Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Representative Jennifer A. Kiggans

Re: HR 7365 (119th Congress), To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1225 Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia, as the "Colonel Edward Shames Post Office Building". · Latest action (2026-09-17): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
VFA SI Solution #394 · published 2026-10-12 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/394
Office of record (Congress.gov): 152 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC · (202) 225-4215

Colonel Edward Shames Post Office Designation with Cost Cap and Oversight

The measure, as described from the official record: Honor the service of Colonel Edward Shames by naming a federal post office building in Virginia Beach, Virginia after him.

The proposal

The VFA proposal would designate the United States Postal Service facility at 1225 Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia as the Colonel Edward Shames Post Office Building. The official summary states this is the purpose of the original bill. The VFA version keeps that honor intact while adding cost controls and clear duties. The law would direct the Postal Service to place a suitable marker at the building and to update official records and directories to reflect the new name. All mail service, delivery, retail hours, and public access would continue without change. No private address, lease, or property right would be altered by the naming. The law would limit total spending for signs, plaques, and paperwork to $50,000 from current Postal Service operating funds. No new funds would be authorized. The Inspector General would verify completion within 180 days and send a short public report to Congress. Congress would review the designation after ten years to confirm the building remains in federal use. This approach respects the power of Congress to establish post offices and post roads. It creates no new federal program and leaves state and local authority untouched. It honors military service in a manner both parties can support, with plain limits on cost and power.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

effective date
Upon enactment; designation applies to the facility at 1225 Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
enforcement mechanism
The Postmaster General shall update facility signage, records, and references; the Postal Service Inspector General shall confirm completion within 180 days and report any noncompliance to Congress.
funding amount
Capped at $50,000 in existing Postal Service operating funds for signage and administrative updates; no new appropriation.
funding source
Existing United States Postal Service operating funds, with no new taxes or borrowing.
oversight body
United States Postal Service under review by the Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with notice to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
sunset years
10 years

Constitutional basis

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

VFA assesses this proposal honors a Democratic priority for recognizing military service and preserving public institutions that connect communities, and honors a Republican priority for fiscal restraint, limited federal scope, and honoring veterans without creating new programs or spending. Both sides gain a low-cost, unifying tribute with clear oversight and a defined review point.

Check before relying on this

Basis: The Congress.gov summary of H.R. 7365 in the 119th Congress states the bill would designate the Postal Service facility at 1225 Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach, Virginia as the Colonel Edward Shames Post Office Building, and the record states it was received in the Senate and referred to committee.

The full bill text, current law on facility naming, total cost effects, maintenance duties, private rights, appeal procedures, and future legislative status are not stated in the official summary and should be verified at the Congress.gov bill page before reliance.

SI-generated · passed automated checks (Constitution citation, source verification, independent SI critic) · not individually reviewed by a person · Report an error: hello@valuesforamerica.com

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/394 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology