Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2521) to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to furnish doula services to veterans, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 2521, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2521, as amended, the DOULA for VA Act of 2022. This bill, authored and long championed by Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, would bring VA closer to providing the full scope of reproductive healthcare that our veterans and their newborns deserve. This bill would require VA conduct a feasibility and advisability study to determine whether to provide pregnant veterans access to doula support services.

The United States has a maternal mortality crisis, and our veterans are not protected from it. In fact, they are disproportionately more likely to experience severe maternal mental health outcomes than their civilian counterparts.

There is a growing body of research that shows that doula care is an effective tool in mitigating pre and postpartum mental health crises and can be a factor in reducing childbirth complications. The VA must investigate the ability to provide such holistic and effective care.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill. I encourage all my colleagues to join me in supporting Mrs. Lawrence's critical and commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), the author of H.R. 2521 and my good friend, who serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Oversight and Reform Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I again ask my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 2521, as amended. With a heavy heart, I take this moment to pay tribute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence). She has joined us on Veterans Affairs' codels and done factfinding on behalf of the committee for the betterment of our veterans. I thank her for that, and I wish her the best of the new opportunities that she will encounter after she leaves this body.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4601) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to award grants to States to improve outreach to veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 4601, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4601, the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, as amended. This bill authorizes VA to provide grants to States, counties, and Tribes to implement programs that improve outreach and assistance to veterans and their families to ensure that such individuals are fully informed about veterans' benefits and programs.

Specifically, VA may provide grants to States, counties, and Tribal entities to implement or enhance outreach activities or activities to assist in the development and submittal of claims for veterans or increase the number of county or Tribal veteran service officers in the State.

Additionally, VA would be required to prioritize awarding grants in areas with a critical shortage of county or Tribal veterans service officers, areas with high rates of suicide among veterans, and areas with high rates of referrals to the veterans crisis line.

With high-profile, sweeping veterans' legislation like the PACT Act recently signed into law, the support and outreach offered by H.R. 4601 would greatly assist in implementing such new programs as smoothly as possible.

With enhanced communication outreach focused on explaining new benefits and services to a broader range of veterans and their families, the more opportunities we will have to connect with potential beneficiaries interacting with VA for the very first time.

With more accredited claims representatives available to assist with the preparation and submission of claim applications, the better positioned VA will be to decide these claims in a more timely and accurate manner.

With funds to recruit and train more county and Tribal veterans service officers, helpful skills and information related to life- changing benefits and other VA services will reach farther into our veteran communities that are so often and undeservedly overlooked.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill. I thank Representative Levin for crafting this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to vote for its passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 4601, as amended. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4772) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the application and review process of the Department of Veterans Affairs for clothing allowance claims submitted by veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4772, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4772, as amended, the Mark O'Brien VA Clothing Allowance Improvement Act.

As it stands today, under 38 U.S.C. 1162, the Secretary may pay an annual clothing allowance payment to a veteran with a service-connected disability that requires the use of a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance, including a wheelchair, which the Secretary determines tends to wear out or tear the clothing of the veteran, or medication which, A, a physician has prescribed for a skin condition, or, B, the Secretary determines causes irreparable damage to the veteran's outer garments.

Veterans who are entitled to a VA clothing allowance must reapply each year to receive the annual payment. This places the onus on veterans with what are, in most instances, permanent conditions to remember to reapply each year to receive the benefit they have already shown they are entitled to. Veterans must also remember to apply before August 1 or risk denial due to untimely application.

Mr. Levin's bill would change all of that. It would amend 38 U.S.C. 1162 to allow for the VA clothing allowance to be an automatic annual payment, subject to periodic review by VA to determine continued entitlement.

It would no longer force veterans to reapply each year and, instead, requires VA to complete periodic reviews to determine continued entitlement on its own initiation. This would require notice to the veteran if entitlement were no longer shown.

Approximately 40,000 veterans were approved for the clothing allowance benefit in fiscal year 2020 alone. This bill would ensure these veterans no longer have to reapply every year to maintain their benefits.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting Mr. Levin's beneficial and commonsense legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 4772, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5943) to designate the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, as the ``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic,'' as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5943, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, H.R. 5943, as amended, which will appropriately honor the memory of Lance Corporal Dana C. Darnell as one of the more than 58,000 names etched on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial just down the street on The National Mall.

Like so many of those who served our great Nation, Lance Corporal Darnell's life was tragically cut short. In April 1967, his Marine platoon was ambushed by enemy forces in the Quang Tri Province in north-central Vietnam.

Lance Corporal Darnell, at just 19 years old, displayed remarkable bravery and selflessness in the face of adversity. When his platoon's mortar gunner was knocked unconscious, Lance Corporal Darnell quickly retrieved the weapon and began firing it into the enemy's position.

After exhausting his ammunition, he moved from man to man, collecting additional mortar rounds to help silence the attack. In doing so, Lance Corporal Darnell undoubtedly saved the lives of others in his platoon.

Even after being temporarily blinded by enemy fire, Lance Corporal Darnell refused to be evacuated. Instead, he quickly began caring for his wounded comrades. Two days later, Lance Corporal Darnell was killed in action.

For his extraordinary heroism, Lance Corporal Darnell was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross by President Johnson. The Greenville, South Carolina, native also received a Purple Heart and National Defense, Vietnam Service, and Vietnam Campaign Medals for his meritorious service.

