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[Page H4362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ALTHEA MARGARET DAILY MILLS POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2969) to designate the facility of
the United States Postal Service located at 1401 1st Street North in
Winter Haven, Florida, as the ``Althea Margaret Daily Mills Post Office
Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2969
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ALTHEA MARGARET DAILY MILLS POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 1401 1st Street North in Winter Haven,
Florida, shall be known and designated as the ``Althea
Margaret Daily Mills 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 ``Althea Margaret Daily Mills Post Office
Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Cloud) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. 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
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. 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. 2969, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located
at 1401 1st Street North in Winter Haven, Florida, as the Althea
Margaret Daily Mills Post Office Building.
Althea Mills began her education in Pughsville, which was Winter
Haven's first Black community. When she moved at the age of 13 to
Pennsylvania to live with her aunt, Ms. Mills was able to attend
integrated schools before returning to Winter Haven, which was not
integrated.
In 1963, Ms. Mills filed a lawsuit against the Polk County Board of
Education. The result of the lawsuit allowed her son to attend Winter
Haven High School, which was all White at that time. Ms. Mills'
successful lawsuit would later be credited with the integration of all
Polk County public schools.
Ms. Mills was also the first Black employee of the United States
Postal Service in Winter Haven. She later would manage the Florence
Villa Post Office.
Althea Mills passed away in 2008. Naming a post office after her
would commemorate an unsung hero in the fight for desegregation in
Florida and a trailblazer for civil rights who improved the lives of
countless students.
I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Florida for this
bill to honor a great public servant and civil rights pioneer.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2969, which would designate
the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1401 1st
Street North in Winter Haven, Florida, as the Althea Margaret Daily
Mills Post Office Building.
Althea Margaret Daily Mills had a crucial role in the desegregation
of Florida. When asked about her motivation to challenge the Polk
County Board of Public Instruction, Mills said: ``Our instructors were
just as good, but some of my son's textbooks would go to page 3 and
then skip to page 35. You can't learn like that.'' This lawsuit
eventually led to the public integration of all Polk County public
schools.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of
H.R. 2969.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleague, Congressman Soto, for this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2969.
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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