U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) and U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) cheered a newly signed law that renames the U.S. Post Office in Rayville, La., as the Luke Letlow Post Office in honor of the congresswoman’s late husband.
A Republican, Luke Letlow was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Louisiana’s 5th congressional district in 2020, but died at the age of 41 from complications caused by COVID-19 five days before he was due to take office in the 117th Congress. Rep. Julia Letlow took office in April 2021 as the state’s first woman elected to Congress after receiving 65 percent of the vote in a special election to win the seat previously won by her husband.
“Our family is deeply touched and humbled that the bill renaming the Rayville Post Office has officially been signed into law,” Rep. Letlow said Nov. 26. “I’m grateful to my Louisiana colleagues for their support in honoring Luke’s legacy, in particular Leader Scalise for introducing this legislation.”
“I know Luke would consider it the recognition of a lifetime to have the post office named in his honor,” she added, “and our family is immensely proud to officially see this fitting memorial to his legacy in the place we call home.”
President Joe Biden on Nov. 25 signed into law H.R. 7423, which Rep. Letlow and Rep. Scalise, cosponsored and sponsored, respectively, on Feb. 20 to rename the Rayville post office. Other original cosponsors of H.R. 7423 included U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Troy Carter (D-LA).
“On behalf of the entire Louisiana delegation, I am honored to see our bill signed into law to memorialize the legacy of public service Luke Letlow left behind by naming a post office in his beloved Richland Parish after him,” said Rep. Scalise last week. “This post office will ensure his legacy continues to shine on and inspire others to take up public service in their communities.”
Rep. Scalise added that what he remembers most about Luke Letlow is that “he had a faithful heart, a passion for serving his community, and such positive energy every single day.”
The House on May 7 voted 401-0 to approve H.R. 7423, which then passed the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent on Nov. 19 before heading to Biden’s desk to be signed into law.