I thank my colleague, Representative Timmons, for introducing this bill, which will designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Greenville, South Carolina, the Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic.

This bill has letters of support from The American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans. Mr. Speaker, I include these letters in the Record.

[From the American Legion]

Whereas, The American Legion is always preserving the

memories in incidents in all wars and to the men, women and

families sacrifice to the country of The United States of

America will never be forgotten; and

Whereas, The American Legion has paid homage to the courage

and commitments from the United States military and the

values they have brought to our great nation; and

Whereas, the United States is a grateful nation for the

ultimate sacrifice of 58,220 United States Service members

during the war with the North Vietnamese from 1955-1975; and

Whereas, one of those conflicts was the battle of Quang Tri

Provence the northern provincial capital of The republic of

South Vietnam involving Company B, First Battalion, 9th

Marines, Third Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force April 24,

1967; and

Whereas, Greenville South Carolina's very own United States

Marine Lance Corporal Dana Cornell was engaged in a search

and destroy operation against the Viet Cong and the North

Vietnamese ambushed Cornell as they entered a field; and

Whereas, using heavy small arms Lance Corporal Dana Cornell

was knocked unconscious while seeking cover and still managed

to face extraordinary calmness in the face of enemy fire,

Cornell retrieved the mortar, and was unable to set it up

properly, due to the urgency of the situation, holding it

between his legs and steadying it from his hands, began

firing into enemy positions; and

Whereas, Cornell exhausted all of his ammunition and moved

from man to man collecting mortars until the enemy fire was

silenced and his platoon began to withdraw from the clearing

Darnell, was dragging two wounded Marines from the clearing

when he was temporary blinded; and

Whereas, Darnell showed exceptional courage staying in the

field tending to the wounded. By his outstanding courage,

exceptional fortitude, and valiant fighting spirit he served

to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest

traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United

States Naval Service; and

Whereas, It has pleased almighty God, the Great Commander

to summon his immortal and beloved comrade at arms Lance

Corporal Dana Cornell while paying the ultimate sacrifice of

his life at age 19 so that others could be free April 26,

1967; and be it finally

Resolved, That South Carolinas Largest Veterans

organization the American Legion, Department of South

Carolina Executive Committee at a specially called meeting

assembled on this day in November 10, 2022 that it supports

designating the outpatient clinic of the Department of

Veterans Affairs in Greenville, South Carolina, as the

``Lance Corporal Dana Cornell Darnell Outpatient Clinic''.

James Kvam,

Chairman, Internal Affairs.

James Jarvis,

South Carolina Department Commander.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5943, as amended, and 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 ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5943, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7158) to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts and agreements for the payment of care in non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical foster homes for certain veterans who are unable to live independently, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7158, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7158, as amended, the Long- Term Care Veterans Choice Act.

This bill, authored and long championed by Congressman Higgins and Chairwoman Brownley, would enable VA to better provide long-term services and support for our aging and disabled veterans.

The VA's medical foster homes are one of its most creative and effective initiatives. Veterans who have access to these care settings thrive and are able to remain a part of their community, even if their conditions do not allow them to remain independently in their homes.

Veterans who are not yet ready for institutional care but need the help and assistance of professional caregivers are able to live in a home setting among other veterans in their communities. Satisfaction with the program is very high, but veterans have to pay for the care themselves, which is a barrier for many veterans. Yet, VA is currently prohibited from paying a veteran's room and board. This legislation would change that.

Community-based programs like these are what veterans want and deserve. They also prevent veterans from being forced into much more expensive institutional care settings.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the ranking member's desire to engage in talks regarding the toxic exposure fund. It is an important issue, which is the long-term implications of the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund, otherwise known as TEV, and it was created by the Honoring our PACT Act.

This fund is absolutely crucial to ensuring VA has the resources necessary to fully support our veterans and to deliver the new benefits available to them without having to sacrifice existing programs.

As I have said repeatedly, any potential change to this fund and how it operates must be considered very carefully and requires the input of other committees that have a stake in this issue, to include appropriations and budget in the House and Senate.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana for his hard work. I feel his sincere words. I take them to heart, and I sincerely hope that we get this through the Senate so that we can see this signed into law before the end of this year.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before on the floor of this House, serving our veterans is not about red or blue. It is about red, white, and blue. I know that the ranking member stands with me in service of our veterans, and he stands with me right now in the optimism that Team USA is going to prevail today at the World Cup. They are ahead 1-0. I know the ranking member and I, and the gentleman from Louisiana, are all standing united with the hope of an American victory there.

Mr. Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Transgender Awareness Week.

Trans Americans made history this year by running and winning in more elections than ever before. Breakthrough representations in media have

led to historic numbers of transgender and nonbinary characters on screen. In many ways, transgender Americans are more visible than ever.

At the same time, the trans community has been forced to withstand severe attacks from laws that would strip fundamental rights to dehumanizing vitriol deployed by elected officials and public figures. These attacks treat trans people as threats to society rather than neighbors, parents, children, friends, and loved ones.

There are more than 2 million people in the United States that identify as transgender or nonbinary. Trans Americans exist in all walks of life all across the country. This transgender week, I call on my colleagues to turn awareness into action.

