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.
“JOSE HERNANDEZ POST OFFICE BUILDING” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H555-H556 on Feb. 23.
The Department oversees more than 500 million acres of land. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the department has contributed to a growing water crisis and holds many lands which could be better managed.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
JOSE HERNANDEZ POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. MFUME. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 813) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1050 Sunset Road Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the ``Jose Hernandez Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 813
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. JOSE HERNANDEZ POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1050 Sunset Road Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, shall be known and designated as the ``Jose Hernandez 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 ``Jose Hernandez Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume) and the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Ms. Mace) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.
General Leave
Mr. MFUME. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Maryland?
There was no objection.
Mr. MFUME. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 813, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service at 1050 Sunset Road Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the Jose Hernandez Post Office Building.
Jose Hernandez was born in 1971, in Arizona. He enlisted in the Army after graduating from Arizona State University and was stationed in Germany. In 2003, he deployed to Iraq for 1 year. When he was discharged from the Army, Mr. Hernandez moved to New Mexico with his wife and continued his career in public service at the U.S. Postal Service.
New Mexicans on his mail route remember the days when they were in a rush and Mr. Hernandez would quickly go through his mailbag just to get them their mail before they had to rush on their way. And they remembered the slower days when he would join them for a short chat or simply sit for a moment to enjoy the weather.
In April of 2019, letter carrier Jose Hernandez was tragically killed while protecting a mother in an argument with her son. Mr. Hernandez intervened to try to peacefully end the dispute, but was, instead, shot and killed by the young man.
Mailboxes along his former route quickly became memorials, while his colleagues made their own memorial at his former post office.
So naming a post office after this distinguished public servant, who gave his life in the line of duty trying to protect an innocent woman, I think is the very least that this body can do.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. MACE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 813, a bill that would name an Albuquerque, New Mexico, post office after Jose Hernandez.
Mr. Hernandez enlisted in the Army after graduating from Arizona State University and was then stationed in Germany and deployed to Iraq in 2003.
After his discharge from the Army, Jose Hernandez moved to New Mexico and began working at the U.S. Postal Service as a civil engineer and letter carrier.
In 2009, he was tragically killed while protecting a mother in a domestic dispute. He intervened to try to peacefully end the fight, but was shot by the woman's son. His hometown mourns this tragic loss.
I urge my colleagues today to support this legislation honoring a true American hero.
Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MFUME. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland).
Ms. HAALAND. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Jose Hernandez, a beloved letter carrier and local hero who was killed on the job in 2019, while trying to resolve an argument along his route.
Residents who live along his route remember Jose as the type of letter carrier who would go above and beyond the call of duty. His shocking death was devastating for our community, and more than a year later, we continue to mourn the loss.
To honor his legacy, I introduced a bill to rename his old workplace in his honor.
Jose Hernandez has served proudly in the Army. He has four beautiful children and a loving wife, Nikki. He served the Albuquerque area U.S. Postal Service for 12 years.
Our letter carriers and postal workers shouldn't have to worry about their safety when they go to work. Those who will see Jose's name on the Five Points Post Office will remember him as the hero that he was who went above and beyond his duty.
For these reasons and many more, I am thankful first for the entire New Mexico delegation for their support, and for Chairwoman Maloney's and Chairman Raskin's swift work to move my bill that will name the post office at 1050 Sunset Road Southwest in Albuquerque to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 813 honoring Mr. Hernandez.
Mr. MFUME. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers on this side. I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico for being here as the Secretary-
Designate of the Interior Department. This is a confirmation day. So to be at both places at the same time is very important, and I think it underscores her real heartfelt appreciation with respect to this legislation and its passage.
Having said that, I urge passage of H.R. 813, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 813.
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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