ULYSSES S. GRANT POST OFFICE BUILDING

On 2026-07-13, Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX-17) delivered a floor speech titled "ULYSSES S. GRANT POST OFFICE BUILDING" in the House.

ULYSSES S. GRANT POST OFFICE BUILDING

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4387-H4388] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ULYSSES S. GRANT POST OFFICE BUILDING Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7809) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Grant Avenue in Georgetown, Ohio, as the ``Ulysses S. Grant Post Office Building''. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 7809 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. ULYSSES S. GRANT POST OFFICE BUILDING. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Grant Avenue in Georgetown, Ohio, shall be known and designated as the ``Ulysses S. Grant 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 ``Ulysses S. Grant Post Office Building''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas. General Leave Mr. SESSIONS. 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. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill, which would rename a post office in Georgetown, Ohio, for Ulysses S. Grant. As an Ohio native, Grant was born in Point Pleasant and raised in Georgetown before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Upon graduation, he served with distinction in the Mexican-American war. [[Page H4388]] He later went on to engage in several major battles during the American Civil War, eventually becoming the first officer appointed as lieutenant general of the United States Army. Grant became the 18th President of the United States in 1869 and served two terms as President of the United States of America. Over his time in office, President Grant established the Department of Justice and oversaw the adoption of the 15th Amendment and other Reconstruction efforts that were important to this fledgling young Nation. He is remembered as one of the great military geniuses and a symbol of national unity. I am pleased not only on behalf of Chairman James Comer to bring this bill forward but also the important parts of this that come from the delegation from the great State of Ohio. We will be hearing from them in just a few minutes. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, some of my Virginia ancestors are rolling over in their graves today, but I am very happy to be here to speak in support of H.R. 7809 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Grant Avenue in Georgetown, Ohio, as the Ulysses S. Grant Post Office Building. Ulysses S. Grant was an American hero who helped lead the United States Army to victory against the Confederacy in the Civil War before serving as President of the United States. After graduating from West Point, Grant served in the Mexican- American war under the leadership of General Zachary Taylor, who would later become the 12th President of the United States. Grant initially resigned from the Army in 1854, but at the outbreak of the Civil War, he served as commander of a volunteer regiment and was quickly promoted to brigadier general. Throughout the war, he fought and won numerous battles. His victories included the capture of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson and the defeat of rebel forces at Shiloh and Vicksburg. As the war progressed, his military leadership played an instrumental role in enforcing President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and advancing the United States' commitment to ending slavery. In March 1864, President Lincoln designated Grant as the general-in- chief of the U.S. Army Forces, ultimately leading to a Union victory in April 1865 with the surrender of Confederate General Lee at Appomattox in Virginia. After the war, Ulysses S. Grant served two terms as President of the United States. During his time in office, he pushed forward the Reconstruction agenda, advocating for civil rights and protection from political violence for Black Americans. I encourage my colleagues to join us in honoring the life and legacy of President Grant by naming this post office in his hometown of Georgetown, Ohio, after him. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, the Ohio delegation supports this effort we are undertaking today. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Taylor). {time} 1550 Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill to rename the Georgetown, Ohio, post office the Ulysses S. Grant Post Office Building. President Grant was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio. He spent his childhood in Georgetown, Ohio, a small town in Brown County, in what is today Ohio's Second Congressional District, before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1839. Grant's time at West Point kicked off a legendary military career, beginning in the Mexican-American War and ending with the rank of general of the Army of the United States, the position he held until he became President. His accomplishments in the Civil War are too numerous to list, but after winning the battles at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Petersburg, he eventually accepted Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, ending the Civil War and keeping the Union intact. Following his military service, on March 4, 1869, Grant was sworn in as the 18th President of the United States, becoming the second Ohioan to serve as President. Throughout his two terms as President, Grant worked on civil rights issues, including the establishment of the Department of Justice, the adoption of the 15th Amendment, and other Reconstruction efforts. Ulysses S. Grant was an extraordinary American worthy of being remembered. At a time when our Nation was divided, much more divided than we are now, he was instrumental in bringing us back together. Without him, our Nation and world would be a much different place. By renaming the post office in his hometown of Georgetown after him, we are further solidifying his profound legacy. I thank the entire Ohio delegation for supporting this legislation, and I thank Chairman Comer's staff for working with us throughout this process. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. WALKINSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I join Mr. Taylor in thanking the Ohio delegation and really all of our Members for their recognition of service to this great Nation in the naming of this post office. The effort that the President made to represent the United States, the unity that you heard about his service to the United States military, his service to the Department of Justice, his service to the people of the country to bring them together at a time when many thought we could not survive as a nation, to honor him now is, without question, the right thing to do. Naming this post office in his hometown of Georgetown, Ohio, is a high honor to the people of that town also. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, naming a post office for our 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. 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 Texas (Mr. Sessions) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7809. 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: HR7809, HR7809