[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2910-H2911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       LOREN R. KAUFMAN VA CLINIC

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1762) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs 
community-based outpatient clinic in The Dalles, Oregon, as the ``Loren 
R. Kaufman Memorial Veterans' Clinic'', as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1762

       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 COMMUNITY-
                   BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, THE DALLES, OREGON.

       The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based 
     outpatient clinic located at 704 Veterans Drive, The Dalles, 
     Oregon, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be 
     known and designated as the ``Loren R. Kaufman VA Clinic''. 
     Any reference to such community-based 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 Loren R. Kaufman VA Clinic.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 1762, as amended. This legislation 
was sponsored by my good friend and colleague, Congressman Greg Walden 
of Oregon. It would designate the Department of Veterans Affairs 
community-based outpatient clinic at The Dalles, Oregon, the Loren R. 
Kaufman Memorial Veterans' Clinic.
  Born and raised in The Dalles, Oregon, Sergeant First Class Loren 
Kaufman answered the call to serve by enlisting in the United States 
Army just 1 week after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He went on to serve 
in combat in both World War II and in Korea, until his death in action 
on the 10th of February 1951.
  Following his death, Sergeant First Class Kaufman was posthumously 
awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Korea in September of 
1950, when his company was attacked by an enemy battalion and his 
platoon was ordered to reinforce the company.
  According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, during the 
battle that followed, the ``dauntless courage and resolute intrepid 
leadership of Sergeant First Class Kaufman were directly responsible 
for the success of his company in regaining its positions, reflecting 
distinct credit upon himself and upholding the esteemed traditions of 
the military service.''
  In recognition of that, it is entirely fitting and appropriate that 
Sergeant First Class Kaufman's life and service be memorialized by 
naming the VA community-based outpatient clinic in his hometown after 
him.
  H.R. 1762, as amended, satisfies the committee's naming criteria. It 
is supported by the Oregon congressional delegation. It is supported by 
many veterans service organizations, including the American Legion, the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the 
Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Military Order of the Purple 
Heart. I understand that this bill is also supported by the Oregon 
County Veterans Service Officers Association and the American Red 
Cross.
  I am grateful to Congressman Walden for cosponsoring H.R. 1762, as 
amended, to recognize a true American hero.
  I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I support H.R. 1762, as amended, which names the new veterans clinic 
in The Dalles, Oregon, in honor of Loren R. Kaufman, a soldier in the 
United States Army during World War II and the Korean war.
  Sergeant First Class Kaufman joined the Army the week after the 
attack on

[[Page H2911]]

Pearl Harbor and served in North Africa and Europe during World War II. 
Later, during the Korean war, he earned the Medal of Honor for his 
quick counterattack on enemy combatants, which so surprised the enemy 
that they retreated in confusion. At the age of 28 years old, while 
serving in Company G, 9th Infantry Regiment, the 2nd Infantry Division, 
Sergeant Kaufman was killed in action.
  As stated in the citation for his Medal of Honor award, the 
leadership of Sergeant Kaufman was ``directly responsible for the 
success of his company in regaining its positions, reflecting distinct 
credit upon himself and upholding the esteemed traditions of the 
military service.''
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from the Second District of Oregon (Mr. Walden), the sponsor 
of this piece of legislation.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee. He has done such an incredible job leading that 
committee and trying to make sure our veterans get both the recognition 
and the care that they have earned and so deserve. I thank the ranking 
member for her support of this very timely and important piece of 
legislation to name the VA clinic in The Dalles, Oregon, after Loren R. 
Kaufman.
  This is actually a photo of Mr. Kaufman.
  Sergeant First Class Kaufman was a true American hero, as my 
colleagues have said. He was born and raised in The Dalles. Sergeant 
Kaufman served in the Army during World War II, and he also served in 
the Korean war.
  While in Korea, Sergeant Kaufman's company was attacked by the enemy. 
His platoon was 2 miles away, protecting the battalion flank, and was 
ordered to come and reinforce the company.

                              {time}  1615

  On their way to their new location, they came under fire. Selflessly, 
Sergeant Kaufman ran forward, engaged the enemy, and forced them to 
retreat in confusion.
  Once Sergeant Kaufman's platoon rejoined their company, they found 
the enemy had taken commanding ground and pinned the company down in a 
draw. Without hesitation, Sergeant Kaufman again charged the enemy 
lines, firing his rifle, throwing grenades, using his bayonet, and 
seizing an unmanned machine gun. Because of his fast thinking and 
fearlessness, the enemy fled and the company regained their position.
  It was for these actions and conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity 
above and beyond the call that Sergeant Kaufman was awarded the Medal 
of Honor by President Harry S. Truman. In his citation it was written, 
``The dauntless courage and resolute intrepid leadership of Sergeant 
First Class Kaufman were directly responsible for the success of his 
company in regaining its positions, reflecting distinct credit upon 
himself and upholding the esteemed traditions of the military 
service.''
  Tragically, though, Sergeant Kaufman received this incredible honor 
posthumously. He was killed in action on February 10, 1951, and was 
laid to rest in Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.
  I strongly agreed with our local veterans and public officials that 
the community should honor this native son's heroism by renaming the 
local VA clinic in his honor.
  I want to thank the Veterans Ad Hoc Committee, Les Cochenour, the 
Mid-Columbia Veterans Memorial Committee, and the Wasco County 
Commission for their efforts to support renaming this clinic. I also 
want to thank the entire Oregon congressional delegation and the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs for their support.
  Finally, I would like to offer a special thanks to Loren Kaufman's 
family from The Dalles, his cousin Gerald, Gerald's wife Marilyn, and 
their daughter Sharon. I am proud to help honor Loren Kaufman by 
working to rename this clinic in his honor so he can be a continuing 
inspiration for the community and the country.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting H.R. 1762, as amended.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I again urge all Members to 
support this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1762, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to name the 
Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in The 
Dalles, Oregon, as the `Loren R. Kaufman VA Clinic'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________