Yesterday, at the height of Speaker Boehner’s attempt to convince his fellow Republicans to approve his debt ceiling plan, the House instead voted on a bill sponsored by Rep. Aaron Schock:
House leaders have delayed a scheduled vote on the debt ceiling plan offered by House Speaker John A. Boehner, a possible acknowledgement that Republicans lacked the votes to ensure passage.
The postponement was announced just minutes before the planned 6 p.m. vote. The House instead moved to consider a far less controversial measure — to rename a post office in Peoria, Ill.
That bill is H.R. 2548, a bill to “designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6310 North University Street in Peoria, Illinois, as the ‘Charles “Chip” Lawrence Chan Post Office Building.'” Chan was a 23-year-old Peoria native “employed as a currency trader at Cantor Fitzgerald, working on the 105th floor of the North Tower” when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center. He had graduated from Richwoods High School in 1995 and earned a degree in economics from the University of Illinois in 2000 before moving to New York. A memorial service in October 2001 was attended by 850 mourners.
The bill was approved by the House last night by a voice vote.
Hat tip: Peoria Pundit
And why would this take up ANY time in Congress? Can’t the Post Office handle their own building naming?
A lovely tribute that came out of a horrible event in history…thanks, Rep. Schock!
Art 1 Section 8 of Constitution might enlighten a few
This is touching and all that but how much is this going to cost. Somebody has got to pay for it!!
I certainly hope the family of the this man doesn’t read the comments on this blog. I am ashamed for you folks.
I agree, checking for details. I didn’t know the man, but I certainly feel for his family after such a devastating loss. We should all remember just about 10 years ago, when this happened, and how horrible we felt. It doesn’t matter how much it costs to put up a sign with his name on it. It simply won’t be that much money. It is a great thing for Peoria to do to pay tribute to a man who was an innocent victim of that horrible day.
Eye — From the site I sourced in the post above, it says: “According to CBO, any costs related to new post office designations, which include the cost of changing the name on the building, signs, and maps, are not significant.”
According to CBO, any costs related to new post office designations, which include the cost of changing the name on the building, signs, and maps, are not significant.”
Well by all means spend the money then!!!
Sadly, no one will remember the name of the post office and they will still call it the North University post office even though this young man’s name will appear. As to the cost, who cares? Really? The price to change the name or put his name up is no more than maintenance to the upkeep of the building like painting it.
No one here remembers when Peoria named Interstate 74 through Peoria the JFK Interstate do they??? There’s one to look up.
Waste of time… pitiful waste of time.
I did not know Chip Chan but Chip could have made such a difference, is it too late? What do you think? Anyone have an idea to still make this happen? Please read this. I watch this vote as I waited to see the debate on the spending crisis (debt) bill and I was stunned. At the time I had no idea why the nation would want to borrow “a little bit” of money from China to rename a postoffice, which some just call, a failing business. I can’t imagine the cost for this considering what cost $2 to the average consumer cost the U.S. gov’t $200 (you know it’s true!). I just googled the bill and got to this website. I made a comment on my facebook page, got a couple comments from that, wrote to my local newspaper and even sent it as a show idea to Ellen Degeneris (sorry is I didn’t spell her name correctly) and suggested she expose the author of this bill. It seemed as if noone other than me knew about or cared about this. Now that I know more about it… I think it is a shame that SOMEONE OR SOME MEDIA OR SOME PERSON IN CONGRESS, YES I’M SCREAMING AS LOUD AS I CAN! did not take a stand against spending money on such a thing in such a critical financial time for our nation. What a story this could have been. I, just an average citizen that has lost all of her life savings due to the economy and is just trying to survive for the moment would have met Chip Chan by way of the media. I would have seen his picture on the TV, probably would have met his family, the list would have gone on and on. Think of all the people that would have met Chip Chan. How great would it have been if one of the over 300 members of Congress that voted would taken a stand and said, enough!. As a nation, lets put a freeze on our checkbook and not write another check that is not “needed” until we are back on our feet and making some money. Let’s shelf this vote until that day and then make it the first bill we vote on once we are ABLE to spend money on things we “want” again. The nation could have come to know Chip Chan in a wonderful way. I had no idea why Congress would borrow money, and I don’t care if it was only $100, to rename a failing busines. Now that I know, and still think it was insane to do this while the BOAT IS SINKING, HELLO.. it is in no way shape or form a slap in the face to Chip or his family and friends. Like I said, this could have been the most heart warming, meaningful story of 2011. What a shame that the only outcome is that people are enraged (and some directing that rage to Chip and his family) that Congress, moments before debating a bill to figure out how to get spending under control, voted to borrow money from China to rename a failing business. I can’t help but feel this should be the story of the year. If anyone has any ideas to make this happen, please respond. P.S. If money was no object, not only Chip but each and every precious victim would be honored in some way.
I went to school with chip both grade school and highschool he was a good guy. I have served in the Marine Corps for almost 16 years now in part I do ito honor him and his father whom I served with prior to his sons death. He deserves moethan a name sake on a building and screw local Government passing a bill let those whose knew him make private donations and have it put up at Richwoods Highschool.