A bill to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 400 College Drive, Middleburg, Florida, as the "Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic", and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2159) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 400 College Drive, Middleburg, Florida, as the ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic'', and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on S. 2159.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew Kenneth Baker, an esteemed antisubmarine warfare chief, a distinguished combat search and rescue swimmer, and a faithful servicemember who gave his life honoring his commitment to his country.

The bill before us, S. 2159, would appropriately name VA's community- based outreach clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA Clinic.

Chief Petty Officer Baker represented self-sacrifice and courage in the name of public service.

Born in West Virginia in 1960, Chief Petty Officer Baker moved to Pensacola, Florida, in 1980 to begin what would be a remarkable 17-year stint in the U.S. Navy.

In Pensacola, CPO Baker graduated from the Search and Rescue Swimmer School before entering Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, where he earned his ``Wings of Gold.''

Upon graduation, CPO Baker served on the USS Nimitz, reporting to HS- 9, a helicopter antisubmarine warfare squadron for the Navy. From there, he served on HS-3 as the Training and Operations Chief for another antisubmarine warfare squadron safeguarding American interests over and under the seas.

Tragically, on March 13, 1997, while serving aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, Chief Petty Officer Baker and three others perished when their H-60 ``Sea Hawk'' helicopter crashed at sea during a Navy SEAL training mission.

Though his life was tragically cut short, in his 17 years of service, CPO Baker managed to cement a legacy of leadership, dedication, and steadfastness which will reverberate for generations to come. Indeed, today, Chief Petty Officer Baker is survived by his wife, Tina, and their son, who, himself, has completed six tours in Iraq, carrying on his father's legacy as a decorated patriot.

During his lifetime of service, Chief Petty Officer Baker won various honors, including the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and the American Defense Service Medal, among others.

Today, I hope we will come together to honor Chief Petty Officer Baker one more time by renaming the VA's community-based outreach clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA Clinic.

As an institution dedicated to supporting those who served, it is fitting that this VA clinic bear the name of a Navy chief who placed service to others above all else. With this legislation, we will take an important step in commemorating one servicemember's courage and bravery, as we continue to honor all those who have served our country.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for S. 2159 from The American Legion, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans as well as the Florida delegation.

The American Legion,

Office of Department Commander,

Orlando, FL, December 21, 2021.

Re Support for S. 2159, to name the Department of Veterans

Affairs in Middleburg, Florida located in Clay County as

the ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs

Clinic''.

Hon. Marco Rubio,

Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Rubio: On behalf of The American Legion,

Department of Florida, Inc., we write to lend our support in

naming the new Clay County Veterans Affairs Clinic after

Chief Andrew K. Baker of Middleburg, Florida.

Chief Baker was an esteemed antisubmarine warfare chief and

combat search and rescue swimmer of HS-3 in Jacksonville,

Florida. After quickly rising through the ranks at Naval

Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, Chief Baker

earned his Wings of Gold for distinguished performance and

served a tour on the U.S.S. Nimitz, being assigned as the

Training and Operations Chief. In 1997, Chief Baker lost his

life during a mission in North Carolina when his H-60 Seahawk

helicopter crashed at sea during a SEAL training mission. His

legacy currently lives on in his son who has completed six

tours in the Middle East and has proven himself a dedicated

hero.

We know that in naming the new Veterans Affairs clinic for

Chief Baker, his heroic legacy will be enhanced in the Clay

County community and will inspire future servicemen and women

from across our great state.

Sincerely,

Jerry Brandt,

Department Commander.

I thank Representative Cammack and the Florida delegation for their work on this bill, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

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

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentlewoman on this accomplishment, and I congratulate her also on her hard work in securing funding for the community-based outreach clinic.

I know how much of a difference they make, and I take this moment to call attention to the fact that the bipartisan achievement of funding so many community-based outreach clinics in the Honoring our PACT Act was transformational for this country, transformational for America's veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 2159, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in overwhelming support for the passage of S. 2159, or H.R. 1960, a bill designating the Florida Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs.

First, I thank the entire Florida delegation for their support of this legislation, the entire Clay County community, the local elected officials who participated in this process, and all of the many veterans who call Clay County home.

Of course, my biggest thanks go to Ms. Tina Baker, the widow of Chief Andrew K. Baker.

Without a doubt, today's legislation would not be here for a vote without my colleague from Florida, Senator Marco Rubio, who ushered this legislation through the Senate Chamber earlier this year. I thank Senator Rubio for his work on this bill.

This bill honors Antisubmarine Warfare Chief Andrew Kenneth Baker of Middleburg, Florida. Tragically, he lost his life in service to our great Nation. On March 13, 1997, Chief Baker's H-60 Seahawk crashed at sea during a SEAL training exercise. The mix of rough seas, the pitch of a frigate, fatigue, and visual disorientation caused by the night vision goggles they were all wearing were all factors in the accident.

As a result of his death, the Navy launched a formal review of its training policies and has since made drastic changes with regard to night vision training.

His widow, Tina, not wanting her husband's death to be in vain, has worked hard to make sure his memory and service didn't get lost in time and paperwork. Today, we have the chance to make sure that her husband is remembered forever.

Chief Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Coral Sea as the ship's serviceman and completed training in Search and Rescue Swimmer School at Pensacola, and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at NAS Jax, where he earned his ``Wings of Gold.''

Chief Baker then reported to HS-9, serving on the USS Nimitz, then on HS-3, where he was assigned as the Training and Operations Chief.

At home in Middleburg, Chief Baker was an avid fisherman, always scouring the waters of Black Creek and the St. John's River as much as he could. He coached his son's Little League and served as the troop leader for the local Cub Scouts. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Tina, and sons, Andrew and Jacob.

As a personal point of privilege, I say that this clinic has been a large part of my professional life for the past decade. Back in 2015, as the deputy chief of staff serving this district, our team worked hard to secure the appropriations funding for this clinic. Once we succeeded in getting this project funded, finding the building that met the required specs was an entirely new and frustrating battle. After multiple failed attempts to secure a building, we finally succeeded.

This clinic has been a blessing to my beloved Clay County and to the veterans who call her home. With today's legislation as the final task outstanding, I can say with confidence to Chief Baker's widow, Tina: Now, he will always be remembered.

Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous passage of this legislation and look forward to it being signed into law to honor this incredible servicemember and his family.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2159, a bill to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA clinic.

Chief Petty Officer Baker was a respected naval aircrewman, antisubmarine warfare chief, and combat rescue swimmer. He served on the USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70, and USS Coral Sea as a ship's serviceman.

He was a graduate of Search and Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola, and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at Naval Air Station Jax.

While assigned to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 3, or HS-3, he served as the training and operations chief. Tragically, he lost his life while on a training mission off the coast of North Carolina in 1997, along with three of his fellow crewmen, when their H-60 Sea Hawk crashed into the sea.

He dedicated 17 years of service to our Nation's Navy and was responsible for training numerous warfighters.

In the aftermath of this training accident, the Navy reviewed many of its training policies, and Chief Baker continues his legacy by potentially saving future aircrewmen lives. Naming this clinic after Chief Baker will serve as an inspiration and a tribute to his service.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2159.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.