[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2267-H2268]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MAJOR CHARLES R. SOLTES, JR., O.D. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BLIND 
                         REHABILITATION CENTER

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4360) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs blind 
rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, as the ``Major Charles 
R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind 
Rehabilitation Center''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4360

       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 BLIND 
                   REHABILITATION CENTER, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

       The Department of Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation 
     center in Long Beach, California, shall after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Major 
     Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs 
     Blind Rehabilitation Center''. Any reference to such blind 
     rehabilitation center in any law, regulation, map, document, 
     record, or other paper of the United States shall be 
     considered to be a reference to the ``Major Charles R. 
     Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind 
     Rehabilitation Center''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Madam 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. 4360.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to offer my support for H.R. 4360, a bill to name the VA 
Blind Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach, California, after the 
distinguished Iraq veteran Charles R. Soltes.
  Mr. Soltes valiantly served his country in the United States Army as 
a major in the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion in Mosul, Iraq. He died on 
October 13, 2004, from wounds sustained in a blast conducting a combat 
patrol in Mosul. He was only 36 years old.
  Major Soltes was a graduate of the New England College of Optometry 
and later completed his residency at Brooke Army Medical Center that 
focused on ocular trauma, acute eye conditions, medical contact lens 
applications, and glaucoma care. At West Point, he served as director 
of the optometry residency program. In 1998, Major Soltes became 
clinical director of the Irvin Vision Institute, a refractive surgery 
specialty center where he served until his voluntary deployment in 
Iraq. He was the first military optometrist to be killed in action 
while serving as a public health officer in Iraq.
  He leaves behind a wife and three young children. Also an 
optometrist, Major Soltes' wife, Dr. Sally Houng Dang, currently treats 
blinded veterans as a way to honor her husband.
  Naming a VA facility after this hero and a strong veterans advocate 
is a proper honor for an honorable soldier who made the ultimate 
sacrifice for his Nation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4360, a bill to 
designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation 
Center in Long Beach, California, as the Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., 
O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center.
  Naming the future blind rehabilitation center currently in its final 
stages of construction in Long Beach, California, after Major Charles 
R. Soltes, Jr., is an appropriate expression of our support for our 
blind veterans.
  In 2004 while deployed in Iraq, Major Soltes was serving in the 426th 
Civil Affairs Battalion in the U.S. Army when the vehicle he was 
traveling in was struck by an improvised explosive device, costing him 
his life.
  He was the first Army optometrist to be killed in action while on 
Active Duty, but the legacy Major Soltes leaves behind remains strong 
with the veteran community, particularly among our blinded veterans. 
The VA estimates that approximately 157,000 veterans in the United 
States are legally blind, and over 1 million additional veterans are 
suffering from debilitating low vision.
  Approximately 60 percent of veterans with known combat-related 
traumatic brain injury and 30 percent with noncombat TBI report visual 
symptoms. As eye injuries continue to plague our servicemembers 
overseas, these numbers will continue to rise. And the work of 
optometrists like Major Soltes will become increasingly important.
  In closing, I would like to express my deepest condolences and 
heartfelt appreciation to Major Soltes' family for their sacrifice. 
It's my sincerest wish that through the facility, the service and 
sacrifice of Major Soltes will not be forgotten, and his dedication to 
country and mankind will live on in the increased health and well-being 
of our Nation's blinded veterans.
  I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) as much 
time as he might consume.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of an American 
patriot for his service and his sacrifice to our country, Major Charles 
Robert Soltes of Irvine, California, the son of Colonel Soltes, who is 
now retired. Major Soltes had a distinguished career in the United 
States Army as well as in the city of Irvine, I might add, where he 
practiced medicine. It was in Irvine where he entered into private 
practice as an optometrist and set down his roots to raise a family.
  Dr. Soltes subsequently joined the Army Reserve and was deployed to 
Iraq in 2004. He worked tirelessly as a public health officer in the 
426th Civil Affairs Battalion building and upgrading hospitals for the 
Iraqi people.
  On his way back from a hospital visit, his convoy was attacked by an 
improvised explosive device, and Major Soltes was killed on October 13, 
2004. He was the first Army optometrist to be killed in action while on 
Active Duty. As such, it seems fitting that we honor him and his family 
by naming a soon-to-be-completed Veterans Affairs blind rehabilitation 
center in Long Beach, California, at the veterans hospital there, which 
is in my congressional district.
  Once this facility is completed, the blind rehabilitation center, it 
will work to deliver the same compassion and care that Dr. Soltes 
dedicated his entire career and gave his life for. This new 24-bed 
inpatient-outpatient facility, which is expected to be completed this 
year, will be the first purpose-built blind rehabilitation center in 
the national Veterans Administration, and as I say, it's located in my 
district, for which I have great pride.
  Dr. Soltes was a graduate of New England College of Optometry. He 
entered the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps in 1994 and treated members 
of the military here in the United States as well as abroad. He was 
well liked and respected by his colleagues. One of

