JAMES J. HOWARD POST OFFICE

On 2026-04-14, Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) delivered a floor speech titled "JAMES J. HOWARD POST OFFICE" in the House. The speech addressed the economy and also covered taxes, the environment. It referenced legislation: HR1431.

JAMES J. HOWARD POST OFFICE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 65 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)] [House] [Pages H2847-H2848] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1530 JAMES J. HOWARD POST OFFICE Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1431) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2407 State Route 71, Suite 1, in Spring Lake, New Jersey, as the ``James J. Howard Post Office''. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1431 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. JAMES J. HOWARD POST OFFICE. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2407 State Route 71, Suite 1, in Spring Lake, New Jersey, shall be known and designated as the ``James J. Howard 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 ``James J. Howard Post Office''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gill) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas. General Leave Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas? There was no objection. Mr. GILL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which would rename a post office in Spring Lake, New Jersey, for Congressman James J. Howard. Howard served our country in the U.S. Navy before beginning a career in education, where he worked his way up from teacher to acting principal in Wall Township, New Jersey. In 1964, Howard was elected to represent New Jersey's Third Congressional District. During his time in Congress, Congressman Howard became known for his strong advocacy for his district and the environment. As chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, Congressman Howard championed important legislation related to highway safety and antidrunk driving. He passed away in 1988 and is survived by his wife, Marlene, and his three daughters. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today also in support of H.R. 1431, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) to name the post office in Spring Lake, New Jersey, after Mr. James Howard. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone). Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Virginia for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill to name the post office in Spring Lake, New Jersey, after my predecessor and mentor, Congressman Jim Howard. I thank Representative Smith and the rest of the New Jersey delegation for cosponsoring the bill. As Representative of New Jersey's Third District for over 20 years, from 1965 to 1988, Jim Howard was a strong force in Congress. Through his work as the chairman of the Public Works and Transportation Committee, he wrote and passed legislation that genuinely saved thousands of lives: laws to tackle drunk driving, passenger safety, and the first-ever 55-mile-per-hour speed limit on Federal highways. Jim also came up with his Howard Plan, which was the very first time mass transit and highway legislation were combined into one surface transportation bill, because he recognized that rebuilding our infrastructure wouldn't just improve people's lives, it would mean economic growth and jobs throughout the country. [[Page H2848]] For his home State, he helped secure crucial Federal funding for beach restoration, the rebuilding of the Barnegat Inlet, and the electrification of the North Jersey Coast Rail Line, all projects that New Jerseyans still benefit from to this day. While Jim was a strong champion for revitalizing our Nation's infrastructure, he was an even stronger force for New Jersey's coastal communities and environmental protection. Through major legislation like the Superfund Act of 1986, the Groundwater Protection Act, and the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act, he never forgot that New Jersey suffered greatly from toxic waste sites, ocean dumping, or plastic pollution. He even successfully fought back against the Presidential veto by sponsoring and passing the 1987 Clean Water Act, which helped create the Clean Water State Revolving Fund that still provides millions of dollars in funding every year for a range of water quality infrastructure projects across the country. Now, before his passing, Jim resided in Spring Lake, New Jersey, with his wife, who still lives there. Marlene and the rest of Jim's family were critical to his success as a Congressman. His very first political campaign in 1964 was run from his kitchen table, using his family's savings of about $5,000 to run for office. With Marlene as his campaign manager, his slogan was: ``He cares about people. It is that simple.'' It really encapsulated Jim's work and demeanor. Being a Democrat from this part of New Jersey, which was very conservative at the time, he had to listen to anyone's opinion and always sought common ground. He never stopped fighting for working- class people. It is only right that Jim's important and lasting legacy in New Jersey and the rest of the country be recognized at his local post office. This is not being renamed. It never had a name, so it will be now named for him. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill to honor a great man and Congressman. Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Madam Speaker, in closing, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for his comments, and I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GILL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill naming a post office for Congressman James J. Howard. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Van Duyne). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gill) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1431. 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. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR1431, HR1431