[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 201 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H10428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         DOUGLAS FOURNET DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (S. 3444) to designate the community-based outpatient 
clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lake Charles, 
Louisiana, as the ``Douglas Fournet Department of Veterans Affairs 
Clinic''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 3444

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF DOUGLAS FOURNET DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC IN LAKE CHARLES, 
                   LOUISIANA.

       (a) Designation.--The community-based outpatient clinic of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lake Charles, 
     Louisiana, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act 
     be known and designated as the ``Douglas Fournet Department 
     of Veterans Affairs Clinic'' or the ``Douglas Fournet VA 
     Clinic''.
       (b) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     community-based outpatient clinic referred to in subsection 
     (a) shall be considered to be a reference to the Douglas 
     Fournet Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) 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 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 Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Higgins) to discuss this bill.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
3444, which renames the VA community-based outpatient clinic in Lake 
Charles, Louisiana, after First Lieutenant Douglas Fournet.
  Mr. Speaker, I was proud to sponsor the House version of this bill.
  Douglas Fournet is an American hero deserving of the highest tribute. 
He joined the Army in 1966 and was deployed to Vietnam. There, Fournet 
served as rifle platoon leader of the 2nd Platoon, Company Bravo.
  In the A Shau Valley of Vietnam, the platoon came under sniper fire. 
With an enemy mine in the way of the platoon's advance, Fournet ordered 
his men to take cover. He then ran uphill to the mine and attempted to 
disarm it with a knife. Before he could succeed, the mine was 
detonated.
  Douglas Fournet was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1970. 
He is the sole recipient from southwest Louisiana.
  Douglas Fournet gave his last full measure of devotion in service to 
his country and in defense of his platoon.
  Our freedoms are paid for by the blood of patriots like First 
Lieutenant Fournet. Renaming of the Lake Charles VA clinic is a small 
tribute to his courage and forever enshrines the legacy among southwest 
Louisiana veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me and honor the life, 
legacy, and gallantry of First Lieutenant Douglas Fournet. I urge 
favorable passage.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3444, a bill to designate 
the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as the Douglas Fournet Department 
of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
  I support this bill from Senator Cassidy to name this clinic after 
Louisiana Medal of Honor recipient Douglas Fournet.
  I have no further speakers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote 
in support of S. 3444, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support 
this legislation for an American hero, First Lieutenant Douglas 
Fournet. It is a privilege to recommend this legislation, and 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. 3444.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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