George Henry White Post Office Building

Floor Speech

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7607) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, as the ``George Henry White Post Office Building''.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7607

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. GEORGE HENRY WHITE POST OFFICE BUILDING.

(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, shall be known and designated as the ``George Henry White 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 ``George Henry White Post Office Building''.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I would find it difficult to find someone else who would be more appropriate in having this post office named after him than Dr. White. He is a great man.

Under really difficult and trying circumstances, he became a physician, and he took care of so many people in that role as well, but it wasn't enough just for him to succeed and become a physician. He also decided that he wanted to get involved in banking and help people, especially African Americans, to be successful, to have successful businesses, to be able to move forward, to be able to compete. He wanted to teach them, and did, how to bank and be a part of what was the banking administration and services.

That still wasn't enough for him. He founded a town in the great State of New Jersey in the southern part of the State known as Whitesboro. The entire town is named after him because of the good work that he did and because of what he accomplished. That town today is a successful, thriving town, part of Middle Township in Cape May County, New Jersey.

It still wasn't enough for Dr. White. He became a Member of Congress and was the last African-American Member of Congress until the mid-20th century.

When one thinks of somebody who represents American exceptionalism and Americanism, someone who was willing to work so hard to make sure that he could continue to be a role model for what he wanted to achieve and what he wanted to do, not for himself, but for the community, for everyone, regardless of whomever they were and wherever they came from, they may think of him. He was a great man.

Mr. Speaker, it is time that this post office be named after him to be part of the town that is named after him. It is only appropriate. He is worthy.

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage my House colleagues to support this bill honoring a great American and a great public servant.

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