To the trans community, you have allies in Congress. Let it be known that there has been no greater friend of trans people in this country or LGBTQ people than Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

We will not cease the fight to protect and advocate for our transgender siblings, not just this week but all year long.

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 move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5481) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community- based outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, as the ``Corporal Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic'', as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5481, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Master Sergeant J.K. Crump, a native of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and a Korean war veteran who embodied the courage and indomitable fighting spirit of our Nation's Armed Forces.

This bill, H.R. 5481, as amended, will name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, the Master Sergeant Jerry K. Crump VA Clinic.

I thank my colleague, Representative Virginia Foxx, for introducing this bill.

In early September 1951, Master Sergeant Crump, then an 18-year-old Army rifleman, and fellow members of Company L of the 3rd Infantry Division were attacked by invading Chinese forces near Chorwon, Korea. In the firefight that ensued, Master Sergeant Crump left cover twice: first, to retrieve a wounded comrade, and then again to recapture a machine gun from advancing Chinese soldiers.

After returning to his position, an enemy grenade was flung into the foxhole that Master Sergeant Crump shared with four wounded infantrymen. With no regard for his own well-being, Master Sergeant Crump covered the explosives with his own body. The grenade detonated, but miraculously, Master Sergeant Crump survived.

The heroism that Master Sergeant Crump displayed that day more than 70 years ago undoubtedly saved the lives of fellow soldiers and rightfully earned him the Medal of Honor, our highest military decoration for valor, which President Truman awarded him in 1952.

Master Sergeant Crump went on to serve another 26 years in the U.S. Army before retiring in 1976. He died a year later and was interred at the Mount Zion Community Cemetery in Cornelius, North Carolina.

Master Sergeant Crump's actions in combat were emblematic of the selfless sacrifice and devotion to duty that so many who don the uniform of our great Nation display. He, and the generation of those who served alongside him, truly represented the best ideals of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 5481, as amended, from The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans.

The American Legion,

Department of North Carolina,

Raleigh, NC, March 16, 2022.

Dear Congresswoman Foxx, It is with a great deal of pride

that I endorse the naming of the Veterans Affairs (VA)

outpatient clinic in Forest City, North Carolina, after the

Medal of Honor recipient and North Carolina native, Jerry

Crump.

I am personally familiar with the facility in Forest City.

I receive my medical attention at that clinic. The Forest

City VA clinic is a wonderful facility, and the staff is

outstanding.

I have met with the American Legion members in Forest City

and in Henrietta, NC who have advocated for the renaming to

the Jerry Crump VA Medical Clinic. There are a few older

American Legion members that remember attending school with

Jerry. The communities of Forest City and Henrietta are proud

of the native son and have often advocated for this honor.

The American Legion Department of North Carolina does whole

heartily support the renaming of the Forest City VA clinic

after Medal of Honor Recipient Jerry Crump.

The honor of naming a Forest City VA Clinic after this

courageous American would be a fitting tribute to Corporal

Crump.

Respectfully,

Jim Quinlan,

The American Legion,

Department of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5481, as

amended. By doing so, we will bestow a befitting name on this facility in Rutherford County, North Carolina, where so many military veterans receive top-notch medical care.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very sorry that our good friend, Virginia Foxx, is not here, but I thank Ranking Member Foxx for bringing to our attention the amazing story of this American hero.

I know the gentleman from Texas shares the growing emotion that I feel as we recognize these American heroes. It is truly remarkable.

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

Mr. Speaker, I likewise urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5481, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6722) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, as the ``Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6722.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of a remarkable Californian, Master Sergeant Richard Allan Pittman, by naming VA's brand-new, state-of-the-art outpatient clinic in French Camp, California, the Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic.

I thank my friend and colleague, Representative Jerry McNerney of California, for leading this legislation, which will appropriately pay tribute to Master Sergeant Pittman, a marine who served his Nation with honor and distinction during and after the Vietnam war.

A native of the San Joaquin Valley, Master Sergeant Pittman was born in French Camp, California, in 1945 and graduated from Franklin High School in nearby Stockton in 1964.

Declared legally blind in one eye, Master Sergeant Pittman was considered medically unfit for combat by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines, but he did not let that deter him. Set on serving in the military, Master Sergeant Pittman somehow bluffed a vision test and enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1965. He was soon deployed to Vietnam.

On July 24, 1966, as his unit moved along a narrow jungle path near the demilitarized zone, marines ahead of him came under heavy fire. Master Sergeant Pittman immediately leaped into action, grabbing a machine gun and several belts of ammunition as he rushed to his comrades' defense.

Facing a frontal assault by dozens of North Vietnamese troops, Master Sergeant Pittman boldly repelled the enemy attack by using a combination of weapons he had at his disposal.

His actions that day no doubt saved the lives of several wounded marines. For this ``conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life,'' Master Sergeant Pittman was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Johnson in 1968.

He was discharged from the service that year, but Master Sergeant Pittman chose to reenlist. He went on to serve another 18 years in the Marines before retiring in 1988. He died in 2016 at the age of 71.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, the U.S. Armed Forces' highest declaration for valor, Master Sergeant Pittman also received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

These distinctions, like the naming of this VA clinic, are just symbols, however. The true measure of Master Sergeant Pittman's character was revealed to the world on that July day in 1966 and is evident in the lives of the marines that he saved.

I am humbled to be able to honor Master Sergeant Pittman's service, and I am proud to count him among the brave and dutiful servicemen and -women who have fought for centuries in defense of the American ideals we hold so dear.

