[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 20, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H6074-H6076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BOB MICHEL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINIC
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the bill (H.R. 4608) to name the Department of Veterans
Affairs outpatient clinic located in Peoria, Illinois, as the ``Bob
Michel Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic''.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4608
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT
CLINIC, PEORIA, ILLINOIS.
The Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic
located in Peoria, Illinois, shall after the date of the
enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Bob
Michel Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic''.
Any reference to such outpatient clinic in any law,
regulation, map, document, record, or other paper of the
United States shall be considered to be a reference to the
Bob Michel Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the chief sponsor of this very important resolution, the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood).
Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time. I appreciate the work of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs in
expediting this and also the majority leader's office.
Madam Speaker, I am honored to rise today to express my strong
support for H.R. 4608, legislation that would name the Department of
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Peoria, Illinois, after Bob
Michel, the former Republican leader of the House of Representatives.
{time} 1715
This year, as we mark the 60th anniversary of D-Day, we as a Nation
are taking the time to reflect on those members of the greatest
generation who served our country during World War II. Bob Michel is
one of those heroes. As a member of the 39th Infantry, he served in
England, France, Belgium and Germany. He fought from the beaches of
Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded by machine
gun fire. His service earned him the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars and
four Battle Stars.
After the war, Bob Michel continued his service to our country and to
our community, first as a congressional staffer, then as a Member of
this House for 38 distinguished years.
He served 6 years as the minority whip and 15 years as the Republican
leader, the longest-serving Republican leader in the history of the
House of Representatives. During his career, he never forgot about
those who served with him in World War II and those who served in
uniform after him in peacetime and conflicts that followed.
He knows firsthand the sacrifice veterans have made for our country,
so he was instrumental in gaining funding that established the VA
clinic in Peoria, Illinois, in 1979, a source of care and comfort for
thousands of veterans throughout central Illinois. In 2003, there were
more than 42,000 visits to the Peoria clinic.
Respect for Bob Michel is certainly widespread. In 1989, President
Reagan awarded the Presidential Citizens Award Medal, which recognizes
individuals who performed exemplary deeds for their country and fellow
citizens, to then minority leader Bob Michel.
In 1994, President Clinton honored Mr. Michel with the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian award. In 2003, Mr.
Michel became one of the first recipients of the Congressional
Distinguished Service Award presented to him by the gentleman from
Illinois (Speaker Hastert), and in June of this year, Mr. Michel
returned to France with the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert)
and was one
[[Page H6075]]
of only 100 people to become a Knight of the Legion of Honor, one of
the highest honors paid by the French Government to a noncitizen.
Bob Michel, a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, AMVETS, the Distinguished American Veterans and the Military
Order of the Purple Heart, continues to be an example of patriotism and
the exemplary public service to which we all aspire. I am honored to
call him my mentor and my friend of more than 20 years, and I know many
in this House, both staff and fellow Members alike, share these
feelings with me.
On the top of many other accolades and honors, I can think of no
better way to honor his lifetime of public service than to add his name
to a facility that serves other patriots during their time of need. So
I urge my colleagues today to help honor Bob Michel by designating the
veterans clinic in Peoria, Illinois, as the Bob Michel Department of
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
I want to particularly thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman
Smith), and as I said, the majority leader's office, the staff on both
sides of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for so quickly taking
action on this legislation, and I urge passage.
Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4608, a bill introduced by a
former member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. LaHood) to rename the Peoria, Illinois, VA clinic after
former Congressman Bob Michel. For 2 decades, Congressman Michel served
Peoria as a Member of this body. In the last 6 years of his tenure, he
was elected to serve as minority leader, a post he maintained until his
retirement in 1995.
While I missed the opportunity to work directly with Congressman
Michel, I understand he was an effective and highly respected leader
who worked well with both sides of the aisle. He is remembered here for
expert political insight, a congenial manner and being a true
gentleman. I hope all Members will join me in supporting this bill.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Let me urge all of my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4608, offered by my
good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood),
which would name the outpatient clinic in Peoria after the very
distinguished former minority leader, Bob Michel. I cannot think of a
person more deserving of this honor.
