To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the "Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center".

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

Let me first take this opportunity to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, Mr. Michaud, as well as the subcommittee's ranking member, Mr. Miller, for their leadership in developing this legislation.

H.R. 2199, as amended, the Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007, seeks to improve the treatment of veterans suffering with traumatic brain injuries, often referred to as TBI, and the care for veterans who live in rural communities.

However, I would comment that several of the provisions included in this legislation are similar to initiatives that already exist or are getting underway. For example, section 2 of the bill would require the VA to screen eligible veterans for symptoms of traumatic brain injury and create a TBI registry. These are also the recommendations of the President's task force on returning global war on terror heroes. In addition, in March 2007, Secretary Nicholson directed a number of changes to improve the way the VA provides care to our newest combat veterans.

These veterans initiatives include screening all OEF and OIF combat patients for TBI and for PTSD; providing each polytrauma patient with an advocate to assist them and their family; mandatory training for all VA health care personnel to recognize and care for patients with TBI; and establishing an outside panel of clinical experts to review the VA polytrauma system of care.

Additionally, the bill would provide five new centers for TBI research, education, and clinical activities. During the 108th Congress, we recognized the frequency and unique nature of the polytrauma/blast injuries resulting from the global war on terror. These injuries require an interdisciplinary program to handle the medical, psychological, rehabilitation, and prosthetic needs of the injured servicemember.

Public Law 108-422, the Veterans' Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004, directed VA to establish ``an appropriate number of centers for research, education, and clinical activities to improve and coordinate rehabilitative services for veterans suffering from complex multitrauma from combat injuries, and to coordinate these services with the Department of Defense.''

The centers required in Public Law 108-422 became the Polytrauma System of Care. There are four centers located in Richmond, VA; Tampa, FL; Minneapolis, MN; and Palo Alto, CA. The committee strongly recommends that the new TBI centers be colocated with the VA's polytrauma rehabilitation centers. In this way, we can capitalize on the experience and expertise available at the polytrauma centers and enhance the ability to understand and treat the entire spectrum of the TBI injury from mild to most severe.

I want to thank Mr. Michaud for recognizing that we can actually get some benefits by the colocation of these services where TBI is already located. Because we take and concentrate such expertise, the colocation can only have benefits. And the gentleman worked with me, and I think because TBI have a number of comorbidities such as PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, and while these issues may appear with TBI, they may also exhibit themselves separately from TBI, and I think that is exactly what Mr. Michaud is trying to get to. So I want to thank the gentleman for his leadership and for bringing this bill to the committee, along with your staff, for their good work.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Michaud because he did his committee work. He did his committee work because we brought a bill to the floor. Yes, under suspension, Mr. Filner, but he did his committee work. He filed a report which allowed us to work with him. When you don't file a report, you deny the minority their opportunity to be heard.

So I want to thank Mr. Michaud for working with us and for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to express my support for a provision in the bill that would require the VA to establish a TBI transition office at each of the polytrauma network sites. Not only is this vital for the DOD and the VA to provide for a seamless transition from active duty to veteran status, but it is also important for VA to aid in the coordination of veteran care between VA and other health care providers for services that could possibly not be provided by the VA. These transition offices would help coordinate veterans care for services not offered by the VA, and have the authority to arrange care with public or private entities to establish long-term neurobehavioral rehabilitation and recovery programs.

The bill also includes two rural health initiative provisions, one of which would establish a pilot program for vet centers in rural areas. H.R. 2199, as amended, included an amendment

offered by Mr. Lamborn of Colorado, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. This amendment will expand the role of the mobile vet center pilot program to include helping veterans in need of assistance in the filing of benefits claims.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman who just spoke. As a retired sergeant major, we benefit by his expertise not only on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, but also in Congress. We have a lot of people here who have been enlisted, and we have had officers and generals and admirals, but when you get a sergeant major, they speak softly. And there's a reason the sergeant major speaks softly, because he doesn't have to speak loudly because they are so well respected. And so, Sergeant Major, your contributions to the committee are recognized and appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's comments that he just made. Before you take off, this issue, and I appreciate your interest in it because this is one of our great challenges. We've got the best helmet that we put on our soldiers and marines in the field and even some of the Air Force personnel, Navy personnel. And it protects them against ballistics, and it's the best in the world. But when it comes to blasts and crash, what it does to the brain, we're now on the forefront, and we are pushing the boundary of our knowledge.