Mr. Speaker I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 6722 from the California delegation, as well as The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, August 1, 2022.

Chairman Jon Tester,

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Chairman Mark Takano,

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Jerry Moran,

Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Mike Bost,

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Tester, Chairman Takano, Ranking Member

Moran, and Ranking Member Bost: We write in support of H.R.

6722, legislation that would designate the Department of

Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in French

Camp, California, as the Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic.

In July of 2021, Congressman McNerney appointed a committee

of five veterans to collect and review potential names for

the clinic. He called upon local veterans to submit name

suggestions to be considered for the process. The committee

ultimately recommended naming the facility after the late

Richard A. Pittman, a highly decorated veteran who was the

embodiment of bravery and service.

Richard Pittman was born in French Camp and enlisted in the

Marines in 1965. On July 24th, 1966, his unit was moving

along a trail near the Demilitarized Zone in the Republic of

Vietnam when the Marines ahead of them came under attack.

Upon hearing this, Pittman took a machine gun and several

belts of ammunition and rushed to aid his comrades. As he

moved towards the attacked Marines, Pittman came under heavy

fire from two automatic weapons, which he was able to

destroy. When he learned there were additional wounded

Marines further along the trail, he endured enemy mortar and

gun fire to get to them. As he reached his fellow service

members, he faced an attack by 30 to 40 enemy fighters, and

used a combination of machine-gun fire, an enemy submachine

gun, a pistol from a fallen comrade, and a grenade to cause

the enemy forces to withdraw. His actions that day saved many

wounded comrades, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor by

President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 14, 1968.

We urge you to swiftly advance H.R. 6722 to recognize this

heroic veteran and his immense contribution to our nation. We

believe the Richard A. Pittman VA Clinic will serve countless

veterans throughout the region and uphold our promise to

those who gave our country their all.

Sincerely,

Jerry McNerney, Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator, Nancy

Pelosi, Member of Congress, Mark Takano, Josh Harder, Alex

Padilla, Kevin McCarthy, Jared Huffman, Scott H. Peters,

Karen Bass, Jackie Speier, Ami Bera, M.D., Judy Chu, Katie

Porter, Grace F. Napolitano, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Jim

Costa, Jimmy Panetta, Members of Congress.

Ken Calvert, Jay Obernolte, Anna G. Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren, J.

Luis Correa, Sara Jacobs, Tony Cardenas, Young Kim, John

Garamendi, Raul Ruiz, M.D., Ted Lieu, Juan Vargas, Nanette

Diaz Barragan, Mark DeSaulnier, Linda T. Sanchez, Julia

Brownley, Alan Lowenthal, Brad Sherman, Barbara Lee, Mike

Levin, Members of Congress.

Eric Swalwell, Michelle Steel, Adam B. Schiff, Mike

Thompson, Tom McClintock, Norma J. Torres, Pete Aguilar,

Doris Matsui, Mike Garcia, Doug LaMalfa, Ro Khanna, Darrell

Issa, Maxine Waters, Connie Conway, Salud Carbajal, David G.

Valadao, Jimmy Gomez, Members of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney), my friend, the author of this legislation, who serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Mr. Speaker, I again ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 6722, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill

(H.R. 6863) to designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Memphis, Tennessee, as the ``Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. 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 and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 6863.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Lieutenant Colonel Luke Joseph Weathers, Jr., a combat fighter pilot with the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the first ever African-American air traffic controller in Memphis, and a trailblazing advocate for African Americans' military service.

The bill before us, H.R. 6863, would appropriately name the VA's medical center in Memphis, Tennessee, the Lieutenant Colonel Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center.

Lieutenant Colonel Weathers embodied service to country in a way that we all can admire. Born in 1922 in Mississippi, Lieutenant Colonel Weathers moved to Memphis, Tennessee, at age 5, the place he would call home for decades after.

After graduating from Xavier University in 1942, Lt. Col. Weathers returned to Memphis where he read a newspaper article about the newly created aviation cadet program in Tuskegee, Alabama, one of the first such programs in the country meant for aspiring African-American pilots.

Despite the racial discrimination he endured, Lieutenant Colonel Weathers secured a one-on-one meeting with Memphis political boss E.H. Crump, who personally recommended Weathers' nomination to the Tuskegee program to President Roosevelt. From there, Lieutenant Colonel Weathers began his distinguished military service, fighting as a combat pilot among the legendary Red Tails during World War II.

His noble accomplishments during the war included shooting down two German planes while protecting U.S. Army Air Corps bombers and shooting down two additional enemy aircraft in Italy while escorting a damaged B-24 Liberator bomber.

Even after the war, Lieutenant Colonel Weathers' service to his country continued. In 1960, he became an air traffic control specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration, and soon after he became the first Black air traffic controller in Memphis.

Lieutenant Colonel Weathers retired in 1985, all the while serving as a reservist in the military for 23 years. In retirement, he advocated tirelessly on behalf of African Americans in the military, paving the way for generations of citizens to serve this country honorably, just as he did.

Lieutenant Colonel Weathers' lifetime of service earned him multiple honors and awards, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007, alongside 300 surviving Tuskegee Airmen.

Lieutenant Colonel Weathers passed away in October 2011. Today, he and the Tuskegee Airmen continue to be a symbol of justice, determination, and solidarity, ideals which embody the very best of this country.

