[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 59 (Thursday, April 12, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RAYMOND G. MURPHY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL CENTER

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 229 
and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 229) to redesignate a Federal building in 
     Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the ``Raymond G. Murphy 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I am very pleased today that we will 
have renamed the Albuquerque VA facility as the Raymond G. Murphy 
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. I thank my colleague 
Senator Bingaman for his support on this issue, as well as Senator 
Akaka and Senator Craig and the staff on the Committee of Veterans' 
Affairs for their help.
  Raymond ``Jerry'' Murphy died last Friday at the age of 77. His 
obituary described him as ``one of the softest-spoken, most modest men 
to ever wear the Medal of Honor.'' Jerry Murphy was a true American 
hero who in war and peace dedicated himself to others. CPT Jerry Murphy 
was the 39th U.S. Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism 
in the Korean war. When he returned from war he dedicated his entire 
life to taking care of other veterans. He spent 23 years working in the 
Albuquerque VA regional office. Upon his retirement, he continued to 
serve veterans as a volunteer until he became too sick to do so. I 
think it is only right that the medical center in Albuquerque bear his 
name in recognition of his great service to veterans and to the Nation.
  I came to the floor earlier in the week and spoke about my good 
friend after he died. I stand by that statement and again send my 
condolences to Jerry's wife Maryann, his sons John, Michael, and Tim, 
his daughter Eleanor, as well as his eight grandchildren. It is never 
easy to lose a loved one, but at these trying moments, we can take 
solace in the fact that Jerry lived a long and fulfilling life. He 
helped many people and touched many lives. His service is a shining 
example to civilians and veterans alike of a life dedicated to service.
  I am very proud to have known Jerry Murphy and to have been able to 
call him my friend. It is a privilege to play a part in bestowing this 
deserving honor on a great man and a great American, Raymond Gerald 
Murphy.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statements relating to this bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read 
the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 229

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

     SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION.

       The Federal building known and designated as the 
     ``Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'' located at 
     1501 San Pedro Drive, SE, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, shall 
     be known and redesignated as the ``Raymond G. Murphy 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Medical Center''.

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