And some of the world's experts now are not only at the polytrauma centers, but in particular, when these soldiers end up at Landstuhl, Germany, that's where they are. So they can immediately deal with these neurotraumas.

And when the gentleman said that there could possibly be thousands, what we do know is that at the polytrauma centers, those who are actually being treated for traumatic brain injury, there's less than 400 cases.

But the gentleman is right with regard to individuals who may have had a concussion. Yet, how severe is the concussion?

And if the science is unknown, and we're trying to understand that. That's the purpose of Mr. Michaud's bill. And I appreciate the gentleman's interest, would love to continue to work with you in your interest.

I'd bring to your attention the Veterans Health Administration Directive 2007-013 released April 13, 2007, establishes the VA policy and procedure for screening and evaluation of possible TBI in OEF and OIF veterans. This directive states, ``Not all patients who screen positive have TBI. It is possible to respond positively to all four sections due to the presence of other conditions such as PTSD, cervical cranial injury with headaches and inner ear injury, for example. Therefore, it's critical that patients not be labeled with a diagnosis of TBI on the basis of a positive screening test. Patients need to be referred for further evaluation.''

So we are in an area of science whereby the sand shifts directly under our feet, and I would look forward to working with the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

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

At the May 9, 2007, full committee hearing on the results of the President's Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes, in response to my questioning about the actual number of TBI cases treated in VA as inpatients, Secretary Nicholson responded that VA has treated 369 veterans in its polytrauma centers so far for TBI.

Secretary Nicholson also commented that the VA has the capacity in their polytrauma centers, and that many of the patients in the polytrauma centers are active duty military.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is conceivable that at some point one of these needed Traumatic Brain Injury Centers of Excellence could be located in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which could be named the Raymond G. ``Jerry'' Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, if Chairman Filner would clear either H.R. 474 or take up Senate bill 229 for consideration on the floor of which that Senate bill, Mr. Speaker, sits at your desk.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to thank also not only you but also in particular Ms. Herseth Sandlin and Mr. Michaud for their work on this bill.

I'm pleased to support H.R. 1470, the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act, that would require a phased implementation to provide chiropractic care in all VA medical centers by December 31, 2011.

Under a policy guidance that I gave under the House Republican alternative budget resolution for fiscal year 2008, we provided an additional $100 million for veterans medical services to support the hiring of doctors of chiropractic care at all 155 VA medical centers. I have history dating back to the 106th Congress for supporting chiropractic care.

The Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee worked to include chiropractic care services as a benefit in the military health facilities and through TRICARE.

VA is currently offering chiropractic care in 30 VA medical centers and provides chiropractic care on a fee-for-service basis for veterans who are geographically distant from a VA medical facility. In fiscal year 2006, the VA paid over $1 million to fee-based chiropractic providers to treat roughly 3,000 veterans, and I support the passage of this bill.

I would also note, Mr. Speaker, that I'm very concerned because the chairman just spoke that the reason, words to the effect, that he's brought these seven bills to the floor is to represent what a grateful Nation bestows. But what I'm concerned about the seven bills being considered today under the suspension of the rules, only one, H.R. 2199, is being considered with a bill report having been filed.

I believe this is yet another way in which the majority of this Veterans' Affairs Committee is breaking with past practices. When you do not file a report with a bill that comes to the floor, you are essentially denying Members of the minority the opportunity to file supplemental, minority and additional views on legislation under House rule XI, clause 2(i).

Since the time of Sonny Montgomery, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs has filed bill reports with every veterans bill other than resolutions such as H. Res. 392 or a facility naming bill; which is what I'm asking for Mr. Filner to do to honor the recipient of the Medal of Honor with regard to the naming of the VA medical center in Albuquerque, NM, and the minority has thus had the opportunity to file views.