Bob Michel had an illustrious career as a Member of this body for 38
years. Having been elected in the 85th Congress, Bob was the minority
leader for 14 years of his time here. Prior to that, he was the whip
for three Congresses.
Madam Speaker, aside from his political career, which was outlined by
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), Bob Michel was a
distinguished veteran of World War II. Our colleague, the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) talked about that, and for those of us who
serve on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, we look at a guy like Bob
Michel and say, he is the quintessential veteran. He is a guy that
served honorably, rarely talks about it, was honored by our country for
his valor, and for his suffering with a Purple Heart, and he is a real
example of the greatest generation.
He continues to give and to give mightily. Bob set an example as
minority leader of statesmanship and civility in both his words and his
actions. He taught those of us who were fortunate enough to serve with
him, and I was elected in the 97th Congress, that one can disagree
without being disagreeable, and that life in politics can and should be
balanced with outside interests and pursuits.
Bob Michel was a patriot in all of the meaning that that word has. He
was an outstanding Member of Congress, and I salute his fearless
leadership, his long service and I salute him for his humility,
something you do not hear about too often in this place. He could do
great deeds, and he was the last person who would ever tell you about
it.
He was just a tremendous human being, and is a tremendous human
being, and this, plus all of the other accolades that he gets and
should get, is just one more that says, ``Bob, we love you, we thank
you for your service, and you deserve this.''
Again, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) for
his sensitivity and his foresight in naming this outpatient clinic in
honor of our very distinguished former leader, Bob Michel.
Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Evans) who has continually fought for veterans' issues.
Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I am proud to have served with Bob Michel.
In the 1980s he represented the greater Peoria region, and the Peoria
clinic serves many of my constituents in Fulton and Knox Counties.
Bob Michel is a rare breed in today's Congress. He knew the art of
compromise well. He worked well with Members on both sides of the
aisle, was a worthy adversary on the floor, but forgot about the
battles once he was out of the Chamber. He was really everybody's
friend here. He worked with Members on both sides, and most
importantly, he played fair. This is a fitting tribute to a former
colleague and friend.
We have a lot of good memories of Bob, and my good friend, the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) has done an excellent job of
filling his shoes. I want to thank him for bringing this legislation to
the floor and I thank the chairman for your tribute.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller).
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank my chairman for
yielding me the time.
It is my great privilege to rise this afternoon as the House
considers H.R. 4608, a bill to name the Peoria, Illinois, Department of
Veterans' Affairs Outpatient Clinic for Bob Michel, a great statesman
and former minority leader in this very body.
Much has been said and much more will be said today about Bob
Michael's valiant military service, about his service to God and
country above self and about his contributions as minority leader of
this great body.
After spending the 60th anniversary of D-Day with Leader Michel on
the shores of Utah Beach, he was there on D-Day plus four, I cannot
think of a better way to reflect upon this great patriot's leadership
than through his own words. Bob Michel understands that a strong
national defense and the sacrifices necessary in order to reach and
maintain it are fundamental to this Nation's greatness.
I reflect on a speech from Memorial Day 1992 at Washington, Illinois,
where he said, ``We cannot afford to go through that old American
three-step dance with national defense. It goes like this: In time of
danger, unity. In time of victory, euphoria. And in time of peace,
amnesia. We just forgot what the world is like, and we think that peace
is just given to you. Well, it is not given. It has to be won by
sacrifice, by vigilance, by courage. Each generation has to be prepared
to do the job.''
These words are of particular value to the generation at war today,
and we can find guidance in a 1993 Washington Times article in which
Leader Michel spoke of the need to have government that is at once
limited and strong. ``Government is not the enemy. Wasteful government,
intrusive government, irresponsible government, corrupt government is
the enemy. The people of the United States are not happy with the
government when it does not work well, but make no mistake about it,
Americans from the beginning have realized that the government system
left to us by the Founding Fathers is the best in all the world.''
