[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 116 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10634-S10635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KYL (for himself and Mr. McCain):
  S. 1511. A bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Center in Prescott, Arizona, as the ``Bob Stump Department of 
Veterans Affairs Medical Center''; to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, today Senator McCain and I are introducing 
legislation to rename the VA Medical Center in Prescott, AZ. to honor 
our colleague Bob Stump, who died on June 20. This legislation was 
introduced by Congressman Jim Kolbe and the other seven Arizona House 
Members on July 21.
  I had the pleasure of serving with Bob Stump in the House of 
Representatives in the late 1980s and early 1900s. He was a fine man, 
and a great public servant. A patriot and a hard-working legislator, he 
did not seek headlines or glory, preferring to work quietly, without 
fanfare, on behalf of Arizona's interests--and the Nation's.
  For Bob Stump, actions were louder than words. He didn't say much, 
but you always knew where he stood.
  Before coming to Congress, Bob served in both houses of the Arizona 
legislature from 1959 to 1976--that final year as president of the 
Arizona State Senate. His congressional tenure culminated in his six 
years as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, a perch 
from which he improved the lives of his fellow veterans in innumerable 
ways. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee for two years, 
he helped to ensure America's military readiness by advocating 
tirelessly for better U.S. military technology and protecting the 
important work underway at Arizona's military bases.
  Bob's concern for the military, of course, was personnel. When he 
entered the Navy to serve his country in time of war, he was all of 16 
years old. He spent three years, 1943 to 1946, as a medic on the U.S.S. 
Tulagi. He was determined to protect Arlington National Cemetery and to 
see to it that a World War II memorial was approved for construction on 
the Mall here in Washington.

[[Page S10635]]

  Bob Stump's work to promote the welfare of current and past members 
of the Armed Services is well-known to Arizona's veterans. By naming 
the Prescott VA Health Center in his honor, we will ensure that his 
exemplary character and contributions are remembered by all those who 
pass through its doors in the future.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1511

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. BOB STUMP DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL 
                   CENTER, PRESCOTT, ARIZONA.

       (a) Designation.--The Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center located in Prescott, Arizona, is hereby 
     designated as the ``Bob Stump Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center''.
       (b) References.--Any reference to such medical center in 
     any law, regulation, map, document, or other paper of the 
     United States shall be considered to be a reference to the 
     Bob Stump Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am proud to join Senator Kyl in 
introducing legislation that would rename the Veterans Administration 
medical center in Prescott, AZ after Bob Stump.
  In June of this year, Arizonans suffered a major loss with the 
passing of Bob Stump, a native son who made his mark for our State and 
our Nation. Congressman Stump had a patriot's devotion to those who 
served our country in uniform. He will be deeply missed by his friends, 
family and a grateful Nation.
  Congressman Stump served his country and the residents of Arizona 
admirably in the United States Navy, during World War II; in the 
Arizona State legislature; and in the United States Congress.
  Congressman Stump's service in the House of Representatives was 
marked by this dedication to his constituents in Arizona. Never one for 
the trappings of a political office, Bob read and responded to all of 
his mail, he never had Press Secretary and often answered the office 
phone personally.
  One could not overlook his leadership in Defense and Veterans issues. 
Serving as Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, his work has so 
beneficial to America's veterans that a street in Arlington National 
Cemetery was named after him. Everywhere I travel, veterans remark to 
me that Bob Stump put Veterans needs first.
  Bob's strong leadership of the House Armed Services Committee helped 
usher in many of the technological advances that characterize our 
modern military.
  This legislation serves as a memorial to a member of Congress who 
left an indelible legacy.
                                 ______