[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 162 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H4541-H4543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ROBERT S. POYDASHEFF VA CLINIC

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3475) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-
based outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia, as the ``Robert S. 
Poydasheff VA Clinic''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3475

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Former Columbus, Georgia, Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff 
     died on September 24, 2020.
       (2) He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the Citadel 
     in 1954, a J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 1957, an 
     M.A. in International Relations from Boston University's 
     Graduate Program in Berlin, Germany, in 1967, and attended 
     the Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands in 
     preparation for a military and subsequent civilian career 
     that focused on serving others.
       (3) In 1955, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 
     the Infantry Branch of the United States Army, and he was 
     reassigned to the Judge Advocate General's Corps.
       (4) He was a 1976 graduate of the United States Army War 
     College and served a total of 24 years, retiring as a Colonel 
     in 1979.
       (5) He was decorated with the Legion of Merit with two Oak 
     Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal, and Vietnam Ribbon with 
     Four Battle Stars, and during his military career and because 
     of his expert legal acumen he was assigned to work on the 
     biggest cases of the time in which he served, but during this 
     he never lost sight of what he considered his primary role, 
     which was to take care of soldiers.
       (6) Robert S. Poydasheff was appointed as legal counsel to 
     the Secretary of the Army and served the needs of all 
     soldiers by helping to shape Army policy.
       (7) In 2012, the Army War College Foundation named Colonel 
     Poydasheff an Outstanding Alumnus in recognition of his wide-
     ranging service to his community after his retirement from 
     active duty.
       (8) Colonel Poydasheff served on the Columbus, Georgia City 
     Council from 1994 to 2002, helping all citizens of the 
     community he had come to love while concurrently serving Fort 
     Benning and his beloved soldiers.
       (9) He was elected Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, in 2002, 
     served a four-year term and maintained a focus on community-
     based programs as well as strengthening the relationship 
     between the city and Fort Benning.
       (10) During that time he made great contributions to the 
     joint military and civilian communities of Columbus, Georgia, 
     and Fort Benning, appointing first a fellow soldier and later 
     the first African American to the City Manager position, 
     while knowing that doing so would be at his own political 
     peril.
       (11) After his service as Mayor of Columbus, Georgia, 
     Robert S. Poydasheff found continued success as a practicing 
     lawyer helping countless citizens and soldiers living in the 
     city he once led as well as advocating for many soldiers in 
     the area.
       (12) His continued interest in the betterment of the city 
     as well as his contributions to the Veterans Action Committee 
     has a continued impact to this day.
       (13) He served as past president of the Chattahoochee 
     Council Boy Scouts of America, past president of the 
     Chattahoochee Valley Association of the United Sates Army, 
     past president of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, member of 
     the Board of Directors of the Springer Opera Arts 
     Association, past president of the Ann Elizabeth Shepherd 
     Home, and member of the Kiwanis Club and Columbus Bar 
     Association.

     SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY-
                   BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

        The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based 
     outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia, shall after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the 
     ``Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic''. Any reference to such 
     clinic in any law, regulation, map, document, record, or 
     other paper of the United States shall be considered to be a 
     reference to the Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 3475.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Colonel Robert S. 
Poydasheff, who passed away on September 24, 2020.
  I thank my colleague, Representative Sanford Bishop from Georgia, for 
introducing this legislation so that we can pay tribute to a 
distinguished servicemember who advocated for veterans throughout his 
life.
  Robert Poydasheff received his bachelor of arts in political science 
from The Citadel in 1954. In 1955, he was commissioned as a second 
lieutenant in the United States Army as an infantry officer. After 
completing his law education at Tulane University, Mr. Poydasheff 
continued his military career in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.
  Mr. Poydasheff was appointed as legal counsel for the Secretary of 
the Army, helping to shape better policy for all Army soldiers. He 
graduated from the United States Army War College in 1976 and retired 
in 1979, achieving the rank of colonel.
  During Colonel Poydasheff's 24 years of military service, he was 
awarded the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star 
Medal, and a Vietnam Ribbon with four battle stars. He truly embodied 
the highest qualities of military distinction.
  After retiring from the Army, Colonel Poydasheff was called to serve 
his community in Georgia. He served on the Columbus, Georgia, City 
Council from 1994 to 2002, concurrently serving the soldiers at Fort 
Benning. He went on to be elected as the mayor of Columbus in 2002. In 
2012, Colonel Poydasheff was honored by the Army War College Foundation 
as an outstanding alumnus.
  H.R. 3475 has letters of support from The American Legion, the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record those letters of support.


