H8368 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 27, 2005 There was no objection. Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer grew the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor- up in Spring Hill and enlisted in the WATSON) each will control 20 minutes. ida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such Army in 1998, serving tours of duty in The Chair recognizes the gentle- time as I may consume. Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Ser- woman from Florida (Ms. GINNY Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support geant Schafer was the team leader of BROWN-WAITE). of H.R. 3703. I introduced this bill to the Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, GENERAL LEAVE honor the life of fallen U.S. Army Staff 503rd Regiment, 173rd Airborne Bri- Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor- Sergeant Michael Schafer. On July 25 gade. ida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous con- this year, while fighting extremist On July 25, 2005, Staff Sergeant sent that all Members may have 5 leg- forces in Afghanistan, Sergeant Schafer was killed in action while lead- islative days within which to revise Schafer made the ultimate sacrifice for ing his team on patrol in Oruzgan, Af- and extend their remarks and include our great Nation that he loved so dear- ghanistan. Enemy combatants am- extraneous material on the bill under ly. bushed his squad and wounded him consideration. I sincerely appreciate leadership’s with a bullet. Before the second fatal The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there willingness to schedule this legislation shot was fired, Sergeant Schafer alert- objection to the request of the gentle- for consideration today. I can only ed his team to the imminent danger woman from Florida? hope that with the enactment of H.R. and ordered them to run. The Army There was no objection. 3703, Michael’s widow, parents, and awarded him both the Silver Star and Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor- family will be comforted by this small the Purple Heart, recognizing that his ida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such token on behalf of a Nation that is last actions saved the lives of at least time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2062 honors a sol- eternally grateful for Michael’s serv- two of his soldiers at the sacrifice of ice. dier of the highest distinction, Ser- his own life. Michael Schafer, a native of the geant First Class Randall Shughart of Mr. Speaker, I commend my col- beautiful town of Spring Hill in my dis- the U.S. Army’s Special Operations league for seeking to honor the legacy trict, answered the call to service by Command. Along with my distin- of Staff Sergeant Michael Schafer enlisting in the Army in 1998. At the guished colleague from Pennsylvania whose loyalty to his company saved his age of 25, Michael had already served (Mr. SHUSTER), I strongly support H.R. tours of duty in Kosovo, Iraq, and Af- soldiers’ lives. I urge the swift passage 2062 which designates this post office in ghanistan. He became the team leader of this bill. Newville, Pennsylvania, as the Randall of the Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance D. Shughart Post Office Building. 503rd Regiment, 173rd Airborne Bri- of my time. On October 3, 1993, while serving as a gade. In addition to being an excellent Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor- sniper team member with the Special soldier, he was a model citizen, a duti- ida. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional Operations Command with Task Force ful son, and a very caring husband. requests for time, and I yield back the Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia, Ser- Tragically, enemy combatants am- balance of my time. geant Shughart embarked on a mission bushed Sergeant Schafer and his squad The SPEAKER pro tempore. The that would leave him fatally wounded. in Oruzgan, Afghanistan, on July 25, question is on the motion offered by While performing precision sniper 2005. They fired shots at the American the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. fires at a helicopter crash site, Ser- forces. One shot struck Sergeant GINNY BROWN-WAITE) that the House geant Shughart and his team leader, Schafer. Although wounded, he still suspend the rules and pass the bill, Master Sergeant Gary Gordon, volun- managed to alert the rest of his team H.R. 3703. teered to be inserted into the crossfire to the imminent danger and ordered The question was taken; and (two- in order to save a wounded soldier them to evacuate the area. However, thirds having voted in favor thereof) below, knowing that there were no another shot then killed him. the rules were suspended and the bill ground troops available to secure the The Army posthumously awarded was passed. area. After having to abort the first Sergeant Schafer the Silver Star and A motion to reconsider was laid on mission due to enemy ground fire, Ser- Purple Heart. The Army recognized the table. geant Shughart descended 100 meters that his last act saved the lives of at f south of the crash site. Only armed least two of his own soldiers. I am RANDALL D. SHUGHART POST with a long-range rifle and sidearm, SFC Shughart fought his way to the deeply humbled by the brave and self- OFFICE BUILDING less actions of this young hero. fallen helicopter facing tremendous op- I urge my distinguished colleagues to Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor- position. join me in honoring the sacrifice made ida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the Upon arriving at the site, Sergeant by Michael Schafer to defend the free- rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2062) to Shughart secured the perimeter by of- dom of our great Nation, and I thank designate the facility of the United fering protective fire for the pilot of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. TOM States Postal Service located at 57 the aircraft so he could escape to safe- DAVIS) for making possible House pas- West Street in Newville, Pennsylvania, ty. Sadly, upon the depletion of his am- sage of this legislation. as the ‘‘Randall D. Shughart Post Of- munition, Sergeant Shughart was Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of fice Building’’. killed in the crossfire. The unmistaken my time. The Clerk read as follows: and important heroic acts by Sergeant Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield H.R. 2062 First Class Randall Shughart were myself such time as I may consume. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- later depicted in the feature film Mr. Speaker, as a member of the resentatives of the United States of America in ‘‘Blackhawk Down’’ in 2001. Committee on Government Reform, I Congress assembled, I certainly want to thank the gen- am pleased to join the gentlewoman SECTION 1. RANDALL D. SHUGHART POST OF- tleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. SHU- from Florida (Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE) FICE BUILDING. STER) for his work on this very impor- in consideration of H.R. 3703, legisla- (a) DESIGNATION.—The facility of the tant issue, recognizing the courageous tion naming a postal facility in Spring United States Postal Service located at 57 actions of a true American hero. The Hill, Florida, after Staff Sergeant Mi- West Street in Newville, Pennsylvania, shall men and women who protect our coun- be known and designated as the ‘‘Randall D. try deserve appropriate recognition for chael Schafer, a courageous soldier Shughart Post Office Building’’. who was killed in Afghanistan. (b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, their service and commitment to their This measure, which was introduced map, regulation, document, paper, or other country, and that is just what this bill by the gentlewoman from Florida on record of the United States to the facility re- does: it recognizes Sergeant First Class September 8, 2005, and unanimously re- ferred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to Randall Shughart, whose courageous ported by the Committee on Govern- be a reference to the ‘‘Randall D. Shughart actions in combat cost him his life, by ment Reform on September 15, 2005, en- Post Office Building’’. naming a post office after him. This joys the support and cosponsorship of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- will serve as a constant reminder to many Members, including the entire ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from the entire community of his brave ac- Florida delegation. Florida (Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE) and tions when his Nation called. VerDate Aug 31 2005 00:33 Sep 28, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K27SE7.018 H27SEPT1 September 27, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H8369 At this moment, the gentleman from I commend my colleague for sponsoring this the rules were suspended and the bill Pennsylvania, because of his role on measure and I urge the swift passage of this was passed. the Select Bipartisan Committee In- bill. A motion to reconsider was laid on vestigating the Response to and Prepa- Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to the table. ration for Hurricane Katrina, is unable honor and commemorate Sergeant First Class f Randall Shughart, a central Pennsylvanian to be with us here. Nevertheless, I MAUDELLE SHIREK POST OFFICE who received the military’s highest decora- thank the gentleman from Pennsyl- BUILDING vania again for his leading effort on tion—the Medal of Honor—posthumously for this legislation that honors one of his service in Mogadishu, Somalia. He is from Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor- America’s great heroes, Randall Newville, Pennsylvania, and served as a Snip- ida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the Shughart. er Team Member under United States Army rules and pass the bill (H.R.