To designate the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the "Lexington VA Health Care System" and to make certain other designations.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4533) to designate the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the ``Lexington VA Health Care System'' and to make certain other designations, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4533, as amended, a bill to designate the collective healthcare facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Lexington VA Health Care System; to designate the Lexington VA Medical Center Leestown Division as the Franklin R. Sousley Campus; and to designate the Lexington VA Medical Center Cooper Division as the Troy Bowling Campus.

The bill is sponsored by my good friend Congressman Andy Barr from Kentucky, and I am grateful to him for introducing this legislation in honor of two American heroes.

One healthcare facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 2250 Leestown Road in Lexington, Kentucky, would be named the Franklin R. Sousley Campus in honor of Private First Class Franklin Runyon Sousley.

Private First Class Sousley was born in Hilltop, Kentucky, and became a marine in 1944. Following basic training, he was assigned to the newly formed Fifth Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, and slated for the upcoming invasion of Iwo Jima.

A force of 70,000 marines, including Private First Class Sousley, landed on February 19, 1945, on the south side of the island of Iwo Jima. On the fourth day of the invasion, Private First Class Sousley was one of the six men in the famous photograph of United States Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi. Tragically, he was killed in action by a Japanese sniper 27 days later.

Private First Class Sousley was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation with a Silver Star, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with a Bronze Star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

The other healthcare facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs, located at 1101 Veterans Drive in Lexington, Kentucky, would be named the Troy Bowling Campus in honor of Private Troy Bowling.

Private Troy Bowling was born in Hamilton, Ohio, and was another proud marine who served during World War II. Private Bowling's unit was among the first to land at the beaches of Iwo Jima. His unit came under intense and concentrated fire, completely overwhelming his unit.

Two projectiles struck Mr. Bowling, leaving him critically wounded on the battlefield. At that moment, Private Bowling said he looked to the heavens and committed to serving mankind for the rest of his life if he survived. Miraculously, a combat photographer and medical team then carried Mr. Bowling to the safety of a landing craft, where he witnessed the planting of the American flag atop Mount Suribachi.

Private Bowling followed through on his battlefield promise to God, devoting over 78,000 hours of volunteer service at the Lexington VA Medical Center and rising through the ranks of the Disabled American Veterans, eventually holding nearly every position possible, including state commander.

At the 2005 DAV National Convention, Private Bowling received the George H. Seal Award for outstanding volunteer and the VA Lifetime Service Achievement Award. Mr. Bowling was also nominated and selected to be inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame for his lifetime of service to veterans.

After a life of service to our Nation and his brothers and sisters in arms, he passed away on June 17, 2017.

Mr. Speaker, it is only fitting and appropriate that, a week before the 73rd anniversary of the invasion of Iwo Jima, we honor both these heroes by naming the two VA medical center campuses in Lexington, Kentucky, after them. This legislation satisfies all the committee's naming criteria and is cosponsored by the entire Kentucky congressional delegation and supported by many Kentucky veteran service organizations. I am proud to support it, as well, and urge my colleagues to join me.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr), who is my good friend and Mr. Bowling's Congressman from Lexington.

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

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. From this Army veteran, I wish Private Sousley and Private Bowling to rest in peace. Semper fi.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe for his tireless leadership as a veteran himself, as a physician, and for his exceptional leadership on veterans issues as chairman of the committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4533, to designate the healthcare system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, my hometown, as the Lexington VA Health Care System and to individually designate medical facilitates located at 1101 Veterans Drive in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Troy Bowling Campus, a campus where my own grandfather, a World War II veteran, spent his final days; and to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center located at 2250 Leestown Road in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Franklin R. Sousley Campus.

Born in Hilltop, Kentucky, Marine Private First Class Franklin R. Sousley landed on Iwo Jima on Friday, February 19, 1945, and he actively fought in the battle for the islands. During these intense fighting moments, members of the United States Armed Forces secured Mount Suribachi and hoisted a United States flag on top of the summit.

On February 23, 1945, Private First Class Sousley, alongside five other brave U.S. servicemembers, raised a larger U.S. flag so it could be seen over the island. The iconic photograph taken of these six marines while they raised the U.S. flag attached to a heavy Japanese pipe soon became the immortalized symbol of American bravery, perseverance, and sacrifice endured by members of the United States Armed Forces during the intense battles of World War II.