[[Page H4542]]


                                              The American Legion,


                                        Department of Georgia,

                                   Stockbridge, GA, April 7, 2021.
     Hon. Mark Takano,
     Chairman,
     Hon. Mike Bost,
     Ranking Member,
     House Committee on Veterans Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman and Mr. Ranking Member: This letter is to 
     serve as written support from the American Legion, Department 
     of Georgia for the legislation to be introduced which will 
     name the new Veterans Administration Clinic in Columbus, 
     Georgia as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff Veterans Clinic.''
       It is befitting to bestow this honor on Robert Poydasheff, 
     who passed away September 2020, and who served as City 
     Council (1994-2002) and subsequently as Mayor of Columbus 
     (2003-2007). Throughout his mayorship, he was a strong 
     advocate for veterans in the Columbus community. He, too, was 
     a veteran who served in the US Army 24 years before retiring 
     as a Colonel. His military service began as an Infantry 
     Officer with a combat tour in Vietnam. He later transferred 
     to the Judge Advocate General Corps where he worked in 
     various positions for the Secretary of the Army. Mayor 
     Poydasheff embodied the Army values of loyalty, duty, 
     respect, and selfless service to fellow veterans and to this 
     country.
       It is with honor that the American Legion, Department of 
     Georgia, supports this effort to name the Columbus Veterans 
     Clinic after Robert S. Poydasheff, a very distinguished 
     member of the community.
       If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to 
     contact me or the Adjutant, Department of Georgia, Zeste C. 
     Debro.
       For God and Country . . .
           Sincerely,
                                               Eddie Asberry, Jr.,
     Commander, Department of Georgia.
                                  ____

                                         Veterans of Foreign Wars,


                                        Department of Georgia,

                                         Macon, GA, March 3, 2021.
     Mark Takano,
     Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Mike Bost,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington DC.
       Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost: Please accept 
     this letter as a demonstration of the total support of the 
     Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Georgia, in 
     recognition of changing the name of the Veterans 
     Administration Clinic in Columbus, Georgia to ``The Robert S. 
     Poydasheff Veterans Clinic.''
       Robert Poydasheff served in the United States Army for 
     twenty-four years. He began his military service as an 
     Infantry Officer, where he served one combat tour in Vietnam, 
     before transferring to the Judge Advocate General Corps where 
     he worked in a number of positions for the Secretary of the 
     Army. After retiring from the Army at the rank of Colonel he 
     served as a City Counselor from 1994 to 2002 and Mayor of 
     Columbus Georgia from 2003 to 2007 all the while strongly 
     advocating on behalf of Veterans in the Columbus community 
     until his passing last September.
       Colonel Poydasheff was the embodiment of Army values of 
     loyalty, duty, respect and selfless service to his fellow 
     Veterans and his Country. The Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
     Georgia would like to honor his amazing legacy with our full 
     support and encourage the committee to support legislation 
     renaming the Columbus Veterans Clinic after this 
     distinguished member of our State.
           Sincerely,

                                          Joel L. Willis, Jr.,

                                   State Commander, VFW Department
     of Georgia.
                                  ____