The veterans bills being considered by the House today, H.R. 67, H.R. 1660, H.R. 612, H.R. 1470 and H.R. 2239, were all ordered favorably reported, with the exception of H.R. 1470, ordered reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs with amendments. However, the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs has filed no bill with reports on any of them. Not only does this deprive the minority of the opportunity to file views, but it deprives veterans and the rest of the interested public from having important legislative history which discusses the background of legislation and explains the committee's intent as well as the amendments.

All of this is compounded by the fact that most of these bills were ordered reported without hearings that would have provided an historical record for legislation. The majority also has not bothered to obtain the position of the administration on most of these bills.

There is no reason for taking such shortcuts. I would have filed additional views on H.R. 1660, in particular, if the opportunity had been available. These are not expedited pieces of legislation involving an emergency situation. There has been ample time to follow the customary regular order and do that which is right.

We will now be at a disadvantage when conferring with the Senate. I fully expect the House to pass these bills overwhelmingly, but it is not a good way to legislate on behalf of our Nation's veterans.

I understand all the committees operate under the suspension of the rules to bring legislation to the floor. I wish that there were a collegial relationship between the chairman and the ranking member. It does not exist, unfortunately.

If, in fact, he would confer and work with us, we wouldn't have to work these things out or make an attempt to work these things out on the House floor.

Once again, I will make an attempt, and I will ask Chairman Filner if he would call up Heather Wilson's bill and allow us, when we return after the Memorial Day break, to have Heather Wilson's bill, H.R. 1474, brought to the House floor under the suspensions.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to you.

Parliamentary Inquiry

I would yield to the chairman for a parliamentary inquiry and respond to the question.

Mr. Speaker, once again, reclaiming my time, the American people get to see the abuse of power that I have to deal with.

Rather than working collegially with us, with regard to filing reports, it's just, well, we don't have to do it. We'll just bring it to the floor. It doesn't matter. Really? Is that how we're going to legislate? We're just going to be sloppy about the Nation's business? I don't think that's a proper way of paying respect to our Nation's veterans, and it's very unfortunate.

I yield to my colleague, the chairman of the committee, to respond to my question that will you permit, under the suspension of the rules, to consider H.R. 474 when we return after Memorial Day break so that we may honor Raymond Jerry Murphy and rename the Albuquerque VA Medical Center after him.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to you.

I do not yield for a parliamentary inquiry. I think the purpose of my yielding to the chairman was to get a good response, whereby we have criteria, before the committee, with regard to how we name VA medical centers.

There is an individual, all the criteria have been satisfied, and I asked a very simple question of the chairman, if he would suspend the rules and bring it to the floor. I have written him twice. He doesn't respond to the letters. It has passed the Senate. A bill lays upon the desk, and I asked a very simple question.

All he wants to do is a parliamentary inquiry. So maybe we will be enlightened if I let him do a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to you for a parliamentary inquiry.

Parliamentary Inquiry

Thank you. I would yield back to the gentleman, since he did not address a parliamentary inquiry during his question. I yield to him, if you would like to have a statement.

Pardon? I yield to the chairman.

Well, this is pretty interesting. It's pretty hard to run the Nation's business if the chairman will not even respond to somebody on the House floor.

It's also very disappointing if, in fact, this is the way we are supposed to honor America's veterans whereby the chairman of the majority party is acting like this.

I suppose what I should do is work with my good friend Mr. Michaud, who is the chairman of the Health Subcommittee, who has the ability to call this bill up and to mark this bill up. Obviously, even though he were to mark this up in the subcommittee, it would still be held at the full committee, if the chairman wants to continue to play politics.

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 67, the Veterans Outreach Improvement Act. I thank my colleagues, Mr. McIntyre and Mr. Filner, for bringing the legislation to the floor.

H.R. 67 requires Secretary Nicholson to coordinate and implement a plan throughout the VA to help provide veterans with outreach so that they are aware of potential benefits and understand how to apply for them.

The bill also authorizes a matching fund grants program for State and local governments to provide such outreach.

I'd also like to thank my colleague, Mr. Lamborn from Colorado, for his amendment to this legislation with reporting and grant requirements to strengthen accountability for admission.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

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

I would ask the Chair how much time I have.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for bringing this bill to the Veterans' Affairs Committee and for his interest in outreach.