The naming of the Memphis VA Medical Center in Lieutenant Colonel Weather's honor is a fitting tribute to his lifetime of service.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 6863 from The American Legion, the VFW, and Disabled American Veterans, as well as the Tennessee delegations of the House and Senate.

The American Legion,

Department of Tennessee,

Nashville, TN, February 22, 2022.

Hon. Steve Cohen,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Cohen: Please accept this letter as a

demonstration of the total support of the American Legion

Department of Tennessee, in recognition of renaming the

Memphis Veterans Administration Medical Center in Memphis,

Tennessee as ``Lieutenant Colonel ``Luke'' Weathers Veterans

Medical Center.''

Lieutenant Colonel Weathers was a Grenada Mississippi

native and was the first-ever black Air Traffic Controller in

Memphis. Lieutenant Colonel Weathers was a member of the

famed Tuskegee Airman from 1942 to 1945.

The Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 missions over North Africa

and Europe during the Second World War. Luke downed two

German fighter planes that attacked Army Air Force Bombers

that he had been charged with escorting.

Lt Colonel Weathers, like other Tuskegee Airmen during

World War II, conducted missions throughout Northern Africa

and Europe for allied Forces and when Lt Colonel Weathers

returned to Memphis from the war in 1945, he was presented

with a parade down Beale Street and with the job

opportunities for a star black pilot were scarce and Luke

Weathers was fortunate to obtain a job as the first black air

traffic controller at the FAA in Memphis.

The American Legion Department of Tennessee would like to

honor his amazing legacy of service to God, Country, his

fellow veterans, and his community of Memphis, TN with our

full support and we wholeheartedly support and encourage the

committee to sponsor and support legislation naming the new

Aurora Veterans Clinic after this distinguished WWII Veteran.

On behalf of the 20,000 members of The American Legion in

Tennessee I am proud to fully, endorse this effort.

Sincerely,

Larry V. Kersey,

Commander, The American Legion,

Department of Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen), my very good friend, who is the author of this legislation. He serves on the Committee on the Judiciary as chairman of the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee. He also serves on

the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be associated with the passage of this bill to honor Lieutenant Colonel Weathers. I have the distinction of representing the University of California, Riverside, where resides the Tuskegee Airmen Archives.

I am reminded by the Speaker's presence on the dais and the presence of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ellzey) that you are both veterans and that serving our veterans and remembering our veterans is not about two colors. It is not about red or blue, but it is about red, white, and blue, and that all colors of America have fought for the three colors, and they bled one color.

It is important for us to remember the poignancy of our segregated fighting units of World War II, the last war in which we had segregated fighting units, and mark the progress that this country has made and that we must continue to make, so it is fitting that I call on all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 6863.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7903) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Canton, Michigan, as the ``Major General Oliver W. Dillard VA Outpatient Clinic,'' as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 7903, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of Major General Oliver William Dillard, Sr., a decorated soldier, an exemplary Army intelligence officer, and a pioneer for other Black and minority military leaders.

I thank my colleague, Representative Haley Stevens, for introducing this bill, H.R. 7903, as amended, which will designate the VA outpatient clinic in Canton, Michigan, as the Major General Oliver W. Dillard VA Outpatient Clinic.

Originally from Margaret, Alabama, deep in the Jim Crow South, Major General Dillard enrolled at the Tuskegee Institute at age 15 shortly after the famed Tuskegee Airmen program was established. He was a proud ROTC cadet and student instructor at Tuskegee and an exceptional student as well.

Major General Dillard postponed his academic studies, however, after being drafted into the U.S. military in 1945. He completed basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and was sent to Bavaria, Germany, where he served as an administrative specialist in the Army's 349th Field Artillery Group during World War II.

Following the war, Major General Dillard chose to remain in the Army. He completed Officer Candidate School and was assigned to the all-Black 356th Infantry Regiment at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

He served admirably throughout five campaigns in the Korean war and graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in 1958 as one of only three Black officers in his class.

Major General Dillard later assisted a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Monrovia, Liberia, before returning to the United States and working as a senior intelligence officer in Washington, D.C.

In 1964, he became the first Black officer to attend the Army's prestigious National War College and was selected to command a battalion of the 5th Combat Support Training Brigade at Fort Dix.

He served honorably with the U.S. Military Assistance Command during the Vietnam war, and upon his return he was promoted to brigadier general, making him just the fifth Black flag officer in U.S. Army history.

Major General Dillard went on to serve posts at Fort McPherson, Georgia; Fort Hood, Texas; and Heidelberg, Germany, before retiring from the Army after a 34-year career in 1980.

He remained committed to advancement opportunities for Black and minority officers in his retirement and was a steadfast advocate for equality within all branches of the Armed Forces, supporting the overturning of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy for LGBTQ servicemembers before it was officially repealed in 2011.

For his dutiful service to this Nation, Major General Dillard received nine military awards and two civilian medals, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman's Badge with a star.

Veterans who receive care at the VA clinic in Canton, Michigan, should feel honored to enter a facility bearing Major General Dillard's name. I know we, as Members of Congress, are profoundly honored and grateful for his service to our country as well.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 7903, as amended, from The American Legion, VFW, and DAV, as well as the Michigan delegation.

Congress of the United States,

Washington, DC, May 27, 2022.

