[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 148 (Monday, December 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8856-H8857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 LIEUTENANT GENERAL RICHARD J. SEITZ COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (S. 1434) to designate the Junction City Community-Based 
Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, Junction City, 
Kansas, as the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based 
Outpatient Clinic.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1434

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

     SECTION 1. LIEUTENANT GENERAL RICHARD J. SEITZ COMMUNITY-
                   BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz served as the cadet 
     commander of a unit of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps 
     at Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he 
     earned the American Legion Cup as an outstanding cadet;
       (2) while attending Kansas State University, Lieutenant 
     General Seitz accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in 
     the Army and was called into active duty in 1940;
       (3) Lieutenant General Seitz volunteered to be one of the 
     first paratroopers in the United States;
       (4) at age 25, Lieutenant General Seitz as a major, was 
     given command of the 2nd Battalion of the 517th Parachute 
     Infantry Regimental Combat Team, becoming the youngest 
     battalion commander in the Army;
       (5) along with the 7th Armored Division, the battalion 
     commanded by Lieutenant General Seitz formed what became 
     known as Task Force Seitz at the Battle of the Bulge with the 
     mission to plug the gaps on the north slope of the Bulge when 
     the Germans attempted to break out;
       (6) the service of Lieutenant General Seitz earned him the 
     Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, and many other 
     acknowledgments during his 37-year career in the Army;
       (7) after victory in Europe, Lieutenant General Seitz 
     remained in the Army, commanding the 2nd Airborne Battle 
     Group, 503rd Infantry Regiment, and the 82nd Airborne 
     Division;
       (8) on retiring in 1978, Lieutenant General Seitz settled 
     in Junction City, Kansas, near Ft. Riley, where he would 
     greet deploying and returning units from Iraq and Afghanistan 
     at all times of the day;
       (9) Lieutenant General Seitz remained active in the wider 
     community, working with the Coronado Area Council of the Boy 
     Scouts of America, the Fort Riley National Bank, Rotary 
     International, and the Association of the United States Army 
     and serving on the board of the Eisenhower Presidential 
     Library and Museum;
       (10) Lieutenant General Seitz had a passion for mentoring 
     young officers and noncommissioned officers at Fort Riley, 
     never ceasing to be a soldier, according to his son, Richard 
     M. Seitz;
       (11) Lieutenant General Seitz was named an Outstanding 
     Citizen of Kansas;
       (12) in 2012 an elementary school at Fort Riley was named 
     in honor of Lieutenant General Seitz, which is meaningful 
     because he believed the fate of the United States relied on 
     young children and the teachers who inspire them;
       (13) during visits to the elementary school, Lieutenant 
     General Seitz would talk with the students about what it 
     meant to be a ``proud and great American'' and his message 
     was always to ``respect the teachers and be a learner'';
       (14) the family and friends of Lieutenant General Seitz 
     have described him as a gentleman, compassionate, respected, 
     full of integrity, gracious, giving, and a remarkable 
     individual; and
       (15) Lieutenant General Seitz lived each day to its fullest 
     and his commitment to his fellow man serves as an inspiration 
     to all the people of the United States.
       (b) Designation.--The Junction City Community-Based 
     Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, Junction 
     City, Kansas, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based 
     Outpatient Clinic''.
       (c) References.--Any reference in any law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     Junction City Community-Based Outpatient Clinic referred to 
     in subsection (b) shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based 
     Outpatient Clinic''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the Senate bill, S. 1434.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of S. 1434 which would name the Junction City 
Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, 
Junction City, Kansas, as the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz 
Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
  Following completion of the Army ROTC program at Kansas State 
University, Lieutenant General Seitz served with distinction in World 
War II. Lieutenant General Seitz participated in the invasion of Italy 
and the Battle of the Bulge as one of the youngest battalion commanders 
of the war at the age of 25. After the victory in Europe, Lieutenant 
General Seitz remained in the Army commanding at many levels, 
culminating with command of the 82nd Airborne Division.
  During his service, Lieutenant General Seitz earned the Silver Star, 
two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Service Medal, 
the Legion of Merit and the French Croix de Guerre and Legion of Honor.
  After Lieutenant General Seitz retired, he settled in Junction City 
and served the Fort Riley community. He would greet deploying and 
returning units from Iraq and Afghanistan at all times of the day, and 
he mentored young officers and noncommissioned officers stationed 
there.
  Beyond this service, he also volunteered his time with the Boy Scouts 
of America, Rotary International, and the Association of the United 
States Army.
  In recognition of Lieutenant General Seitz's service to both his 
country and his community, naming the Junction City CBOC after him is a 
fitting and

[[Page H8857]]

appropriate honor. It is my pleasure to support S. 1434, and I am 
grateful for the leadership and support of Chairman Miller, Ranking 
Member Michaud, Senator Moran, and the entire Kansas delegation. I urge 
all of my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 1434.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1434, which designates the 
Junction City, Kansas, Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Junction 
City as the Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based 
Outpatient Clinic.
  General Seitz served in the Army for 37 years. Among the medals and 
commendations he was awarded are the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and 
the Purple Heart. After he retired, he was awarded the Creighton Abrams 
Medal. In September 2011, he was given France's highest distinction, 
the Legion of Honor.
  In World War II, joined by a company of 7th Armored Division tanks, 
General Seitz was in command of a battalion of paratroopers who won two 
decisive attacks during the Battle of the Bulge. Seitz was only 28 
years old at the time. He continued to serve in command roles after 
World War II, earning his first general's star in 1963, his second star 
in 1967, and finished his distinguished career in 1978 as a three-star 
general.

                              {time}  1630

  Following his retirement, General Seitz stayed dedicated to those who 
served. He remained passionate for mentoring commissioned and 
noncommissioned officers, and frequently visited Fort Riley to greet 
deploying and returning units bound for the Middle East.
  As a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, General Seitz returned to Kansas 
in 1978 and settled in Junction City.
  Joining his name to the community-based outpatient clinic in Junction 
City, Kansas, would be a fitting way to honor General Seitz in his 
commitment to duty and valor.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 1434, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and, 
once again, I encourage all Members to support S. 1434.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 1434.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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