In the bill previous to this one, I brought up an issue with regard to how we give proper recognition to a Medal of Honor recipient, Jerry Murphy of New Mexico. Jerry Murphy, in his tenure at the Department of Veterans Affairs, even after he retired, was a champion of veterans outreach. Like many of my comrades, when they come back from war, they have seen a lot of things, far worse than what I have ever seen. They call themselves generally, Mr. McIntyre, the lucky ones, because one of their friends or buddies is in worse shape than what they are; they dedicate their lives to them.

That's exactly what Jerry Murphy did in his tenure, not only serving the Department of Veterans Affairs, but, in addition, he was the director of the Veterans Services Division of the Albuquerque, New Mexico, regional VA office from 1974 to 1997. This individual, dedicated his life and received not only the Medal of Honor, he also received the Silver Star.

What I would like to do, so America can reach out and touch and understand the type of individual who would dedicate his life to the service of his comrades, and he would push them in a wheelchair, take them to an appointment in that hospital. The individual he was pushing, they had no idea that they were being pushed by a Medal of Honor recipient.

This individual, Raymond G. Murphy, was a second lieutenant in the United States Marines Reserve, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, and 3 February of 1953 was an important date, because on that date, for his conspicuous gallantry, and the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon commander of Company A, and actions against an enemy aggressor force, he rose up and distinguished himself.

The citation that he received when he was given the Congressional Medal of Honor stated that although painfully wounded by fragments of an enemy mortar shell while leading his evacuation platoon in support of assault units attacking a cleverly concealed and well-entrenched hostile force occupying commanding ground, Second Lieutenant Murphy steadfastly refused medical aid and continued to lead his men up a hill through a withering barrage of hostile mortar and small-arms fire, skillfully maneuvering his force from one position to the next and shouting words of encouragement.

Undeterred by increasing intense enemy fire, he immediately located casualties as they fell and made several trips up and down the fire- swept hill to direct evacuation teams for the wounded, personally carrying many of the stricken marines to safety.

When reinforcements were needed by the assaulting elements, Second Lieutenant Murphy employed part of his unit as support, and, during the ensuing battle, he killed two of the enemy with his pistol.

With all the wounded evacuated and the assaulting units beginning to disengage, he remained behind with a carbine to cover the movement of the friendly forces off the hill, and, through the suffering of intense pain from his previous wounds, seized an automatic rifle to provide more firepower when the enemy reappeared in the trenches.

After reaching the base of the hill, he organized a search party again to ascend the slope for a final check on missing marines. Locating and carrying the bodies of a marine gun crew back down the hill, he was wounded a second time while conducting the entire force to the line of departure through a continuing barrage of enemy small arms, artillery, mortar fire.

He also, once again, refused medical assistance until assured that every one of his men, including all casualties, had preceded him to the main line. His resolute, inspiring leadership, exceptional fortitude and great personal valor reflect the highest credit upon Second Lieutenant Raymond Murphy, and he enhanced the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

This was the citation he received, was given to him when he received the Medal of Honor. This is the same individual whereby the three members of the New Mexico delegation, led by Heather Wilson, have brought a bill, H.R. 474, to the floor about the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he worked. As a matter of fact, he was always the humble servant. Even after his retirement, as I said, he became a volunteer.

This brave marine, who earned the Medal of Honor, chose to be buried wearing his VA hospital volunteer smock. This is the type of individual of whom, at a moment like this, as we go into Memorial Day, we think of these individuals, not only what they have done, not only at the moment of calling, it was most difficult during war, but then how did they dedicate their life.

Memorial Day, yes, it's that day, but it's also a day whereby, not those who just died in service to country, but what do they do later on with their life, and we think of them. Here is a gentleman, Mr. McIntyre, I know exactly this is the type of person you are thinking about, who dedicated themselves to outreach.

So I ask you to talk to the chairman, because he is the sole impediment as to why the House and the Senate do not honor this gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for four bills that are before the House. H.R. 366, H.R. 2546, H.R. 2602, and S. 229 honor four Medal of Honor recipients who through their diligence and self-sacrifice protected the freedoms we hold dear today. As we move toward the Fourth of July recess, it is fitting that we pay tribute to these four men, two of whom were Native Americans.