Hon. Mark Takano,

Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington,

Mr. Speaker, I again thank the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens) and all Members of the Michigan delegation for their initiative on this bill.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), who serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens), another very good friend, who is the author of this legislation. She serves on the Education and Labor Committee, on which I also serve, and as the chairwoman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

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

I share the sentiment of my colleague from Texas. You cannot be indifferent to the stories as we read the accounts of these great American heroes. I am personally affected by the part of Major General Dillard's history in terms of his opposition to Don't Ask, Don't Tell way before it was overturned. The fact that he himself knew the sting of discrimination and could not brook that this discrimination would apply to any other group of Americans is especially poignant to me.

I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan for bringing Major General Dillard to our attention to memorialize him in the way that she has done.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7903, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7925) to designate the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Palm Desert, California, as the ``Sy Kaplan Veterans Center'', as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 7925, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Technical Sergeant Seymour ``Sy'' Kaplan, a wounded warrior, a World War II veteran, and a decades-long advocate for other veterans living in the Coachella Valley of southern California.

I thank my colleague, a fellow Californian and member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Dr. Raul Ruiz, for his work on this bill, which will designate a brand-new VA outpatient clinic in Palm Desert, California, the Sy Kaplan VA Clinic.

The state-of-the-art Palm Desert clinic provides primary care, behavioral health services, and preventative medicine to thousands of veterans in the Inland Empire as part of VA's Loma Linda Healthcare System.

Sergeant Kaplan enlisted in the military in 1942 and served overseas as a combat engineer in northern Africa, Italy, and France. He fought under

General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge, which helped ensure Allied victory in the Second World War. In 1945, he was seriously wounded by an enemy mortar attack during a bridge-building mission in Czechoslovakia.

For his heroism, Sergeant Kaplan earned three battle stars and two Purple Hearts and returned home 100 percent disabled.

His injuries did not impede Sergeant Kaplan's unwavering commitment to our Nation's veterans, however. For 25 years, he served as commander of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 78 in the Coachella Valley. In this role, Sergeant Kaplan assisted countless veterans, helping ease their transition back to civilian life and providing them with a tight- knit sense of community.

His passion, leadership, and sense of purpose were evident to all who knew him.

Following a lifetime of service, Sergeant Kaplan passed away in April 2019, not long after celebrating his 95th birthday. His legacy continues, however, in the grateful community of those whose lives he touched.

I am happy to know that for generations of veterans to come, this VA facility will honor Sergeant Kaplan's memory.

H.R. 7925, as amended, has been endorsed by The American Legion, DAV, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 1925 from The American Legion, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans, as well as the California delegation.

The American Legion,

Department of California,

Sanger, CA, July 18, 2022.

Hon. Raul Ruiz, M.D.,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Ruiz: On behalf of The American Legion,

Department of California, we thank you for your continued

leadership in advocating for the more than I 20,000 veterans

living in Riverside County. TAL Department of California is

proud to support your legislation, designating the outpatient

clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Palm Desert,

California, as the, Sy Kaplan Veterans Center''.

By naming the Palm Desert outpatient clinic after United

States Army Technical Sergeant, Seymour ``Sy'' Kaplan, not

only memorializes his contributions and sacrifices made

fighting in North Africa, Italy and France during World War

II, but also underscores his significant contributions

towards Veterans Advocacy in the Palm Desert area. This

advocacy was instrumental in the opening of the very VA

clinic your legislation hopes to name after him.

Thank you again for your leadership and advocacy of all

veterans. TAL Department of California recognizes all the

work that went into this effort and wholeheartedly supports

this legislation. Moreover, we hope this bill will be passed

and signed into law most expeditiously.

Sincerely,

Jere Romano, Commander,

The American Legion Department

of California.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Dr. Ruiz and all of our fellow members of the California delegation for their support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 7925, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3369) to designate the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, as the ``Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 3369.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my support for S. 3369, a bill that will appropriately rename the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, in honor of Joseph Maxwell Cleland, an Army veteran, an American statesman, and a distinguished public servant for more than 50 years.

Senator Cleland, who died a year ago this month, long displayed a commitment to assisting disabled American veterans, so it is fitting that part of his enduring legacy includes the naming of this facility, which provides care to so many Georgia men and women who raised their hands and answered the call to serve.

I thank Senator Raphael Warnock for championing this legislation, which unanimously passed the Senate this summer, and I also acknowledge the work of my colleague Representative Nikema Williams for introducing a House companion to the bill.

Senator Cleland was born in Atlanta in 1942 and raised a couple of hours away in Lithonia, Georgia. He was an exemplary student at Lithonia High School and went on to study American history at Stetson University in central Florida and Emory University in Atlanta.

Senator Cleland received a military commission through Stetson's ROTC program. He volunteered for service in the Vietnam war in 1967 and was promoted to Army captain.

On April 8, 1968, with a month left on his tour, Senator Cleland and other members of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Calvary Regiment were dropped by helicopter on a hillside outside Khe Sanh to set up a radio relay station. Senator Cleland reached down to pick up a grenade he thought had fallen from his flak jacket when the grenade exploded, causing several injuries to his lower body. Both of Senator Cleland's legs and his right forearm were amputated, and the Senator, then just 25 years old, used a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

For his meritorious service and gallantry in action, Senator Cleland was awarded the Bronze and Silver Stars.

