Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, Houston native and Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. In April 2020, she was reported missing from her unit.

Tragically, her body was found 2 months later along the Leon River near Fort Hood. It is believed Specialist Guillen was killed by a fellow soldier at Fort Hood who had been harassing her and stalking her.

Specialist Guillen's death spurred a national policy conversation about the way in which sexual harassment claims have been handled by the military.

I strongly support this postal-naming bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Jackson Lee).

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute this naming of a Houston post office after Vanessa Guillen and to congratulate my colleague, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, whose constituent Vanessa was, for her leadership in recognizing the importance of the life and legacy of Vanessa Guillen. She was a hero in life and a hero in death.

As the story is told, all of her life she wanted to be in the United States Army, and she was an impeccable member of the United States military. Her tragic story is not one that she deserved, the violent death, the sexual assault, the lack of oversight, the lack of knowledge and investigation and process that would have really saved her life.

She did her duty. She made those in positions of power aware of the journey and the trials and tribulations that she was facing. Yet, her life was lost but not her legacy, not her story, and not the response that has come about through the United States Congress. And that will continue.

As I heard my colleague say, she will not rest until Vanessa Guillen gets justice. This is one step of honor for all little girls to know what a brave and wonderful young woman she was and to be able to say to her family that we will never forget her story.

I honor her tonight; I honor her legacy; I honor her bravery; and I honor her story.

What are we to say to the young girls who seek to be part of the United States military and to fight and stand for their country? Yes, they can model their lives after the service given by Vanessa Guillen.

I thank her, brave that she was and, yes, a servant of the people of the United States. I thank her, and I salute her.

Congratulations for this post office to her family and her community and to Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, in the interest of time, I wish to be associated with the words of my colleagues in honor of Vanessa Guillen. I thank my colleague, Sylvia Garcia, for putting this important legislation forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 224, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5302 Galveston Road in Houston, Texas, as the ``Vanessa Guillen Post Office Building.''

Ms. Vanessa Guillen was born to the parents of immigrants and grew up in Houston, Texas. In high school, she was a stand-out athlete and graduated in the top 15 percent of her class.

At a young age, Ms. Guillen knew that she wanted to serve her country in the United States Army. In June 2018, she joined the Army and trained as a 91F, Small Arms and Artillery Repairer. Tragically at the age of 20, Private First Class Guillen was killed while serving at Fort Hood leaving a hole in the hearts of her family and the community. Private First Class Guillen was posthumously promoted to the rank of Specialist on July 1, 2020.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 224.

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Ms. MACE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for giving a voice to thousands of women who don't have one with this postal-naming bill tonight. I support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 224, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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