Kelly-led bill to rename Titusville, Pa. Post Office signed into law

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On January 4, 2025, legislation led by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) to rename the Titusville, Pa. U.S. Post Office building after the father of the American oil industry, Edwin Drake, was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2024 and passed the U.S. Senate in December 2024.

The bill, H.R. 7417, officially renames the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 W. Spring St., to the Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building.

"Edwin Drake's discovery led to a revolution that transformed the world and put Titusville and the Oil Region in the history books. Now, I am proud to cement his legacy in our Nation's history with this honor," Rep. Kelly said. "I would like to thank my colleagues for their support in honoring this American pioneer."

In April 2024, Rep. Kelly's legislation passed the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. In February 2024, Rep. Kelly, joined by all 16 other Members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation, introduced bipartisan legislation to name the U.S. Post Office located at 135 W. Spring St in Titusville, Pennsylvania, as the "Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building".

You can WATCH and DOWNLOAD Rep. Kelly's floor speech on this legislation from June 2024 here.

BACKGROUND

In 1859, Edwin Drake became the first person to use an iron pipe to drill for oil. His "drive pipe" quickly produced between 20-40 barrels daily, using all the whiskey barrels in Titusville. Drake's oil well started the Pennsylvania oil rush in 1859. The Titusville oil well launched an economic revolution in Western Pennsylvania that would change economies worldwide.

Drake died in 1880, and rests in Titusville; the original tools used by Drake can be found at the Drake Well Museum in Titusville.

In 2022, Rep. Kelly passed similar legislation to rename the Butler, Pennsylvania Post Office after Butler County native and Civil War hero Andrew Gomer Williams. In 2023, Kelly led the renaming ceremony for the Post Office, which is now officially named the Andrew Gomer Williams Post Office Building.