[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 111 (Wednesday, July 16, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HISTORY OF THE WEST PALM BEACH VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CLINIC

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                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2014

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I submitted this into the Congressional Record 
in 2001 and resubmit it today, July 16, 2014 on the 42nd anniversary of 
the passing of Pfc. John Mica.
  Mr. Speaker, The West Palm Beach Department of Veterans Affairs 
Medical Center in Florida was inspired by the life, military service 
and death of Pfc. John Mica. Army Corpsman Mica was born on April 3, 
1915 in Binghamton, NY, served as a private in the U.S. Army from 1943-
44, and died July 16, 1972 in a crowded veterans hospital in Miami, 
Florida.
  Because of the circumstances of John Mica's death in that veterans 
facility, which was strained to capacity, his son Daniel A. Mica made 
construction of a new South Florida veterans hospital one of his goals 
when elected to the U.S. Congress. From 1978 to 1988, Congressman 
Daniel Mica, a member of the House Veterans Committee, cited the need 
for additional veterans medical facilities in Florida at every meeting 
of that Congressional panel over the decade of his service.
  Congressman Daniel Mica, on February 8th, 1983 during the 98th 
Congress, introduced H.R. 1348, ``A bill to construct a new Veterans 
Administration hospital in the State of Florida.'' Construction of the 
Palm Beach County Veterans' hospital was completed in 1994.
  This history has been submitted by Congressman John L. Mica in memory 
of his father, Pfc. John Mica, and also in recognition of his brother 
Daniel's contribution to the veterans of the State of Florida.

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