The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“WILLIAM J. SCHERLE POST OFFICE BUILDING” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H7183-H7184 on July 21, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WILLIAM J. SCHERLE POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1399) to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 South Vine Street in Glenwood, Iowa, as the ``William J. Scherle Post Office Building.''
The Clerk read as follows:
S. 1399
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. WILLIAM J. SCHERLE POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Redesignation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 South Vine Street in Glenwood, Iowa, and known as the Glenwood Main Office, shall be known and designated as the ``William J. Scherle 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 William J. Scherle Post Office Building.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
General Leave
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Connecticut?
There was no objection.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, S. 1399, introduced by the esteemed gentleman from Iowa, Senator Harkin, redesignates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 South Vine Street in Glenwood, Iowa, as the William J. Scherle Post Office Building.
Mr. Speaker, Congressman Bill Scherle of Iowa has lived a life that is worthy of commemoration by this House. He served four terms as a representative of the people of Iowa in this body, from 1967 to 1975, and prior to that he was a member of the Iowa State legislature for 6 years.
One of Congressman Scherle's most remarkable contributions in office was his determined work in freeing the crew of the USS Pueblo, which was captured by North Korea in January 1968. The North Koreans imprisoned and brutally tortured the members of the crew, and Congressman Scherle was the most outspoken leader in Congress on the crisis. Eventually, due largely to his leadership, all but one member of the crew, Richard Benden, was released and returned safely home.
In addition, Congressman Scherle took particular interest in rural issues, which were most important to his district's constituents. He was a farmer himself, as well as a businessman, which seems somewhat redundant because farmers have to be businessmen as well. But in addition to being a farmer/businessman, he was a businessman and a Republican Party official in his State prior to becoming an elected official.
Now retired, Congressman Scherle continues to live with his beloved wife, Jane, on their farm outside of Henderson, Iowa. I understand he enjoys spending as much time as he can with his six grandchildren.
I think it is pretty special, as well, that the Senator from Iowa has introduced this bill because he ran two House races against Bill Scherle. The first match-up in 1972 was won by Congressman Scherle, and the second time around, in 1974, the Senator from Iowa was victorious. The two have since become good friends, and after running two campaigns against each other, I think that is a refreshing commentary on both these dedicated public officials and the process.
I also want to recognize the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) for his work on H.R. 2558, a virtually identical piece of legislation introduced here in the House. I know he worked alongside the Senator from Iowa to recognize Bill Scherle in the Congress, and I commend him for his efforts as well.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I commend the Senator from Iowa for introducing S. 1399 that honors W.J. Scherle, as well as commending the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King). I urge all Members to support its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of S. 1399, a bill that would name a U.S. postal facility after W.J. Scherle. S. 1399 was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa on July 14, 2003, and passed unanimously by the Senate on July 17, 2003.
S. 1399 would name the Glenwood, Iowa, Post Office after W.J. Scherle, a former Member of Congress. Congressman Scherle was first elected to represent Iowa's Seventh Congressional District in 1967. After redistricting, Representative Scherle represented the Fifth Congressional District until 1974.
During his tenure in Congress, Representative Scherle served on the Committees on Education and Labor and Appropriations. Prior to serving in the Congress, Bill Scherle served in the Navy and Coast Guard during World War II, and then later in the Navy Reserve. He served as chairman of the Mills County Republican Party, and then went on to serve in the Iowa legislature for 6 years.
According to Senator Harkin, the sponsor of this measure, Representative Scherle will particularly be remembered for leading the effort in Congress to release the crew of the U.S.S. Pueblo, which had been seized by North Korea in 1968.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the swift adoption of this bill.
Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring forth S. 1399, the William J. Scherle Post Office Building Redesignation Act, to honor the selfless service of a great Iowan, Bill Scherle. I want to thank the Iowa delegation in the House of Representatives for joining me and Senators Harkin and Grassley in supporting this well-deserved gesture to honor the service of a great American by their cosponsorship of my House version, H.R. 2758.
Mr. Scherle was born in Little Falls, New York in 1923. After serving this great country in the Second World War, Mr. Scherle attended Southern Methodist University and subsequently served in the United States Naval Reserve. After serving his country in the military, Mr. Scherle decided to engage in grain and livestock farming and settled in rural Mills County, Iowa. Mr. Scherle was elected to 3 consecutive terms in the Iowa House of Representatives.
In 1966, he was elected to his first of four terms in the United States House of Representatives. Bill was known as a watchdog of government waste who brought a keen eye for economic accountability to the Congress.
Bill was an outspoken and persistent voice for the members of the captured spy boat, the Pueblo, during 1968 when the boat and crew were captured by the North Koreans. Thanks to his daily reminders on the floor of Congress, the members of the Pueblo and their plight were kept at the forefront of the Congress' consciousness until they were released by the North Korean government.
Mr. Scherle promoted personal responsibility, agricultural growth and innovation, and was the embodiment of common sense conservatism during his tenure in this honorable House. After serving in the United States Department of Agriculture and as a consultant in Washington D.C., Mr. Scherle retired to Henderson, where he currently resides with his wife Jane.
Mr. Speaker, members of the House, please join me and the entire Iowa delegation in voting to designate the Glenwood, Iowa Post Office the William J. Scherle Post Office Building.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) that the House suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1399.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
