery, his skill, and 
his dedication to his mission.
  Mr. Speaker, if we do our job and we pass this bill, the citizens of 
Hookstown and all over Beaver County will never forget Dylan's name, 
and they never should.
  Dylan joins a long line of western Pennsylvanians who gave what 
Lincoln called the last full measure of devotion. We are proud of 
Dylan; we thank him for his service and his sacrifice; we honor him; 
and we will never forget him.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3207.
  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3207. This bill names the post 
office located in Hookstown, Pennsylvania, in honor of Air Force Staff 
Sergeant Dylan Elchin.
  In 2012, shortly after high school, Dylan enlisted as an Air Force 
special tactics combat controller. Dylan was assigned to the 26th 
Special Tactics Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.
  Dylan was deployed to Afghanistan in August of 2018. Just a few 
months later, he was killed by a roadside bomb.
  Staff Sergeant Elchin received several honors, including the Bronze 
Star, Purple Heart, and Army Commendation with Valor. Today, we honor 
Staff Sergeant Elchin's life, bravery, and sacrifice.
  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.

                              {time}  1545

  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. 3207, 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 to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
114 Mill Street in Hookstown, Pennsylvania, as the `Staff Sergeant 
Dylan Elchin Post Office Building'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________