[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 110 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H5112]
NATIONAL CLANDESTINE SERVICE OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY NCS
OFFICER GREGG DAVID WENZEL MEMORIAL POST OFFICE
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3593) to designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe, New York, as the
``National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS
Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post Office''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3593
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NATIONAL CLANDESTINE SERVICE OF THE CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY NCS OFFICER GREGG DAVID
WENZEL MEMORIAL POST OFFICE.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe, New York,
shall be known and designated as the ``National Clandestine
Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg
David Wenzel Memorial Post Office''.
(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 ``National Clandestine Service of the
Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David Wenzel
Memorial Post Office''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Buerkle) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
sponsor of this legislation, my distinguished colleague from the State
of New York, Representative Hayworth.
Ms. HAYWORTH. I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from New York.
Our bill, H.R. 3593, to designate the post office on State Route 17M
in Monroe, New York, as the National Clandestine Service of the Central
Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post
Office, honors the life and service of Gregg David Wenzel, who was from
Monroe. He is the son of Gladys and Mitchell Wenzel, who still live in
Monroe.
Gregg graduated from Monroe-Woodbury High School and from the State
University of New York at Binghamton. He received his juris doctor
degree from the University of Miami School of Law, and he served as a
public defender in Florida before he began his career with the Central
Intelligence Agency. He did so because, in his own words, he wished
``to live for a greater purpose than himself.''
He was a member of the first post-September 11 training class, and he
was distinguished for his enthusiasm and leadership. He was assigned to
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2002, as a clandestine officer, losing his
life in patriotic service in Addis Ababa on July 9, 2003.
Gregg's CIA affiliation was not revealed publicly for 6 years. In
June 2009, it was finally revealed when he was honored with a star on
the Memorial Wall in the CIA headquarters. Then-CIA Director Leon
Panetta noted, ``We find some measure of solace in knowing that Gregg
achieved what he set out to do: he lived for a greater purpose than
himself.''
When a man has given his life, as Gregg David Wenzel did, to protect
our American liberties, honoring him through the tradition of naming a
post office for his extraordinary service to our country is both
fitting and inspiring.
Our deepest gratitude goes to Gregg's family for their sacrifice,
whom I've had the pleasure of speaking with. While no memorial, however
appropriate, can remove the pain of parents and loved ones when they
lose a child, I hope that Gregg's parents and family will find comfort
in his receiving this eminently deserved posthumous recognition.
Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I am pleased to join in support of my colleague from New York in her
urging us to pass H.R. 3593, to designate the facility of the U.S.
Postal Service located at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe, New York, as
the National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS
Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post Office.
As our colleague from New York indicated, this is a posthumous
recognition of the ultimate sacrifice for his country that finally can
be recognized, even though he served his country in a clandestine role.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BUERKLE. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage
of H.R. 3593.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Buerkle) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3593.
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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