[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2911-H2912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DANIEL L. KINNARD VA CLINIC

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 960) to designate the Department of Veterans 
Affairs community based outpatient clinic in Newark, Ohio, as the 
Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based 
Outpatient Clinic, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 960

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Daniel L. Kinnard was born on October 21, 1949, in 
     Mount Vernon, Ohio.
       (2) While residing in Newark, Ohio, Daniel L. Kinnard 
     enlisted in the Army at Fort Hayes, Ohio, on November 14, 
     1966, and served as a Specialist Fourth Class in the 101st 
     Airborne Division.
       (3) Specialist Kinnard was awarded the National Defense 
     Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, 
     Parachutist Badge, Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar, Bronze 
     Star for Valor, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and the 
     Combat Medical Badge.
       (4) Specialist Kinnard's citation for the Bronze Star said, 
     ``For heroism in combat against a hostile force in the 
     Republic of Vietnam on 17 February 1968. Specialist Four 
     Kinnard distinguished himself while attached as a medic on a 
     combat operation near Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam. The 
     point platoon made contact with enemy positions in a hedgerow 
     and two of the point men were seriously wounded. Without 
     hesitation, Specialist Kinnard rushed through the heavy 
     volume of enemy fire to reach the wounded men. With complete 
     disregard for his own personal safety, Specialist Kinnard 
     remained exposed to enemy fire while he treated the wounded 
     men. Once he administered first aid to the wounded, 
     Specialist Kinnard organized their evacuation under fire. His 
     personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with 
     the highest traditions of the military service and reflect 
     great credit upon himself, his unit, and United States 
     Army.''.
       (5) Specialist Kinnard was killed in action on March 9, 
     1968, while rendering aid to his fellow paratroopers.

     SEC. 2. DANIEL L. KINNARD VA CLINIC.

       (a) Designation.--The Department of Veterans Affairs 
     community-based outpatient clinic located in Newark, Ohio, 
     shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known 
     and designated as the ``Daniel L. Kinnard VA Clinic''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient 
     clinic referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a 
     reference to the Daniel L. Kinnard 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.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon in support of H.R. 960, as 
amended, which would name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-
based outpatient clinic in Newark, Ohio, the Daniel L. Kinnard VA 
Clinic.
  Specialist Fourth Class Daniel L. Kinnard was born in October of 1949 
in

[[Page H2912]]

Mount Olive, Ohio. During the Vietnam war, Specialist Kinnard served 
with distinction in the 101st Airborne, the famed Screaming Eagles. On 
March 9, 1968, he was tragically killed in action while rendering aid 
to his fellow paratroopers.
  During the course of his service, Specialist Kinnard was awarded the 
Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service 
Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar, 
the Bronze Star for Valor, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat 
Medical Badge.
  Given his valiant service and his ultimate sacrifice, it is only 
appropriate that we gather here today to recognize him by naming the VA 
community-based outpatient clinic in Ohio, his home State, after him.
  H.R. 960, as amended, satisfies our committee's criteria for naming 
bills and is supported by the Ohio congressional delegation and a 
number of veterans service organizations, including the AMVETS, the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the 
Military Order of Purple Heart.
  I am grateful to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi), my good 
friend, for sponsoring this legislation. I urge all my colleagues to 
join me in supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 960, as amended, to 
designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient 
clinic in Newark, Ohio, as the Daniel L. Kinnard Department of Veterans 
Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic.
  Specialist Kinnard served in the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd 
Infantry, the 101st Airborne Division, better known as the Screaming 
Eagles. As a Vietnam medic, he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor in 
1968 for dodging enemy bullets to reach two wounded men and providing 
first aid while remaining exposed to enemy fire.
  Specialist Kinnard died at the age of 18 in March 1968 while 
providing care to fellow paratroopers. In addition to the Bronze Star, 
he was awarded numerous other medals.
  Specialist Kinnard made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his 
country in the Vietnam war. We are grateful to Specialist Kinnard for 
acting with courage and dignity in looking after his brothers in 
combat.
  I am pleased to support H.R. 960, as amended, in his memory today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Galena, Ohio (Mr. Tiberi), the sponsor of 
this legislation.
  Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Miller and his 
committee members for supporting my bill, H.R. 960, to designate the VA 
community-based outpatient clinic in Newark, Ohio, as the Daniel L. 
Kinnard VA Clinic.
  Born in Knox County and a resident of Newark, Specialist Daniel 
Kinnard served bravely as a medic in the 101st Army Airborne Division, 
the famed Screaming Eagles, during the Vietnam war.
  On February 17, 1968, he rushed through hostile enemy fire to treat 
and rescue wounded soldiers. For his bravery, as was mentioned, and his 
heroism on that day, he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. Twenty-
one short days later, Specialist Kinnard was killed in action rendering 
aid to his fellow paratroopers. He was just 18 years old.
  Mr. Speaker, next Monday is Memorial Day, a time we pause to honor 
those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our great Nation. Today I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 960 to honor Specialist Kinnard and 
those who served courageously beside him and rename this clinic in the 
12th District Ohio town of Newark, Ohio.
  I appreciate the leadership of our chairman and the committee's work 
on this.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to 
thank all of our Vietnam veterans. When they came home from the war, we 
did not properly recognize them, as we should have, as a Nation. I want 
to say that we are very grateful for their service and their sacrifice.
  When we hear that 22 veterans a day commit suicide, only three of 
five of them are involved in the VA, and many of them are Vietnam 
veterans. At this time, I think that we all should soldier up, reach 
out to those Vietnam veterans, let them know that we appreciate their 
service, and recommend that they get involved in the VA.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 960, as amended.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with the 
remarks of the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown), my colleague, the 
ranking member. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, 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. 960, 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 designate 
the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in 
Newark, Ohio, as the Daniel L. Kinnard VA Clinic.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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