To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as the Michael A. Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1594) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as the Michael A. Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is to name the VA Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, after U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Michael A. Marzano. It was brought to us by Congressman English and Congressman Altmire from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1594, a bill to name the VA Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, after U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Michael A. Marzano.

A native of Greenville, Pennsylvania, Sgt. Marzano courageously overcame a wrestling injury to his knee during his senior year of high school to realize his long held aspirations of becoming a United States Marine, four years after initially being denied entry for this reason. What tenacity!

In fact when called up in 1999, having won several amateur titles, he was training as a boxer in preparation for competing in the 2000 Olympics. But he sacrificed it all for his country to serve as Marine.

I think we can all agree that it takes a special kind of courage to volunteer one's self to serve in harm's way for the good of our Nation. Well, Sgt. Marzano volunteered twice to serve as a member of our military armed forces. For his last tour, Sgt. Marzano enlisted with a Marine Reserve unit with the specific intention of serving in Iraq.

Duing his tour of duty in Iraq, Sgt. Marzano served in Iraq with Ohio's 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment of the 4th Marine Division, and was a leader among his fellow Marines.

According to one of the many veterans' organizations supporting the dedication of this VA clinic in his honor, ``he performed his duty with honor and heroism and was a shining example to his men, to the U.S. Marine Corps and to everyone who served and continues to serve our great country.''

On May 8th of 2005, Sgt. Marzano was part of a Quick Reaction Force serving in the city of Haditha in Al-Anbar province, Iraq. Sgt. Marzano and the members of his team were tasked with protecting the rest of the force as they battled several insurgents who had overrun a local hospital. The local hospital contained many workers and patients who were held captive as insurgents used them as human shields.

Sgt. Marzano and his small group heroically kept the insurgents at bay providing the platoon the time they needed to engage the enemy and turn them back. Tragically, a suicide bomber driving in a vehicle borne with an improvised explosive device detonated in the area where Sgt. Marzano's quick reaction force was operating, killing Michael and three of his fellow service members.

Because of the valiant actions and sacrifice of Sgt. Marzano, Lance Corporal Lance Graham, Sergeant Aaron Cepeda, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeffrey Wiener, the Marines were able to secure the area under siege and free the Iraqis trapped inside the hospital which had been set on fire by the explosion of the IED.

No doubt, Sgt. Marzano is a true hero. His good nature, leadership- by-example and love-

of-country demeanor, as well as many other fine attributes, are missed by many who knew him both inside and outside of the Marine Corps he so dearly loved.

Sgt. Marzano's family has carried on his spirit of service by becoming actively involved in programs to benefit the men and women of our Nation's Armed Services, including the Packages From Home organization which sends care and comfort packages to American troops deployed around the globe. His mother, Margy Marzano, is known as one of its best volunteers. There is also a scholarship fund established in the name of Sgt. Marzano to assist high school athletes in the Mercer County area go to college.

Dedication of this VA outpatient clinic as the `Michael A. Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic' would be a fitting tribute to the brave service of Sgt. Marzano. In making the ultimate sacrifice for our country, Sgt. Marzano's remarkable heroism was displayed on behalf of our country, and we must never forget his legacy.

I thank my colleagues, Congressman English and Congressman Altmire for introducing this important legislation.

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman English and Congressman Altmire for bringing this bill and letting us know about the heroism of Sergeant Marzano.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1594.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida, and I particularly want to thank the chairman and my good friend and colleague, Mr. Altmire, for making the timely consideration of this legislation possible on the floor today.

I arise to ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1594. It does something that I think every veterans' organization in Mercer County has asked us to do, which is to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as the Michael A. Marzano Outpatient Clinic.

Marine Sergeant Michael Marzano, as you have heard, was killed on Saturday, the 7th of May, 2005, while on assignment in Iraq. I arise here to ask you to support this legislation with a great deal of emotion because this man was the first soldier from Mercer County to give his life in the global war on terror.

I can't express myself on this as well as his commanding officer expressed it in a letter which I was given and which I would like to read a portion of.

``On 08 May 2005, enemy insurgents fired from positions within the local hospital attacking U.S. Marines in the city of Haditha, al Anbar province, Iraq. Patients and the medical staff were forced to remain in the hospital while enemy forces triggered this attack that included a Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device. The SVBIED exploded approximately 30 feet from the hospital patient ward, killing four Marines from 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines and igniting a fire within the hospital.

``Lance Corporal Lance Graham watched his platoon from above as he always did above his machine gun. Sergeant Michael Marzano's leadership and humor rubbed off on everyone round him. Sergeant Aaron Cepeda always welcomed new members to his platoon like they were part of his family. Finally, one Sailor who we will always call 'Marine' because he continuously acted like one, Petty Officer 3rd Class Jeffrey Wiener, all gave their lives that day. They had the job of protecting the force as the Quick Reaction Force and many more lives were saved due to their sacrifice. All four gave the rest of the platoon precious minutes that allowed the Marines to return fire immediately, resulting in the insurgents going on the defensive.

``Because the bravery of the men of Mobile Assault Platoon 7, the remainder of the force of over 70 Marines and Sailors sustained the attack and protected the hospital. The members of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, will always honor and remember what they did. We remember our friends fondly. The memory of their leadership, courage, and sacrifice live on in the Marines and Sailors who served with them. Even in passing, they still continued to protect their brothers.''