H.R. 366 would pay honor to Ernest Childers by naming the VA Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, OK, the ``Ernest Childers Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.'' A Creek Indian from Oklahoma, Ernest Childers enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in 1937 to earn extra money while attending the Chilocco Indian School in north-central Oklahoma. He was deployed to Africa to fight in World War II, and retired from the Army in 1965 as a Lieutenant Colonel. During action in 1943 in Oliveto, Italy, Childers ordered covering fire and advanced up a hill, single-handedly killing two snipers, silencing two machine gun nests and capturing an enemy mortar observer. His courageous action helped American troops win the battle and save the lives of American soldiers. Ernest Childers was also awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his actions.

H.R. 2546 would honor the sacrifice of a Cherokee Indian from North Carolina, Private First Class Charles George, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country in Korea. This legislation would name the VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC, as the ``Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.'' Private First Class George displayed gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy, when enemy forces launched a grenade into his company and after calling out a warning to his comrades, he pushed one soldier out of danger, and with full knowledge of the consequences, unhesitatingly threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion. It is more than fitting that we name this VA facility in his honor.

H.R. 2602 would pay tribute to Oscar G. Johnson by naming the VA Medical Facility in Iron Mountain, MI, the ``Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility.'' Another of our World War II heroes, U.S. Army Sergeant Oscar Johnson led his company to protect the left flank of an offensive to break the German's Gothic Line. Under heavy fire, most of his company were either killed or wounded. Yet Sergeant Johnson held the line, and continued to single- handedly hold the line from September 16-18, 1944. On September 17, 1944, 25 German soldiers surrendered to him. He was sent two additional men to reinforce his position, but they were both injured and were removed to their rear. He remained on watch through the night, and when finally relieved of his post on September 18, 1944, 20 dead Germans were found in front of his position. By his heroic stand and utter disregard for personal safety, Sergeant Johnson was in a large measure responsible for defeating the enemy's attempts to turn the exposed left flank.

The final bill under consideration is S. 229, which would honor Raymond G. ``Jerry'' Murphy by naming the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, NM, the ``Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.'' Serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in Korea, Second Lieutenant Murphy had positioned his unit above the Imjin River facing the Chinese Communist troops. On February 3, 1953, American forces attacked the Chinese Communists who were dug into high ground. As the battle went on, sensing the operation was not being executed as planned, Lieutenant Murphy led his reserve platoon up the hill to find all the officers and noncoms of the two assault platoons dead or wounded and confusion among the troops. In the midst of machine gunfire, he ordered his men to find their comrades and evacuate the area. Jerry Murphy made several trips in the midst of heavy gunfire to rescue casualties. At one point, Jerry Murphy was helping lift a stretcher when he was hit in the back by fragments of an enemy grenade. He refused medical attention and continued to lead his men to rescue their wounded comrades, holding off the Chinese Communist troops with an automatic rifle until all the Marines were safe. Wounded a second time, Second Lieutenant Murphy continued to refuse treatment and provided cover for his troops, until all Marines were safe and accounted for. The House companion bill for S. 229 is H.R. 474, introduced by Congresswoman Heather Wilson.

The four men we pay tribute today served their country with honor, valor, and courage. The three Medal of Honor recipients who survived to return to the United States continued to serve their country in the military and in public service. After his retirement from the military in 1965, Ernest Childers continued his public service as a leader among the Creek Nation, and spoke out against racism. Oscar Johnson continued to serve his country as the foreman of a National Guard vehicle maintenance shop in Lansing, MI, and served for 30 years with the National Guard. Raymond Murphy dedicated 20 years of his life helping veterans in New Mexico, serving as the Director of the Veterans Services Division of the Albuquerque, NM, VA Regional Office from 1974- 1997. After his retirement from the VA, he continued to volunteer at the VA hospital in Albuquerque. As a final tribute to the veterans he cared for, upon his death this past April, Raymond Murphy requested to be buried in his VA Volunteer smock.

