[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 127 (Monday, September 8, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING CAPT. JOSE ACOSTA ON THE OCCASION OF THE CHANGE OF COMMAND AT 
         THE CAPTAIN JAMES A. LOVELL FEDERAL HEALTH CARE CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2014

  Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to honor 
Captain Jose Acosta, who will be relinquishing Command at the Captain 
James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in the suburban 
Chicago district that I represent.
   In 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department 
of Defense (DoD) opened Lovell FHCC, our nation's first integrated VA-
DOD federal health care center. Lovell FHCC was the culmination of 
years of vision, planning and hard work. It was and is an example of 
excellence for all other VA and DoD health care facilities.
   Capt. Acosta joined Lovell FHCC in 2012 as the Commanding Officer 
and Deputy Director, and he was subsequently named Acting Director. In 
this capacity, Capt. Acosta managed the day-to-day operations of the 
federal health center, which provides medical care for the veterans and 
military families in the area. Additionally, Lovell FHCC is responsible 
for maintaining the military readiness of the more than 40,000 new 
sailors receiving basic training each year at Naval Station Great 
Lakes, as well as the 4,000 active duty personnel on base.
   Under Capt. Acosta's leadership, Lovell FHCC made the vision of an 
integrated health system a reality, raising the bar of achievement. 
Currently in its fourth year, Lovell FHCC provides world-class medical 
service to the veterans, active duty personnel, military family and 
recruits in North Chicago and the surrounding communities, holding more 
than 800,000 patient visits in 2013 alone.
   Throughout his distinguished career, Capt. Acosta has displayed 
extraordinary commitment to his country and dedication to his fellow 
soldiers. He fully embraced and brought to life Lovell FHCC's mission 
of ``Readying Warriors and Caring for Heroes.''
   I want to personally thank Capt. Acosta for everything that he has 
done at Lovell FHCC, and wish him the best of luck as he continues his 
service as the Commanding Officer for Naval Medical Center San Diego.

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