[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 165 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING CARL NUNZIATO

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Ryan) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RYAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about H.R. 5023, which 
names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient 
clinic in Youngstown, Ohio, as the Carl Nunziato VA Clinic.
  This bill was recommended to my office and strongly supported by 
leaders within my congressional district's veterans community because 
they rightly wish to honor one of their own for his exemplary service. 
I thank them and Chairman Mark Takano, Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe, and 
their respective staffs for helping our office bring this bill to the 
floor, as well as my own staff, Zach Prager and Ivan De La Cruz 
Santiago.
  Today is a red-letter day, Mr. Speaker, in my book because in the 
midst of all that is going on nationally, all the controversies, 
Congress can still put its differences aside to take time and recognize 
a true American hero: Carl Nunziato.
  Carl was born in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1938, graduating from Rayen 
High School. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Clara, he would 
go on to attend college at Youngstown State University.
  Through the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps program, Carl 
earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. 
It was with his heart filled with love and devotion to his family, his 
hometown, and his country that he set off for the battlefields of 
Vietnam.
  All those who served with Carl testify to his unmatched fighting 
spirit. If you ever found yourself in a foxhole with chaos all around 
you, Carl was the guy you wanted there with you because no matter what 
happened, you could be sure of one thing: Carl would never quit. Never.
  Life would test Carl in ways that most Americans can't even imagine. 
On November 22, 1966, Carl lost both of his legs when an enemy mortar 
round impacted less than 3 feet away from him as he was running toward 
his unit's command center.
  On that battlefield, and over the next 2 years at home, Carl would 
fight for his life not far from where we stand today, at Walter Reed 
National Military Medical Center. Carl may have walked out of that 
hospital on two prosthetic legs, but his resolve was more steadfast 
than before he walked in.
  Carl returned to his hometown, Youngstown, Ohio, enrolled in law 
school at Case Western Reserve, and with graduation began yet another 
battle: the fight for veterans and all Americans with disabilities.
  As an attorney utilizing a wheelchair in the 1970s, most of the 
courthouses he encountered lacked the accessibility that he and other 
Americans like him needed to be able to simply get his job done.
  Carl saw the problem and seized the initiative, as he had always done 
with obstacles he encountered in life. Carl created a committee to 
fight for veterans with disabilities and became a relentless advocate 
on behalf of all of those with the same conditions.
  But Carl went even further. He established a task force to improve 
veterans services in Youngstown at a time when the VA sent the city a 
single nurse once a week when the Mahoning Valley had 40,000 veterans.
  Carl wanted a VA clinic. VA said no. Carl didn't take no for an 
answer. Carl's efforts came to fruition in 1991 when the VA finally 
established an outpatient clinic in Youngstown.
  Today, Carl continues to be a stellar citizen, not just for 
Youngstown, not just for the people of Ohio, not just for vets, not 
just for people with disabilities, but for all Americans.
  Carl works tirelessly with the VA to continue improving the care 
received by veterans. Carl relentlessly pursues improving care and 
services for all Americans with disabilities.
  The naming of this clinic, Mr. Speaker, is a small measure in 
comparison to what he has accomplished on behalf of our country's 
heroes and all of those with disabilities.
  Carl never quits--never has quit, never will quit. And I am humbled 
to have the privilege of representing an individual of this caliber in 
this Chamber.
  I will say, finally, when other vets and citizens from our community 
look at Carl's portrait hanging in this clinic and they see his name, 
they will know that things can get better. With effort, with grit, you 
can make a difference as long as you never quit, as long as you never 
take no for an answer.

                          ____________________