Sheila Jackson Lee: “It was really good to hear the initial description of Congressman Mickey Leland. He loved being called Mickey Leland.…”

“It was really good to hear the initial description of Congressman Mickey Leland. He loved being called Mickey Leland. Although his full name is George Thomas, Mickey was what he went by. He was a person of the people. Today, I stand here in support of H.R. 78, designating the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Almeda Road in Houston, Texas, as the George Thomas ``Mickey'' Leland Post Office Building. I thank the ranking member and the chair of the full committee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for their kindness and their diligence in helping to bring this to the floor of the House. It is appropriate to have it in this year, the 25th commemoration of Mickey's death, along with 15 other brave individuals who were flying to provide lifesaving commodities for those who were starving and dying. This bill will acknowledge this 25th year that we have lost Mickey Leland. It will acknowledge the charitableness of his heart. It will acknowledge he was a person who was willing to sacrifice his own life. It will also acknowledge that he was our fellow colleague in the United States Congress. I am glad that we are doing this, and I again thank the committee because it is important to note that, over the years of this very historic, hallowed institution, Members have come and they have served. That should be our continuing challenge: to serve America and to serve the world. Mickey was born in November 1944.…”