PAUL IGNATIUS POST OFFICE

On 2026-06-29, Representative Laura Friedman (D-CA-30) delivered a floor speech titled "PAUL IGNATIUS POST OFFICE" in the House.

PAUL IGNATIUS POST OFFICE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4279-H4280] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1520 PAUL IGNATIUS POST OFFICE Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4662) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6444 San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, as the ``Paul Ignatius Post Office''. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4662 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. PAUL IGNATIUS POST OFFICE. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6444 San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, shall be known and designated as the ``Paul Ignatius 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 ``Paul Ignatius Post Office''. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Williams of Texas). Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin. General Leave Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 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 Wisconsin? There was no objection. Mr. GROTHMAN. 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 Glendale, California, for Paul Ignatius. A city of Glendale native, Paul Ignatius commissioned as a naval officer in World War II following his graduation from the University of Southern California. He continued his education after his military service at Harvard University, receiving an MBA. Paul served in two Presidential administrations as Assistant Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Army, Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Navy. He is the recipient of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, and the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award. In addition to his numerous accolades, an Arleigh Burke-class guided- missile destroyer ship was named after him, which is currently homeported in Rota, Spain. After spending his career dedicated to public service and the country, Paul was an active member in his community, involved in various nonprofit organizations and served on several boards. Mr. Speaker, I call on my House 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 in support of H.R. 4662, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6444 San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, as the Paul Ignatius Post Office. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Friedman) to discuss this bill. Ms. FRIEDMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill to designate the United States Postal Service facility on San Fernando Road in Glendale, California, as the Paul Ignatius Post Office. Let me start by thanking my colleagues for bringing this legislation to the floor and giving us the opportunity to come together, set aside our differences, and honor a truly outstanding American. Paul Ignatius was born in Glendale in 1920 to Armenian immigrant parents who escaped horrific persecution and genocide overseas. They put down roots on San Fernando Road, the same street where, as a young man, Paul clerked at the post office that will carry his name should this bill pass. Paul went on to answer the call in World War II as a naval officer and served 8 years across two Presidential administrations as Assistant Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Army, Assistant Secretary of Defense, and, ultimately, as Secretary of the Navy. He earned too many awards to list here today, but they include the Army, Navy, and Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Awards. The Navy named a guided-missile destroyer after him, the USS Paul Ignatius. After serving our Nation in the military, he went home and kept giving back to his community well past his 100th birthday. Sadly, he passed away last fall at the age of 104. As we approach our Nation's 250th anniversary, I keep coming back to his story, the son of Armenian immigrants who fled persecution and built a new life in this country, who answered the call to serve under Presidents of both parties, and who went home and continued giving back to their community until the very end. He is the kind of American we should all aspire to be. There is a reason this legislation has brought together the California delegation, Democrats, Republicans, and an Independent, because there is nothing partisan about honoring a patriot like Paul Ignatius. It is simply the right thing for us all to do. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues again for their support, and I urge passage of this bill. Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Mr. Ignatius by naming this post office after him. I urge passage of H.R. 4662, and I yield back the balance of my time. [[Page H4280]] Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill naming a post office for Paul Ignatius, a dedicated soldier and public servant, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4662. 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: HR4662, HR4662