[[Page H2268]]

his superiors, Colonel Adams, whom he met while he was going through 
officer basic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, said of him, ``He 
was a tremendous young man. He volunteered to go into Civil Affairs, 
and every email he sent was upbeat and positive, and he felt he was 
making a real difference in the lives of the Iraqi people.''
  Today, by naming this new facility after him, we are ensuring that 
Major Soltes' spirit lives on. Every time a patient's quality of life 
improves, Major Soltes, his dedication to service, will be continued.
  To Major Soltes and his family, we salute you. And with this act of 
Congress, we forever remember the sacrifice Major Soltes gave. Whether 
giving their most vibrant and youthful years of service to their 
country or laying down their lives so that we and our children can 
sleep safely at night, we must remember all who gave some, and some, 
like Major Soltes, who gave all.
  I appreciate my colleagues' understanding in this issue in bringing 
it up today. Thank you.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Again, Madam Chair, in closing, this is a special honor 
for me as an optometrist who practiced for many, many years, to be 
celebrating a colleague who paid so dearly, he and his family. We're so 
proud of him--myself, as a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, 
but also as an optometrist. And I know that the profession of optometry 
is very, very proud of his efforts. And we will be thinking of his 
family, but I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I think it was most appropriate that the 
manager on the Republican side was our House optometrist, Mr. Boozman. 
So thank you for your expertise that you always give us on the 
committee.
  I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H.R. 4360.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise today 
in support of H.R. 4360, which designates the Department of Veterans 
Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach, California, the 
``Major Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs 
Blind Rehabilitation Center.'' The naming of the Veterans Affairs Long 
Beach Blind Rehabilitation Center in honor of Major Soltes is a fitting 
tribute to the dual service Major Soltes rendered the Nation as a 
soldier and a doctor of optometry.
  I thank Chairman Filner for his leadership in bringing this bill to 
the floor. I would also like to thank Congressman Campbell for 
sponsoring this bill.
  Madam Speaker, growing up in a military family, Charles Robert 
``Rob'' Soltes, Jr., always possessed a love of country and an 
appreciation of the importance of service and sacrifice. Major Soltes 
also had a gift for medicine and a passion for helping others. It was 
that sense of duty and passion that enabled him to excel at Norwich 
University, from which he graduated and was commissioned as a 2nd 
lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Major Soltes went on to attend optometry 
school in Boston, where he met his wife.
  Major Soltes took his passion for medicine to the military when he 
joined the Army Reserve in 1990. He served on active duty as an 
optometrist from 1994-1999. In 2004, he was called to duty in Iraq, 
where he was a member of the 7214th Medical Support Unit, which was 
charged with helping to rebuild the public health infrastructure in 
Iraq. On October 13, 2004, Major Soltes was tragically killed when an 
explosive device hit his convoy as it traveled back from a local Army 
hospital.
  It is entirely fitting that we take this opportunity to honor this 
fallen soldier who left us too soon. Major Soltes embodied all that 
Americans can ask for in heroes--courage, love of country, 
selflessness. Major Soltes touched many lives, but he will be missed 
most by his family. He was a devoted father and a loving husband. No 
matter how much time his military service and professional obligations 
demanded, he always put family first. They will miss him, as we all do. 
However, by passing this bill today, we can ensure that he will not be 
forgotten.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 
4360.
  Mr. CAMPBELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4360, to 
designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation 
Center in Long Beach, California, as the ``Major Charles R. Soltes, 
Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center.'' 
I was honored to introduce this legislation to recognize a true 
American Hero who was a constituent of mine from Irvine, CA.
  Major Soltes, 36, was the first military optometrist to be killed in 
action while on active duty. He was serving as a Public Health Officer 
with the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve in Mosul, 
Iraq, assisting in the restoration of the medical infrastructure. On 
October 13, 2004, he was killed while returning from a hospital visit 
when his convoy was attacked with an improvised explosive device.
  The son of an Army officer and Vietnam veteran, Major Soltes was a 
graduate of Norwich University, a military school in Vermont, and the 
New England College of Optometry. He entered the U.S. Army Medical 
Service Corps in 1994 as an Army optometrist and provided eye care 
services to service men and women at home and abroad. Major Soltes 
served in Texas, the Republic of Korea, and at the United States 
Military Academy at West Point.
  During his military service, Major Soltes completed a residency at 
the prestigious Brooke Army Medical Center. He earned adjunct faculty 
appointments at the University of Houston College of Optometry, the 
State University of New York State College of Optometry, and the 
Northeasrn State University College of Optometry. At the United States 
Military Academy at West Point, Major Soltes served as director of the 
Optometry Residency Program. In 1998, he earned his fellowship in the 
American Academy of Optometry. After completing his military duties in 
1999, he moved to Irvine, CA, where he started a private practice, 
joined the Army Reserve and became the clinical director at Irvine 
Vision Institute, a refractive surgery specialty center in Irvine, CA.
  Major Soltes leaves behind his wife, Sally Huong Dang, O.D., and 
three sons, Ryan, Brandan, and Robert Harrison. Major Soltes is also 
survived by his father, COL (retired) Charles R. Soltes, Sr., his 
mother, Nancy Soltes, and two siblings, Carolyn Soltes Matthies, and 
Jeffrey Soltes.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased this legislation has received wide 
bipartisan support with 73 cosponsors including Speaker Nancy Pelosi 
and Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Bob Filner. It 
also has broad support outside of Congress from groups such as the 
American Optometric Association to the following Veteran Service 
Organizations: Blind Veterans Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, 
American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of 
America, AMVETS, POW/MIA, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled 
American Veterans, and Jewish War Veterans.
  I have had the opportunity to meet with Major Soltes's widow, Dr. 
Sally Dang and their three outstanding sons. This is a family of such 
immense strength, but also of pride for their husband and father, his 
life, his accomplishments, his service and his sacrifice. Dr. Dang 
recounted that if her husband had the opportunity to come back and 
serve again, he would do it without hesitation. When we name this 
center for Major Soltes today, we honor his family, his memory, and his 
military service, but also his service as a doctor who helped people 
see more clearly. Fittingly, Dr. Dang is also a practicing optometrist.
  May this honor today help us all to see--to see better with our eyes, 
of course, and to help those veterans suffering with blindness. But 
also, to see the selfless and wonderful people upon whom our freedoms 
as a people rest. Major Soltes lies amongst them. May God bless his 
family and his memory.
  Mr. FILNER.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. 4360.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FILNER. 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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