[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 81 (Monday, May 23, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H2931-H2932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JESSE DEAN VA CLINIC
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3969) to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs
community-based outpatient clinic in Laughlin, Nevada, as the ``Master
Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean 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. 3969
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JESSE DEAN VA CLINIC.
(a) Designation.--The Department of Veterans Affairs
community-based outpatient clinic in Laughlin, Nevada, shall
after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and
designated as the ``Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean VA
Clinic''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
community-based outpatient clinic referred to in subsection
(a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Master Chief
Petty Officer Jesse Dean VA Clinic''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Donovan). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentlewoman from Florida
(Ms. Brown) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in 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. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
This bill is sponsored by Congressman Joe Heck from Nevada, and I
thank him for introducing this piece of legislation.
Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean was born on August 11, 1947,
and enlisted in the United States Navy when he was just 17 years old.
Throughout his time in the Navy, Master Chief Petty Officer Dean served
on numerous ships and on several overseas assignments and earned
several awards and commendations.
Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean served our Nation both in and
out of uniform. He served his fellow veterans and neighbors in Nevada.
It is entirely fitting that with the passage of H.R. 3969, as amended,
we name the VA community-based outpatient clinic in Laughlin, Nevada,
the Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean Department of Veterans
Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3969, as amended, which would
designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient
clinic in Laughlin, Nevada, as the Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse
Dean Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic.
Master Chief Petty Officer Dean, who passed away in 2014, was a
highly decorated Vietnam veteran who served 27 years in the Navy before
retiring in 1992. He settled in Laughlin and joined the American Legion
where he was revered by fellow members for his selfless service and
dedication. By all accounts, Master Chief Petty Officer Dean was an
exemplary sailor and beloved citizen, husband, and father.
I understand that when Congressman Heck asked his constituents to
recommend a veteran to name this clinic after, Officer Dean was the
only name mentioned.
Mr. Speaker, Master Chief Petty Officer Dean's dedication to duty,
his community, and his country reflected great credit upon himself and
was in keeping with the finest ideals of service, selflessness, and
giving, making him the ideal namesake for the new veterans clinic in
Laughlin, Nevada.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1915
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Heck).
Mr. HECK of Nevada. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to urge the House to adopt
H.R. 3969, legislation I introduced to name the Department of Veterans
Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Laughlin, Nevada, in honor
of Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean.
On February 19, 2015, I helped cut the ribbon at the grand opening of
the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in
Laughlin, Nevada. Shortly after the clinic was completed, members of
the American Legion Richard Springston Post 60 in Laughlin came to me
with an idea that the clinic should be named for a prominent Laughlin
veteran. As we started the search, one name stood out amongst the rest:
Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean.
From the time he was a boy, Jesse Dean only wanted to do one thing--
serve his country as a member of the United States military. In 1965,
at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy. Jesse would go on to serve
27 years, achieving the highest grade for an enlisted sailor, that of
master chief petty officer.
His first sea duty assignment was aboard the aircraft carrier USS
Hornet, and during Vietnam he served as part of the brown-water navy.
Over his 27-year career, Jesse earned numerous awards and
commendations, including three Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy
Achievement Medals, a Combat Action Ribbon, a Vietnam Service Medal,
and an Overseas Service Ribbon.
Upon his retirement from the Navy in 1992, Jesse moved to Laughlin
and promptly joined American Legion Post 60. As a member of the Legion,
Jesse was revered by fellow members for his selfless service and
dedication to the Post and his fellow veterans. He did the majority of
the maintenance work on the Post. He drove fellow veterans to medical
appointments and to the store. He even donated a trailer that he owned
to be used as a shelter for homeless veterans. Jesse did all of these
things and more for the Post and his fellow veterans, but he never
accepted compensation for his tireless work.
Mr. Speaker, I did not have the privilege of knowing Master Chief
Jesse Dean, but it is clear from speaking
[[Page H2932]]
with community members and veterans in Laughlin that naming the new VA
clinic in his honor is a fitting tribute.
The master chief was called to his final duty station in 2014. Today
we have a chance to repay him with a resounding Bravo Zulu for his
years of dedication to Laughlin American Legion Post 60, to the veteran
community of Laughlin, and to the United States Navy by naming the new
VA health clinic in his honor.
I thank all of the members of the Nevada Congressional Delegation for
backing this building naming as well as to thank the members of the
American Legion Richard Springston Post 60 in Laughlin for working with
us on this bill.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3969 to name the Department of
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Laughlin, Nevada,
in honor of Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse Dean.
Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
As we enter into the Memorial Day celebration, I want to point out
that, like Master Chief Petty Officer Dean and many Vietnam veterans,
when they returned, this country did not receive them as we should have
and thank them for their service.
Of the 22 veterans who commit suicide every day, only 3 of them are
part of the VA system. I would like for all of us to reach out to the
Vietnam veterans and to first thank them all for their service and then
for all of us to soldier up and man up and to let them know we love
them, that we appreciate them, and that we appreciate their service.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3969, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
This bill satisfies the committee's naming criteria, and, as Dr. Heck
said, it is supported by the entire Nevada Congressional Delegation as
well as by veterans service organizations, including the American
Legion and the VFW.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this great bill. I
would appreciate it very much.
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. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3969, 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
designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient
clinic in Laughlin, Nevada, as the `Master Chief Petty Officer Jesse
Dean VA Clinic'.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________