Introduction of A Bill to Designate the Facility of the United States Postal Service Located At 400 Southern Avenue Southeast in Washington, District of Columbia, As the ``District of Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office''

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that would name the post office at 400 Southern Avenue SE in the District of Columbia as the ``District of Columbia Servicemembers and Veterans Post Office.''

While it is important that our country honor all servicemembers and veterans, our country owes a special debt of gratitude to D.C. servicemembers and veterans, who serve or have served their country without voting representation in Congress or full local self- government. It is remarkable that they serve a country that denies them basic democratic rights--rights they have often been sent overseas to defend.

D.C. residents have served in every war since the Revolutionary War. There are approximately 30,000 veterans who live in D.C., and almost 200,000 D.C. residents have served in the military since World War I. This bill is one way to recognize their service and sacrifice. Six hundred thirty-five D.C. residents were casualties of World War I, a casualty figure greater than that of three different States during that war. Three thousand five hundred seventy-five D.C. residents were casualties of World War II, a casualty figure greater than that of four different States during that war. Five hundred forty-seven D.C. residents were casualties of the Korean war, a casualty figure greater than that of eight different States during that war. Two hundred forty- three D.C. residents were casualties of the Vietnam war, a casualty figure greater than that of 10 different States during that war.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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