To designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the "Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic".

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 3672, a bill that would honor the service and sacrifice of Private First Class Justin T. Paton, who was killed by enemy fire during combat operations 40 miles north of Baghdad in February 2007. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for his contributions to our country while deployed.

Despite being only 24 years old when he died, Private First Class Paton nonetheless left his mark on the world. A native of the Indian River area, many in his community were struck by his character and leadership potential.

Shortly after word of his death spread throughout the Indian River community, Private First Class Paton's high school football coach noted that he was ``the kind of kid you hope your own son grows up to be.''

It seems fitting that a clinic where veterans receive the care they earned would be named after Private First Class Paton.

Before enlisting in the Army in 2005, he worked as a rehabilitation technician at Northern Michigan Hospital. The VA providers at the clinic that will bear his name will carry on Private First Class Paton's legacy of serving members of his community.

I thank my colleague, Representative Bergman, for introducing this legislation to recognize Private First Class Paton's heroic service to our Nation by designating the Indian River, Michigan, VA clinic as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

We shall never forget the sacrifices of young men and women like Private First Class Paton, who bravely raised their right hand and swore an oath to protect and defend our Nation.

This bill has letters of support from The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the members of the Michigan delegation.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3672 and urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3672 to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

I thank my colleague, General Bergman, for bringing this legislation to the floor. It is always a poignant matter to consider the sacrifice of such a young American.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for getting involved in this relevant and timely bill.

I rise today in support of H.R. 3672 to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

It is an honor for me to lead this legislation to rename the VA care facility in the hometown and the final resting place of a young man who embodied the ethic of service above self as he gave his last full measure of devotion for our Nation.

Justin Paton was born and raised in northern Michigan and graduated from Inland Lakes High School in the year 2000. Feeling called to serve, he enlisted in the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Iraq on October 31, 2006. There, he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, Delta Company and was named one of the unit leaders.

In February 2007, at the age of 24, he was killed in action in Iraq when his patrol came under intense sniper fire north of Baghdad.

Private First Class Paton was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his sacrifice and heroism.

He is interred in the Ohioville Cemetery, just down the road from the Indian River VA clinic opening later this year that I am confident will bear his name.

Naming the Indian River CBOC is one small way to honor Justin and his family's sacrifice. His legacy is beyond deserving of the designation that we are seeking today.

I sincerely thank Pfc. Paton's family for all of their support. I thank the local leaders in Indian River and Tuscarora Township, who have been key in our efforts; the Michigan veterans service organizations for backing this bill; and the entirety of my Michigan delegation colleagues, who have come together in a bipartisan manner to cosponsor this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3672.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3672) to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3672, a bill to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

Justin Paton was born on July Fourth, 1982, in Emmet County, Michigan. He joined the U.S. Army in 2005 and deployed to Iraq in October 2006, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division based out of Fort Hood, Texas.

While deployed to Iraq in 2007, his unit came in contact with the enemy just north of Baghdad, with small arms fire being exchanged. While in this firefight, Private First Class Paton was hit by an Iraqi sniper and did not survive his wounds. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He bravely answered the Nation's call when it came, like many others before him and so many after.

Naming the VA clinic in his hometown, which he so loved, is an honor that would be a fitting remembrance of Private First Class Paton's life and sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3672, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), the sponsor of this legislation and also a very good friend.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3672, which designates the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

This bill honors Private First Class Justin T. Paton and his courageous service to our Nation.

Today and every day, I stand with our Nation's veterans and their brave and selfless service in support of our freedoms.

Over 280,000 of our Nation's veterans reside in the city of Houston and I am proud to fight every day for the honor, recognition, and appreciation they, and all of our Nation's veterans, deserve.

Veterans have kept their promise to serve our Nation; they have willingly risked their lives to protect the country we all love.

We must now ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans by recognizing, remembering, and honoring their service.

I urge my colleagues to join me today in recognizing and honoring the service and sacrifice of Private First Class Justin Paton.

This bill honors the Indian River native who valiantly served in the United States Army with the 1st Cavalry Division, Delta Company until he was killed in action by enemy fire.

Private First Class Justin Paton gave his last full measure of devotion to the United States as he was killed by hostile sniper fire in Iraq in February 2007 at the age of 24.

Paton served as unit leader of his Company and was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star for his selfless actions in service to a grateful Nation.

As such, I rise in support of this bill, which honors his memory by designating the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in his hometown as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

Mr. Speaker, I was absent for roll call vote 273, again, with an event with my local law enforcement. It is H.R. 3672, to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the Private First Class Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.

Mr. Speaker, I ask to place my ``aye'' vote for roll call 273 in the appropriate place in the Record.