Upon his return to the U.S., Senator Cleland was elected to the Georgia Senate, becoming the youngest member and only Vietnam veteran in that body.

In 1976, he was appointed to the staff of the U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, where he investigated hospitals in the Veterans Administration healthcare system and their treatment of wounded servicemembers returning from Vietnam.

The following year, at age 34, President Carter tapped Senator Cleland to head the Veterans Administration,

making him the youngest administrator in VA history and the first Vietnam veteran to serve in this role.

As VA administrator, Senator Cleland was instrumental in creating the Vet Center program, which decades later still provides a wide range of counseling services to veterans who experience trauma, loss, grief, and pain as a result of their military service. In doing so, Senator Cleland saved and improved the lives of an untold number of veterans. He advanced the conversation around the unseen wounds of war and helped reduce the stigma that all too often surrounds a veteran who seeks needed mental health care.

Following 12 years of service as Georgia's Secretary of State, Senator Cleland was elected to the United States Senate in 1996.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Cleland continued to be a forceful advocate for veterans and sought to improve military recruitment and retention, pay, and compensation, and pension and health benefits.

He played a critical role in the effort to allow former servicemembers to pass unused GI Bill benefits on to their dependent children, an initiative that has given generations of veteran families the opportunity to receive an affordable education.

Following his electoral defeat in 2002, Senator Cleland was appointed to the 9/11 Commission but resigned shortly thereafter and was critical of the George W. Bush administration's lack of transparency regarding key documents and government witnesses the Commission requested.

In 2009, President Obama selected Senator Cleland to lead the American Battle Monuments Commission, an independent government agency that manages 26 American cemeteries and 30 memorials, monuments, and markers abroad.

For those who have not visited any of these sites, I highly recommend that you do so.

This past Memorial Day, I led a congressional delegation to two ABMC cemeteries: the North Africa American Cemetery in Tunisia and the Cambridge American Cemetery in the United Kingdom. These sites serve as a solemn reminder of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to our Nation during the First and Second World Wars, and they truly uphold the words of General John J. Pershing, Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I and the first chairman of the ABMC who promised that, through these monuments, ``time will not dim the glory of their deeds.''

It is my hope that the same will be true in naming this hospital, one of the largest in the VA healthcare system, in Senator Cleland's memory.

S. 3369 has been strongly endorsed by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, and I implore all of my colleagues to pass this bill today without further delay.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank Senator Warnock and Representative Williams for proposing this legislation and for their tireless work on behalf of our Nation's veterans.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop). Chairman Sanford Bishop is a very good friend who serves as a subcommittee chair on the Appropriations Committee. He is a cardinal and also a former member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his very heartfelt remarks, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I will just say that I take note that Senator Cleland had much to do with the establishment of vet centers. I know from the experience of my own veterans how much vet centers make a difference in their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for S. 3369 from The

American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, as well as the Georgia delegation.

The American Legion,

Department of Georgia,

Stockbridge, GA, May 16, 2022.

Representative Nikema Williams,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock,

U.S. Senate,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Williams and Senator Warnock: The

American Legion Department of Georgia is in full support of

H.R. 6244 and S. 3369: the Max Cleland VA Medical Center Act.

We respectfully implore and sincerely request that the U.S.

Congress rename the Atlanta Department of Veterans Affairs

Medical Center as: ``The Joseph Maxwell Cleland Atlanta

Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.''

Senator Cleland's distinguished service and noble legacy

are still remembered by his fellow Georgians, the nation, and

the countless veterans whose lives were greatly improved as a

result of his commitment to better healthcare and veterans'

services. Renaming the Atlanta VA Medical Center is but a

fraction of the tremendous gratitude that our U.S. Congress

can do to honor a true champion of veteran affairs.

For God and Country. . .

Mark Shreve,

State Commander,

Department of Georgia.

So, Mr. Speaker, this is a fitting tribute. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 3369, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4359) to designate the regional office of the Department of Veterans Affairs in metropolitan Atlanta as the ``Senator Johnny Isakson Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office'', 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. 4359.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, S. 4359, which will rename the VA regional office in metropolitan Atlanta the Senator Johnny Isakson Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office.

I knew Senator Isakson well from his years of service on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. Like many of my colleagues, my enduring memory of Senator Isakson is that he was a reasonable man, a tireless advocate for veterans, and was someone you could work with to find common ground--something that is all too rare in today's political environment.

I didn't always agree with Senator Isakson's politics, but I never once questioned his commitment to the men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

I worked closely with Senator Isakson on a number of significant bills, including a wide-ranging VA reform bill--the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014--that President Obama signed into law during my first term in office.

The bill expanded survivor benefits and educational opportunities and improved care for victims of sexual assault and veterans struggling with traumatic brain injuries while making important strides toward ensuring veterans' access to timely healthcare at VA medical centers.

Senator Isakson was heavily involved in other bipartisan initiatives affecting our Nation's veterans, including a 2017 law intended to improve processing of VA benefit appeals and a 2018 law giving VA the authority to expand healthcare access to community providers.

These pieces of legislation will have a profound impact on veterans' access to the benefits and services they rightfully earned for generations to come, and we owe Senator Isakson a debt of gratitude for his persistent efforts in seeing these bills through.

Senator Isakson was a veteran himself, having served as a young man in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966 to 1972. He ran his family's real estate business for over two decades and ably represented his constituents in the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate before serving in the U.S. House and Senate.

