Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building

Floor Speech

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Mrs. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3350, to designate a post office in the city of Tustin, California, as the Ursula Ellen Kennedy Post Office Building.

Ursula Ellen Kennedy made history as the first woman elected to the Tustin City Council and the first woman to serve as mayor of Tustin.

At a time when few women held public office, Ursula stepped forward to serve the city she loved. In 1978, she was elected to the Tustin City Council, and 6 years later, her colleagues chose her to serve as Tustin's mayor.

However, her story did not begin in city hall. While raising her family, she became a writer, publishing more than 500 articles and a book of essays. In her forties, she enrolled in law school, earned her degree, passed the bar, and built her career as an attorney while raising her family.

Ursula came to city hall to build a stronger Tustin. When the city's planning commission was disbanded, she fought to restore it because she believed residents deserved a voice in their community's future.

She helped guide the development of east Tustin into the neighborhood we know today as Tustin Ranch. She also championed the senior center that still serves residents today, helping bring it from vision to reality. More than three decades later, it remains a lasting testament to her leadership.

Ursula Kennedy passed away in 2024 at the age of 87. She is remembered as a woman of vision, humor, fairness, and heart. She leaves behind a loving family who continues her legacy.

While we can never fully repay leaders like Ursula Kennedy, dedicating this post office ensures her legacy lives on in the community she helped build.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Kennedy family for working with me on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3350. May Ursula Kennedy's life continue to inspire us all.

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