Well, this statement could very well have been made by one of my
constituents in the Florida panhandle who sent me here to represent the
very same ideals. Leader Michel held himself to the highest standards
of integrity and expected the same from his House colleagues.
To the New York Times in 1988, he said, ``In over 30 years as a
Member of this institution, I have kept my word, and I expect others to
do the very same.''
There is a lesson in those words for every public servant. As
minority leader, Bob Michel never forgot who sent
[[Page H6076]]
him to Washington or what they sent him here to do. To a newspaper back
home in 1987, he said, ``I have come to learn that leadership does not
mean two hoots in hell to most folks back home if it tends to distract
you in any way from your primary concern for them.'' I think most
Americans would agree today.
In a speech before the Illinois State Convention of AMVETS in 1956,
this veteran who served with the 39th Infantry Regiment as a combat
infantryman in England, France, Belgium and Germany for nearly 10 years
was wounded by machine gun fire and subsequently awarded two Bronze
Stars, the Purple Heart and four Battle Stars, said this, ``As veterans
of World War II and Korea, the awful imprint of those conflicts is
still fresh on our minds, and no one appreciates more than we that we
are at peace today. Just as the fate of our country and the freedom-
loving nations rested on our shoulders in time of war, so are we
obliged to shoulder the responsibilities of establishing and preserving
a lasting peace.''
Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. LaHood), for introducing this measure. It is my hope that upon its
passage, the Senate will act swiftly so we can get on with providing
this tribute to the service and life of a man who has done so much, not
only for the Land of Lincoln, but for the man whose valiant military
service, conservative leadership and steadfast commitment to
traditional American values have helped reshape this Nation; and I urge
my colleagues to support this measure, a befitting recognition of the
legacy of this man who has borne the fate of this country and freedom-
loving nations upon his shoulders.
Madam Speaker, it is very richly deserved.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).
Mr. LEWIS of California. Madam Speaker, I thank very much my
colleague for yielding me time.
I come to the floor to express my deep appreciation for the House's
recognition of our colleague, former Member of the House and Republican
Leader, Robert Michel, as the House goes about naming a veterans
medical clinic after Robert H. Michel, a fabulous Member of the House
who reflects much of that which is the best of this place.
He was a Member of the House who for many years served as the
minority leader during much of the time that I was a member of that
caucus. As he carried forward that responsibility, he also carried
forward some of the most important qualities of leadership in this
House. He absolutely recognized that beyond the policy work that we do,
that friendship on both sides of the aisle was fundamental to our
success. And Bob Michel understood that as we walked away from the
Chamber, we could be friends. And time and time again, he demonstrated
the value of that because he was able to accomplish things as minority
leader that all too often these days we find not getting accomplished.
But, indeed, more important than all of that, Bob Michel represented
his people in Illinois in a way like few ever have. He is a fabulous
person and to have a medical clinic named after him is very, very
appropriate, but particularly appropriate in this sense. It is a part
of the past history, but at one time I had the privilege as serving as
chairman of the subcommittee that handles veterans affairs and medical
care problems. We all know that we are all very proud of the amount of
money that we are, from time to time, able to get appropriated for
veterans services. All too seldom, however, are the people who work
here in an organized sense on behalf of veterans, all too seldom are
they willing to go down to the communities where those services are
actually delivered.
We have known for a long, long time that the big hospitals too often
are too far away from where the services are needed, and too often the
VSOs do not worry too much about whether the veterans are getting the
service they need at home.
These medical clinics are designed to recognize that the huge
hospital of the past is not necessarily the best way to deliver service
in a local community either today or in the future. So this medical
clinic as a part of the VA system appropriately reflects the changing
demands and needs for medical services for our veterans; but most
importantly in this instance, we recognize the fabulous service and the
understanding of veterans' needs exhibited by our colleague, Bob
Michel.
Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, we have no further requests
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4608.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LaHOOD. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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