It is right and fitting that we pay tribute to these Medal of Honor recipients, who through their service to a grateful Nation, continue to provide inspiration, pride and encouragement for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering S. 229 on the House floor today. This Senate bill would name the VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico the Raymond G. ``Jerry'' Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Jerry Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star for heroism during the Korean War. Its companion bill in the House, H.R. 474, introduced by Representative Wilson, has the support of the entire New Mexico delegation as well as Governor Richardson from that State.

During his service in the United States Marine Corps, Second Lieutenant Murphy was cited for his ``conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his life and above and beyond the call of duty as a platoon commander. He was twice wounded, but he repeatedly refused medical attention and continued to lead his men in an assault against a cleverly concealed and well-entrenched enemy force.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would submit for the Record the text of Lieutenant Murphy's Medal of Honor citation.

Murphy, Raymond G.

Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps

Reserve, Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine

Division (Rein.). Place and date: Korea, 3 February 1953.

Entered service at: Pueblo, Colo. Born: 14 January 1930,

Pueblo, Colo. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and

intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call

of duty as a platoon commander of Company A, in action

against enemy aggressor forces. Although painfully wounded by

fragments from an enemy mortar shell while leading his

evacuation platoon in support of assault units attacking a

cleverly concealed and well-entrenched hostile force

occupying commanding ground, 2d Lt. Murphy steadfastly

refused medical aid and continued to lead his men up a hill

through a withering barrage of hostile mortar and small-arms

fire, skillfully maneuvering his force from one position to

the next and shouting words of encouragement. Undeterred by

the increasing intense enemy fire, he immediately located

casualties as they fell and made several trips up and down

the fire-swept hill to direct evacuation teams to the

wounded, personally carrying many of the stricken marines to

safety. When reinforcements were needed by the assaulting

elements, 2d Lt. Murphy employed part of his unit as support

and, during the ensuing battle, personally killed 2 of the

enemy with his pistol. With all the wounded evacuated and the

assaulting units beginning

to disengage, he remained behind with a carbine to cover the

movement of friendly forces off the hill and, though

suffering intense pain from his previous wounds, seized an

automatic rifle to provide more firepower when the enemy

reappeared in the trenches. After reaching the base of the

hill, he organized a search party and again ascended the

slope for a final check on missing marines, locating and

carrying the bodies of a machine gun crew back down the hill.

Wounded a second time while conducting the entire force to

the line of departure through a continuing barrage of enemy

small-arms, artillery, and mortar fire, he again refused

medical assistance until assured that every one of his men,

including all casualties, had preceded him to the main lines.

His resolute and inspiring leadership, exceptional fortitude,

and great personal valor reflect the highest, credit upon 2d

Lt. Murphy and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S.

Naval Service.

Mr. Speaker, after the Korean War, Jerry Murphy spent most of his adult life in service to New Mexico's veterans. He was Director of the Veterans Services Division of the Albuquerque, New Mexico, VA Regional Office from 1974 to 1997.

Jerry Murphy was a paragon of service because after his retirement he served as a volunteer at the VA Hospital, pushing veterans in their wheelchairs to their appointments. Many of those veterans did not know who was helping them, but that's the kind of man that Jerry was. This brave marine and true comrade left this Earth on April 6, 2007. Of course he was buried wearing his VA Hospital volunteer smock.

Mr. Speaker, no one could be more deserving of having a VA Hospital named after him than Jerry Murphy, who served his country with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity well beyond the call of duty.

I urge my colleagues to support S. 229.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlelady from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson) as much time as she may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

Mr. Speaker, at each opportunity granted us to consider a bill honoring the service of a Medal of Honor recipient, I stand in awe of the dedication to country and comrades these people displayed through their lives, whether those lives extended beyond their act of bravery or were ended in that the act.

Of the four Medal of Honor recipients to whom we have paid tribute today, one made the ultimate sacrifice for his comrades and his Nation. Three survived the battle to return home where they continued to serve their Nation through service in the military and through service to the Federal Government. Many who lived and worked with them had no knowledge that these men had received America's highest award for valor in combat. Their lives of quiet humility only accentuated their moments of resounding achievement.

The great example of those lives and those moments will, with passage of these bills, Mr. Speaker, be enshrined in the namings that we are now considering.

We must remember that we are voting not simply to name four buildings; we are consecrating the gift of four lives lived well.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 229.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.