WASHINGTON (WKOW) — A bill to rename the Sun Prairie Post Office for Fire Capt. Cory Barr passed the House of Representatives Wednesday, and after a similar vote in July in the Senate, the bill has now been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Barr died July 10, 2018 while responding to downtown Sun Prairie after a contractor struck a gas main. The subsequent explosion killed Barr, injured two other first responders and leveled much of downtown.
In a statement, Rep. Mark Pocan said, “I want to thank my colleague and good friend U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin for her tireless work to help make this a reality. I commend Sun Prairie Fire Chief Christopher Garrison and the Mayor of Sun Prairie Paul Esser for their work to honor and preserve Captain Barr’s legacy and commitment to service.”
The legislation was cosponsored by every member in the Wisconsin congressional delegation, including U.S. Representatives Bryan Steil (WI-01), Ron Kind (WI-03), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Sean Duffy (WI-07), and Mike Gallagher (WI-08). U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate that is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI).
“Last year, the community of Sun Prairie was forever changed after an explosion led to the death of Fire Captain Cory Barr. Thanks to his heroic efforts on that fateful day, Captain Barr helped evacuate more than one hundred people while responding to a gas leak in downtown Sun Prairie,” said Congressman Pocan. “I am proud to lead the effort to dedicate and rename the Sun Prairie Post Office as the Fire Captain Cory Barr Post Office and I’m grateful for the support from my colleagues in the Wisconsin delegation. This will ensure we all remember Captain Barr and his commitment to serving the Sun Prairie Community.”
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