[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 24, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5972-H5974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EURIPIDES RUBIO DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINIC.

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4289) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient 
clinic in Ponce, Puerto Rico, as the ``Euripides Rubio Department of 
Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4289

       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, PONCE, PUERTO RICO.

       The Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in 
     Ponce, Puerto Rico, shall after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act be known and designated as the ``Euripides Rubio 
     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 Euripides Rubio 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each 
will control 20 minutes.

[[Page H5973]]

  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to offer my support of H.R. 4289, a bill to name the VA 
outpatient clinic in Ponce, Puerto Rico, after Euripides Rubio.
  The Congressional Medal of Honor, Mr. Speaker, is the highest 
military decoration for bravery beyond the call of duty and action in 
the face of enemy attack. Euripides Rubio was awarded the Medal of 
Honor posthumously. His citation reads as follows:
  ``For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of 
his life above and beyond the call of duty. Captain Rubio, Infantry, 
was serving as communications officer, 1st Battalion, when a 
numerically superior enemy force launched a massive attack against the 
battalion defense position. Intense enemy machinegun fire raked the 
area while mortar rounds and rifle grenades exploded within the 
perimeter. Leaving the relative safety of his post, Captain Rubio 
received two serious wounds as he braved the withering fire to go to 
the area of most intense action where he distributed ammunition, re-
established positions, and rendered aid to the wounded. Disregarding 
the painful wounds, he unhesitatingly assumed command when a rifle 
company commander was medically evacuated. Captain Rubio was wounded a 
third time as he selflessly exposed himself to the devastating enemy 
fire to move among his men to encourage them to fight with renewed 
effort. While aiding the evacuation of wounded personnel, he noted that 
a smoke grenade which was intended to mark the Viet Cong position for 
air strikes had fallen dangerously close to the friendly lines.
  ``Captain Rubio ran to reposition the grenade but was immediately 
struck to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his several wounds, Captain 
Rubio scooped up the grenade, ran through the deadly hail of fire to 
within 20 meters of the enemy position, and hurled the already smoking 
grenade into the midst of the enemy before he fell for the final time. 
Using the repositioned grenade as a marker, friendly air strikes were 
directed to destroy the hostile positions. Captain Rubio's singularly 
heroic act turned the tide of the battle, and his extraordinary 
leadership and valor were a magnificent inspiration to his men. His 
remarkable bravery and selfless concern for his men are in keeping with 
the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit 
on Captain Rubio and the United States Army.''
  In the words of the veterans' groups who support this legislation, 
``Captain Euripides Rubio's selfless and courageous actions, which 
earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor, reflect the highest ideals 
of the United States Army and serve as an inspiration for the people of 
Puerto Rico, soldiers and civilians alike.'' Today, by passing H.R. 
4289, which would designate the outpatient clinic in Ponce, Puerto 
Rico, as the ``Euripides Rubio Department of Veterans Affairs 
Outpatient Clinic,'' we honor the bravery and sacrifice of Captain 
Rubio.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4289, a bill to 
name the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Ponce, 
Puerto Rico, as the ``Euripides Rubio Department of Veterans Affairs 
Outpatient Clinic.''
  I commend my colleague Mr. Fortuno of Puerto Rico for introducing the 
bill.
  I cannot improve upon the words of Chairman Filner. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill and honor the extraordinary valor of 
Captain Euripides Rubio.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. 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. 4289.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I submit this 
statement for the record in support of H.R. 4289, which will name the 
Veterans' Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Ponce, Puerto Rico after Captain 
Euripides Rubio. Captain Rubio was an officer in the United States Army 
who fought and, at age 28, died in combat in the jungles of South 
Vietnam. For the actions that led to his death, Captain Rubio was 
posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, one of four residents of 
Puerto Rico to have earned this supreme honor. By naming the veterans' 
clinic after Captain Rubio, Congress pays tribute to his courage and, 
by extension, honors the hundreds of thousands of sons and daughters of 
Puerto Rico who have served in the armed forces of this great Nation. I 
thank the Congress, and particularly the Veterans' Affairs Committee, 
for helping to preserve the memory of an extraordinary American.
  It is fitting that Ponce, where Captain Rubio was born in 1938, is 
known as ``the City of Lions.'' Captain Rubio truly had the qualities 
of a lion--strength, courage, and fidelity. Those who served alongside 
him in the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry remember him as an 
inspirational leader and as a model soldier completely committed to his 
country and to his comrades.
  It is impossible to read Captain Rubio's Medal of Honor citation 
without shaking one's head and wondering how the world produces men of 
such caliber. On the day of his death--November 8, 1966--enemy forces 
launched an attack against the battalion's defensive position in the 
Tay Ninh province. Machine gun fire, mortar rounds and rifle-launched 
grenades exploded within the defense perimeter. Captain Rubio chose to 
leave the relative safety of his post and ``braved the withering fire 
to go to the area of most intense action where he distributed 
ammunition, re-established positions and rendered aid to the wounded.'' 
In the process, Captain Rubio was wounded twice.
  Moments later, when a rifle company commander was medically 
evacuated, Captain Rubio assumed command. He received a third wound as 
he ``selflessly exposed himself to the devastating enemy fire to move 
among his men to encourage them to fight with renewed effort.''
  While helping to evacuate wounded comrades, Captain Rubio observed 
that a smoke grenade, intended to mark the Viet Cong position for U.S. 
air strikes, had fallen perilously close to friendly lines. Captain 
Rubio ran to reposition the grenade but was immediately brought to his 
knees by enemy fire. Despite his many wounds, Captain Rubio picked up 
the grenade, ran through the deadly hail of fire to within 20 meters of 
the enemy position, and threw the grenade into the midst of the enemy 
before he fell for the final time. Because of Captain Rubio's actions, 
U.S. aircraft were able to identify and destroy the hostile positions.
  The Medal of Honor citation ends with these simple and powerful 
words: ``Captain Rubio's singularly heroic act turned the tide of 
battle, and his extraordinary leadership and valor were a magnificent 
inspiration to his men. His remarkable bravery and selfless concern for 
his men are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military 
service and reflect great credit on Captain Rubio and the U.S. Army.''
  There are many important ways in which this Congress and this country 
can honor our Nation's warriors. We can--and should--work to ensure 
they have the proper equipment they need to fight. We can--and should--
work to ensure that their families are taken care of during long 
deployments. We can--and should--work to ensure that, having left the 
service, our veterans receive the best educational opportunities and 
medical care available. Simply put, we should fight and sacrifice on 
behalf of those who have fought and sacrificed for us.
  There is something else we can do, too. Something we as a country do 
not do enough of. And that is to publicly honor the most remarkable 
instances of bravery on the battlefield displayed by our men and women 
in uniform. In the last two years, six Americans have won the Medal of 
Honor for their actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. And yet one must 
struggle--often in vain--to find stories in the mainstream press about 
these present-day Euripides Rubios. Had they lived, these heroes would 
likely have been reluctant to talk about themselves. Such is the nature 
of soldiers. It is our obligation--and it should be our privilege--to 
publicly honor their achievements. And H.R. 4289 does precisely that.
  Thanks to Congress's actions today, I know that many children in 
Puerto Rico, looking upon the clinic that bears his name, will ask 
their parents or grandparents who Euripides Rubio was. It is my fervent 
hope that, from the answer given, they will learn about this Lion of 
Ponce, who died far too young, but whose short life was filled with 
greatness.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to approve H.R. 4289.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4289.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the

[[Page H5974]]

rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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