Last night, the U.S. Senate passed Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan’s H.R. 7385 to rename the Petersburg Post Office as the “John Mercer Langston United States Postal Service Building.”
The legislation is McClellan’s first standalone bill to pass Congress.
“John Mercer Langston was a trailblazer who broke barriers for Black Americans. He had a profound impact on the Petersburg community as the president of Virginia State University and the first Black man to represent Virginia in Congress — also from Virginia’s Fourth. As the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress, I stand on his shoulders. As a young girl, I would visit the Petersburg Post Office with my father, and I hope this newly renamed post office will inspire other children to learn more about John Mercer Langston’s life and legacy. I commend my Senate colleagues for passing this legislation and look forward to President Biden signing it into law,” McClellan said.
Langston, an abolitionist, attorney, diplomat, voting rights advocate, educational administrator community leader and the first Black man to represent Virginia in Congress, served as president of the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, now Virginia State University, from 1855 to 1857.
The U.S. Senate passed McClellan’s legislation by unanimous consent. Her bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk for signature.
Related stories:
McClellan introduces bill to rename Petersburg Post Office after VSU’s first president
House approves renaming Petersburg Post Office
Warner, Kaine introduce Senate bill to rename post office for first Black Congressman in Virginia
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Rebecca Barnabi
