To name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the "Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center".

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 7333, a bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center.

A recipient of the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, two Purple Hearts, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, a Valorous Unit Citation, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Combat Infantry Badge, Thomas Corey was a decorated combat veteran and a steadfast advocate for his fellow veterans, for his community, and for peace and reconciliation around the world.

A native of Detroit, Mr. Corey was drafted into the United States Army in December 1966. He was deployed in Vietnam as a squad leader in the 1st Cavalry Division, and on the first day of the Tet Offensive, January 31, 1968, while engaged in an assault against enemy positions in the Quang Tri Province, Mr. Corey was shot in the neck and permanently paralyzed. He was medically retired from the U.S. Army in May 1968.

Mr. Corey did not let his injury stop him from working to serve those around him. In 1972, he relocated to West Palm Beach, Florida, where he became a veteran leader and advocate in his local community. Mr. Corey served on advisory boards with his local government, including VA medical centers in Miami and West Palm Beach. In fact, Mr. Corey served over 15 years as an ombudsman and program specialist in the medical center this bill will name in his honor.

Mr. Corey's work went far beyond his home in Florida. He was the founding member of the Palm Beach County

Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. He served on the national board of directors for that organization for 20 years, including as secretary, vice president, and president.

In that role, he returned to Vietnam 16 times, leading the initiative to work with his Vietnamese counterparts to create the fullest possible account of those still missing in action from both sides of the war. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of this important work.

As president of the Vietnam Veterans Peace Initiative, Mr. Corey was instrumental in building a maternal health clinic to provide medical support for those dealing with the lasting effects of Agent Orange.

Mr. Corey's lifelong commitment to serving his country and his fellow veterans must be remembered. As he once put it: ``It is so important that the country just takes time to take a moment to recognize the sacrifice that the men and women that served our country in defending this Nation. Whether they went off to war or not, they joined the military or were drafted and did their job serving their country because they cared about it. Hopefully, more people will do that, take the time, and let them know and say: Thank you for serving. It is so important.''

I can think of no better way to thank Mr. Thomas Corey for his important service than to pass this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I support this piece of legislation and ask that my colleagues do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I certainly appreciate Congressman Mast bringing to the Nation's attention this great American. I am inspired and I am grateful that we are renaming this facility in Florida in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7333, to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and ranking member for recognizing an amazing man. I wish we could do this for every single veteran. Every single veteran deserves far more, but today is a victory, doing it for this veteran.

I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 7333, to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center.

I am going to speak about him as a friend because he was a friend. I would say this about him: He exhausted himself in the most worthy cause that he could find, and the most worthy cause that he could find was veterans.

Every veteran that he could find from every conflict, every war, not just his war, but anybody that put a flag on their shoulder, that put on a uniform on behalf of the United States of America, it gave him a sense of joy, a smile. He was a cheerful giver. Whatever he could do for one of our brothers and sisters in arms, that is how he lived his life every day.

Tom Corey served during the Vietnam war as an Army combat infantryman with the 1st Air Cavalry Division, 1st Battalion, and 12th Cavalry.

While engaged in an assault against enemy positions during the first day of the Tet Offensive, he was shot in the neck, leaving him permanently paralyzed.

Although he had injuries for the rest of his life, he did not let his injuries define him. He overcame his injuries to advocate for others in local, regional, and national veterans' organizations every single day going forward during his life.

Tom Corey was a longtime member of Vietnam Veterans of America, founding the Palm Beach County chapter at home in my district. He held multiple leadership roles in organizations, ultimately serving as the president of Vietnam Veterans of America from 2003 to 2005.

Mr. Corey was a tireless advocate for our veterans' healthcare, particularly Vietnam veterans suffering from illnesses attributed to Agent Orange. He worked for 15 years at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center as an ombudsman, ensuring that veterans received the highest quality of care day in and day out.

Despite all of his efforts advocating for veterans here at home, he never forgot his brothers-in-arms who were still missing in action. Mr. Corey returned to Vietnam 16 times leading delegations to meet up with top Vietnamese and Laotian officials focused on locating and repatriating the remains of those he served shoulder to shoulder with.

Along with multiple service medals, including two Purple Hearts, Mr. Corey was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts and his work.

Tom Corey has shown the world that no injury was big enough to eclipse his mission to serve others. Naming the West Palm Beach VA in his honor is the least we can do to honor his legacy of service and his passionate advocacy for veterans.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Florida delegation for their support on this effort, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7333) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the ``Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center''.

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. 7333 to name the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, as the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center.

Sergeant Thomas Corey served as a combat infantryman with the U.S. Army and was deployed in Vietnam in May 1967. In January 1968, while fighting in the Tet Offensive, he was hit in the neck by an enemy round. The round hit his spinal cord and left him permanently paralyzed. This wound forced him to be medically retired from the Army in May 1968.

Sergeant Corey received a Bronze Star for valor and two Purple Hearts for his service. As a veteran, Mr. Corey served on many local government and VA advisory boards, advocating for veterans and disabled veterans. He was a founding member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, West Palm Beach Chapter, later becoming its national president.

Mr. Corey traveled to Vietnam 16 times after the war, representing Vietnam Veterans of America's POW, MIA, and Agent Orange initiatives.

Thomas Corey was described by his friends and family as a shining light, having a positive attitude and a great sense of humor despite the visible scars and challenges he faced as a result of his service to our great Nation. He passed away on June 6, 2022, at the age of 77.

By naming the VA's medical center in his honor, Thomas Corey's service to our Nation and our Nation's veterans community will not be forgotten. I thank the sponsor of the bill, Representative Mast, as well as the entire Florida delegation, who led this effort. I also thank Vietnam Veterans of America for their advocacy for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 7333, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast), the chief sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this piece of legislation. This is exactly why we name our facilities after those veterans who have served to this level, not only as a veteran and in military service but also in their civilian life.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 7333 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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.