He has the distinction of being the longest-serving Republican Senator in Georgia history, and, at a personal level, I cannot think of a more suitable name for this VA facility--where so many civil servants work to provide veterans the benefits they earned--than the Johnny Isakson Regional Office.

S. 4359 was introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff, while the House companion was led by Representative Sanford Bishop of Georgia's Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for H.R. 4359 from The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Disabled American Veterans, as well as the Georgia delegation.

The American Legion,

Department of Georgia,

June 14, 2022.

Hon. Jon Tester,

Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Mark Takano,

Chairman, U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Jerry Moran,

Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Mike Bost,

Ranking Member, U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affair,

Washington, DC.

Dear Honorable Gentlemen of the U.S. Congress: The American

Legion Department of Georgia is in full support of S-4359:

the Senator Johnny Isakson VA Regional Act of 2022.

We respectfully implore and sincerely request that the U.S.

Congress favorably considers naming the regional office of

the Department of Veterans Affairs in metropolitan Atlanta as

the ``Senator Johnny Isakson Department of Veterans Affairs

Atlanta Regional Office''.

Senator Isakson's distinguished himself as a tireless and

unrelenting advocate who championed reform to improve the

benefits and quality of service for our Nation's veterans. It

is our solid and steadfast position that this Act will be the

hallmark tribute to a fellow Georgian who labored to bring

about better and improved healthcare and quality veterans'

services. We are indebted to our veterans for their service

and sacrifice. Senator Isakson recognized the debt and

devoted his efforts as Chairman of the Committee on Veterans'

Affairs of the Senate ``to make right the master of might''.

Naming the Atlanta VA Regional Office in honor of Senator

Isakson is a step in the right direction for the sake of

veterans of the great State of Georgia and the veterans

across this great Nation.

For God and Country. . .

Mark Shreve,

(For Z.C. Debro, Dept. Adjutant),

State Commander, Department of Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop) who serves as subcommittee chair on the Appropriations Committee and also as a former member of the House of Representatives House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing S. 4359, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5721) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve research conducted within the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5721, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5721, as amended, the VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021, or VIPER Act, as amended, which I introduced with Ranking Member Bost.

This bipartisan bill was developed in consultation with scientific groups and veteran service organizations. It gives VA the additional authorities it needs to make its world-class research program even more efficient and innovative as it works to improve the lives of the veterans it serves.

It is no secret that VA research is a jewel in VA's crown, and we need to ensure that VA can continue to be competitive in hiring the finest scientists to understand, prevent, and treat health challenges veterans face from the effects of military toxic exposures and chronic pain to post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

VA has told us and our Senate colleagues that it urgently needs the VIPER Act, especially to protect the nonprofit veterans research and education foundations so critical to the VA research enterprise.

VIPER is also endorsed by major VSOs, including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Minority Veterans of America, Modern Military Association of America, and Wounded Warrior Project.

It has the strong endorsement of scientific organizations that support the VA research program, including the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, America Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Heart Association, America Psychiatric Association, American Physiological Association, American Thoracic Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, National Association of Veterans' Research and Education Foundations, Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, and Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from four of these organizations.

Friends of VA Medical Care

and Health Research,

November 5, 2021.

Hon. Mark Takano,

Chair, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Hon. Mike Bost,

Ranking Member, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost: As members of

the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA)

executive committee, we write to thank you for your

legislation, the VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional

Research Act of 2021, or VIPER Act. The organizations

represented by the FOVA executive committee are pleased to

endorse this bill, which would provide added authority and

resources to improve the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research

program.

FOVA is a coalition founded over 30 years ago to ensure

that America's veterans receive high-quality health care

supported by veteran-centric research conducted through the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical and Prosthetic

Research program. Today, FOVA is a diverse coalition

representing nearly 100 national academic, medical, and

scientific societies; health and patient advocacy groups; and

veteran-focused associations. FOVA works in concert with the

Independent Budget veterans service organizations.

We are pleased that Congress has worked over the last

several years in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to support

robust funding growth for VA research. Specifically, your

legislation would add stability and efficiency for the VA

research program by formally authorizing VA's Office of

Research and Development and excluding VA research from

Paperwork Reduction Act requirements, better aligning VA with

other federal research agencies. We also appreciate that the

VIPER Act would work to enhance the diversity of the VA

research workforce, increasing scientific opportunities and

leading to improved health care for veterans.

While the VIPER Act takes important steps to strengthen the

research program, additional infrastructure support for

information technology and physical laboratory improvements

continue to be necessary to ensure that VA researchers have

access to the cutting-edge technology that yields state-of-

the-art research and improved health outcomes. We understand

that you remain abreast of these issues, and we stand ready

to support any additional efforts you may undertake to

address these important research needs.

Thank you again for your efforts. We look forward to

working with you to continue this important work.

Sincerely,

The FOVA Executive Committee.

In one letter, deans from 20 medical schools note that without the legislative fix in VIPER, VA will have to ``interrupt hundreds of millions of dollars invested in life-saving biomedical research for America's veterans.''

Mr. Speaker, we must pass this bill, urge our Senate colleagues to pass it, and get it to the President by the end of the year to give VA the authorities it needs to fix its research program issues now.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5721, the VIPER Act, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing this important piece of legislation, H.R. 5721, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.