Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolution

Floor Speech

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Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to be introduce a bill to honor the late Robert L. Brown of Thermopolis, WY.

Robert Brown was a lifelong resident of Thermopolis, WY, and he exemplified Wyoming's values and a commitment to public service.

After graduating from Thermopolis High School, Bob was inducted into the Army in 1944, and he served in both the Europe and Pacific theaters. Later, in 1950, when he was part of the National Guard, Bob deployed to Korea, where he was a member of the 300th Armored Field Artillery Battalion.

He served in World War II, in both theaters, and then in Korea. The United States was poorly prepared for Korea, downsizing the military after the Second World War. The National Guard responded with little or no training or equipment.

Bob Brown went to another war. He earned a Unit Citation. He received the Combat Infantry Badge and the Purple Heart.

Upon returning to Thermopolis, Bob began a career with the U.S. Postal Service. That career spanned 44 years, including many years as postmaster. I hope John will tell more of the postal love affair and how Bob Brown met and courted the person who picked up the mail. That lady later became my first Sunday school teacher.

Bob passed away earlier this month. At 94 years of age, he did have some health issues, but he had a devoted daughter, Bobbi Brown Barrasso, wife of Senator Barrasso, who had been Senator Thomas' State director. She was her dad's caregiver. She took care of him in Casper as well as Thermopolis. She drove him back and forth wherever he wanted or needed to go, which meant especially back and forth to needed clinics with doctors in Thermopolis and in Casper. When COVID happened, she stayed with him and protected him.

Bob Brown will be sorely missed in his community, and I can think of no better way to honor someone with such a long and storied career with the U.S. Postal Service, as well as with the people of Thermopolis, than to introduce this bill to name the Thermopolis post office after him.

That historic building holds the memories of a veteran who came home to work and spent his entire career in that building, winding up as postmaster.

The lead Democratic cosponsor of this bipartisan bill is Senator Tom Carper, who is the strongest advocate I know of for the U.S. Postal Service.

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