Leonard W. Herman Post Office

Floor Speech

LEONARD W. HERMAN POST OFFICE -- (House of Representatives - May 21, 2007)

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1722) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 601 Banyan Trail in Boca Raton, Florida, as the ``Leonard W. Herman Post Office''.

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois?

There was no objection.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I'm pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 1722, which names the postal facility in Boca Raton, Florida, after Leonard W. Herman.

H.R. 1722, which was introduced by Representative Robert Wexler on March 27, 2007, was reported from the Oversight Committee on May 1, 2007, by a voice vote. This measure, which has been cosponsored by 24 Members, has the support of the entire Florida congressional delegation.

Mr. Leonard Herman was a bombardier in the United States Army, and he flew numerous missions over Germany during World War II. He displayed heroic actions and earned high honors and several distinguished medals for his bravery.

Perhaps one of Mr. Herman's greatest achievements was his contribution in seeking to save the lives of thousands of ``survivors'' of German concentration camps who were dying because of the lack of adequate food, clothing and medical supplies. According to accounts by Professor Robert L. Hilliard, ``Leonard Herman took it upon himself to advise and seek help from many of our government leaders regarding the plight of the survivors. His efforts were instrumental in President Truman's learning about displaced persons' situations in the U.S.-occupied Germany. The President changed U.S. policy and issued orders to provide the assistance and materials needed by the Holocaust survivors. Lieutenant Herman played an important role in saving thousands of these lives.''

And so, Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Robert Wexler from Florida, for introducing this legislation, and I urge swift passage.

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, to close, I want to commend the gentleman from Florida for introducing this resolution. We have no further speakers, and I would yield back the balance of my time.

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