Signed, Captain John A. Kasparian.

Mr. Speaker, on October 16th, 2006, after a lot of work by several of us in the delegation, the veterans hospital in Butler, Pennsylvania, opened a Mercer County Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage. Almost immediately, veterans from Mercer County contacted me asking to have the new clinic named for Sergeant Marzano.

My staff confirmed their tales of Sergeant Marzano's heroism, and I requested input from my veterans' advisory panel to determine if there were

other candidates for this honor. All of the respondents, including the families of other fallen soldiers, universally agreed that Michael Marzano deserved this honor. He was the first to die in Iraq from Mercer County. He epitomizes the bravery and the dedication of all of our country's best. He deserves to be remembered, as does everyone who has given their lives in that conflict.

Sergeant Marzano's friends and family have already mourned his death. But with this legislation, we will honor his courage and present his life as a worthy example for future generations of young men and women.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in this worthy honor to this remarkable soldier.

I thank the chairman.

This legislation designates the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic at Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as the Michael A. Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic. I was pleased to join with my friend and colleague, Congressman Phil English, last year in introducing this legislation, which will pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of a true Western Pennsylvania hero, Marine Corps Sergeant Michael Marzano.

A native of Greenville, Pennsylvania, Michael Marzano grew up with the dream of becoming a marine. Upon graduating from Sharon High School, Marzano applied to the U.S. Marine Corps and was initially denied entry because of a knee injury he suffered his senior year in high school. Determined to fulfill his dream, Marzano underwent surgery to correct the condition and continued to reapply to the U.S. Marine Corps until he was finally accepted 4 years later in 1999.

In December 2004, now Sergeant Marzano reiterated his commitment to the Nation by volunteering for a tour of duty in Iraq. But tragically, on May 8, 2005, after serving only 2 months in Iraq, the 28-year-old Sergeant Michael Marzano was killed by a suicide bomber while taking part in an offensive against insurgents in the city of Haditha, al Anbar province, in Iraq. He was the first soldier from Mercer County, Pennsylvania, to give his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Following the incident, which also claimed the lives of three other brave American servicemembers, Sergeant Marzano's commanding officer recalled Sergeant Marzano's leadership and bravery, stating, ``Many more lives were saved due to their sacrifice.''

Mr. Speaker, Michael Marzano is a true American hero and was a very special individual. By renaming this outpatient clinic, we will honor Sergeant Marzano's memory and recognize his bravery and sacrifice. Sergeant Marzano is representative of all those who have worn the uniform proudly, upheld the military's tradition of courage and faithful service, and once stood ready, if duty required, to make the ultimate sacrifice.

I thank Chairman Filner for his willingness to bring this bill to the floor, and I especially thank my friend and colleague Congressman English for his leadership in introducing this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H.R. 1594, a bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, as the Michael A. Marzano Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.

I appreciate the efforts of my colleague Phil English, and obviously Congressman Jason Altmire who just recently spoke, and their efforts to push this legislation. Obviously this is a very important symbolic piece of legislation, and I think it reminds us of what occurred. I will defer to Congressman English for further comments on this legislation in a few moments.

As pointed out, Marine Sergeant Michael Marzano, a servicemember from Mercer County, Pennsylvania, was killed in action on May 7, 2005, while deployed in service to his Nation in Iraq. Reports from the field indicate his bravery and leadership while protecting a hospital, and many lives were saved due to his sacrifice. Sergeant Marzano was the first marine from Mercer County to give his life for freedom in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation has strong bipartisan support and also support from the local and State veterans communities, as well as support from the entire Pennsylvania delegation.

As pointed out, I thank Chairman Filner and also Ranking Member Buyer for foregoing the existing criteria to move this legislation expeditiously forward. It is right that we honor the memory and service of a warrior such as Michael Marzano by naming the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in his honor.

So I urge my colleagues to support the bill, which is H.R. 1594.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time. I do want to thank Mr. English for his presentation, his arduous work in getting this to the floor expeditiously, and, obviously, Chairman Filner and Chairman Buyer for their efforts too.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an American hero, Marine SGT Michael A. Marzano. Last Tuesday, March 20, I joined my colleague, Congressman Phil English, in introducing H.R. 1594, legislation to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Hermitage, Pennsylvania in Sergeant Marzano's honor.

In December 2004, Sergeant Marzano volunteered for a tour of duty in Iraq and joined Ohio's 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment of the 4th Marine Division. He served honorably as a member of a Mobile Assault Platoon. On May 8, 2005, Sergeant Marzano was killed by a suicide bomber while taking part in an offensive against insurgents in the city of Haditha, Al-Anbar Province, Iraq.

Sergeant Marzano was the first soldier from Mercer County to die in either Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. He exemplified the core values of honor, courage and commitment to a grateful nation and community. This designation will honor his memory and recognize his bravery and sacrifice. He is representative of all of Mercer County's veterans who have worn the uniform proudly, upheld the military's traditions of courage and faithful service, and stood ready, if duty required it, to make the ultimate sacrifice.