Tragically, Private First Class Sousley was killed in combat by a Japanese sniper around Cayetano Point on March 21, 1945, and was finally laid to rest at the Elizaville Cemetery in Fleming County, Kentucky. I have been to that grave site many times. The VFW in Fleming County always, on an annual basis, goes out there to pay their respects to the Sousley family right at that grave site.

Private Troy Bowling bravely fought at Iwo Jima. While attempting to secure Mount Suribachi, his unit came under intense and concentrated fire, as was previously said, completely overwhelming his unit. Two projectiles struck Private Bowling in the chest and leg, leaving him critically wounded on the battlefield. At that moment, Bowling said: ``As I lay bleeding on the black sands of Iwo Jima, I looked to the heavens, promising that, if I survived, I would serve mankind for the rest of my life.''

Troy's unit received the Presidential Unit Citation, and he received the Purple Heart. In keeping faith with his commitment to God made during that battle, Private Bowling, whom I had the honor of meeting on several occasions, devoted the next 66 years of his life by giving over 78,000 hours of volunteer service to others at the Lexington VA Medical Center, and he rose through the ranks within the Disabled American Veterans organization, holding nearly every position, including state commander.

He also received a Lifetime Service Achievement Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs and was nominated and selected to be inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame for his lifetime of service to veterans.

These two deserving veterans, Franklin Sousley and Troy Bowling, embody the best of American ideals, values, and commitment to serving others, never abandoning the marine motto of ``semper fidelis,'' always faithful. Therefore, it is fitting that we rename the Lexington VA Medical Center campuses during the 73rd anniversary of the landing of the U.S. forces on the beaches of Iwo Jima and honor these two servicemembers for their service and sacrifice to our country and to our veterans.

I would like to thank the members of the Sixth Congressional District Veterans Coalition for bringing the idea for this legislation to my attention. I would also like to thank my colleagues in the Kentucky congressional delegation--Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Rand Paul, Congressman Hal Rogers, Congressman John Yarmuth, Congressman Brett Guthrie, Congressman Thomas Massie, and Congressman James Comer--for their support as well.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues in the House to support the passage of this meaningful legislation honoring veterans in Kentucky.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 4533, which designates the healthcare system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the Lexington VA Health Care System.

However, it is two other designations in this bill that I wish to highlight because they honor the memories of two extraordinary Greatest Generation heroes from Kentucky: Troy Bowling and Franklin R. Sousley. H.R. 4533 names two campuses in the Lexington, Kentucky, healthcare system after these brave marines.

Seventy-three years ago this month, United States Marines landed on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima and engaged the Japanese forces in some of the most intense and costly fighting of World War II. Among them were Troy Bowling and Franklin R. Sousley, just teenagers at the time.

Bowling's unit was among the first to arrive on Iwo Jima. On the second day, he was critically wounded by mortars and eventually evacuated to the beach, where he received lifesaving care and witnessed the raising of the American flag atop Mount Suribachi. Lying wounded on that beach, Mr. Bowling made a deal with God that, if he survived, he would spend his life in the service of others.

He kept that promise over the next 72 years through more than 78,000 hours of volunteer service at the Lexington VA Medical Center. In his work with the Disabled American Veterans, he has held nearly every position possible, including state commander, among others; and he is the recipient of the Lifetime Service Achievement Award from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Now, upon his arrival on the island of Iwo Jima, Private Sousley was also involved in intense, concentrated fighting. Eventually, as we all know, American forces prevailed. Private Sousley was among the six marines proudly hoisting that flag. Tragically, less than a month later, he would be killed in action. Highly decorated for bravery, Private Sousley is now buried in the Elizaville Cemetery in Fleming County, Kentucky.

These two men are the personification of duty, patriotism, and self- sacrifice. It is entirely appropriate that the two campuses of the Lexington VA Health Care System be named in their honor.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this meaningful piece of legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the vote today on H.R. 4533--To designate the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington, Kentucky, as the ``Lexington VA Health Care System'' and to make certain other designations, (rollcall No. 70), I would have voted ``aye.''

Additionally, had I been present for the vote on H.R. 4979--To extend the Generalized System of Preference and to make technical changes to the competitive need limitations provision of the program (rollcall No. 71), I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on February 13th and the first vote Series on February 14th because of an engagement in the Central Valley of CA.

Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 70--H.R. 4533; YEA on Roll Call No. 71--H.R. 4979; YEA on Roll Call No. 72--H. Res. 736 Previous Question; YEA on Roll Call No. 73--H. Res. 736; YEA on Roll Call No. 74--H.R. 3542; and YEA on Roll Call No. 75--H. Res. 129.