                                                   March 30, 2021.
     Mark Takano,
     Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Mike Bost,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost: Please accept 
     this letter as demonstrating the total support of the Georgia 
     Department of the Disabled American Veterans, in recognition 
     of the ongoing initiative to rename the new Veterans' 
     Administration Clinic in Columbus, Georgia to the Robert S. 
     Poydasheff Veterans' Clinic, in memory of United States Army 
     colonel (retired) and mayor of Columbus, Robert S. 
     Poydasheff.
       Mayor Poydasheff's model of selflessness in the areas of 
     military service and civic responsibility should be a shining 
     example for all Americans to follow.
       Robert Poydasheff, who passed away last September, served 
     as Mayor of Columbus from 2003 to 2007. He had previously 
     been a City Counselor from 1994 to 2002. Throughout Mayor 
     Poydasheff's career, he strongly advocated on behalf of 
     veterans in the Columbus community because he was a veteran 
     himself, having served in the United States Army for twenty-
     four years before retiring at the rank of colonel. He began 
     his military service as an Infantry Officer, where he served 
     one combat tour in Vietnam, before transferring to the Judge 
     Advocate General Corps where he worked in several positions 
     for the Secretary of the Army.
       Mayor Poydasheff embodied the Army values of loyalty, duty, 
     respect and selfless service to his fellow veterans and his 
     country. We would like to honor his outstanding legacy. To 
     that end, we offer our support, and encourage the committee 
     to support legislation remaining the Columbus facility as the 
     Robert S. Poydasheff Veterans Clinic.
           Sincerely,
     Carolyn V. Small,
       Commander, Disabled American Veterans, Department of 
     Georgia.

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I enthusiastically support the naming of the 
Columbus, Georgia, VA Community Clinic in Robert S. Poydasheff's honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3475, a bill to name the 
VA community-based outpatient clinic, or the CBOC, in Columbus, 
Georgia, the Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic. I am grateful to 
Congressman Sanford Bishop from Georgia for introducing this bill.
  Mr. Poydasheff was a soldier in the United States Army for 24 years. 
He served as an infantry officer in Vietnam and later as a judge 
advocate. He continued to serve his country and community after his 
time in the Army by pursuing a career in public service and elected 
office.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that all of my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle will join me in supporting this bill today in honor of him, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Bishop), my good friend, the chairman of the Agriculture 
Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations, and also a 
former member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chair, Chair Takano, 
for yielding time. I thank the ranking member, along with you and the 
entire Committee on Veterans' Affairs for all the work that you do in 
support of our Nation's veterans and, of course, this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, Drew Ferguson, in 
offering this legislation to honor the former mayor of Columbus, 
Georgia, Colonel Robert Stephen ``Bob'' Poydasheff, Sr.
  The naming of this VA clinic in Columbus for Bob Poydasheff honors a 
great champion of veterans, an exceptional soldier, a distinguished 
public servant, and a dear friend.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 
The American Legion, and the Disabled American Veterans, and it is 
cosponsored by every single member of the Georgia congressional 
delegation.
  Sadly, Bob passed away last year on September 24. He was a native of 
the Bronx, New York, and he was born with an innate determination to 
excel, which was apparent in virtually every single aspect of his life. 
He served honorably in the United States Army for 24 years, and he 
retired at the rank of colonel.
  He began his distinguished military career as an infantry officer, 
serving one combat tour in Vietnam before transferring to the Judge 
Advocate General's Corps.
  In recognition of his service to our country, he received the Vietnam 
Ribbon, the Legion of Merit, and the Army Commendation Medal with two 
oak leaf clusters. He was also elected to the Ranger Hall of Fame, 
located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

                              {time}  1715

  Following his military service, Bob Poydasheff made Columbus, 
Georgia, his permanent home. Through his leadership, first as a member 
of the city council, then as mayor of the city, Columbus experienced 
extraordinary growth and prosperity.
  He was a longtime advocate working on behalf of disadvantaged 
veterans, including supporting the location of the new VA clinic in 
Columbus, which this bill will name in his honor. Bob will be missed, 
but his legacy will live on through the lives of veterans who will be 
helped at this clinic.
  It has been said that you make your living by what you get, you make 
your life by what you give. Robert S. ``Bob'' Poydasheff gave so much 
to so many for so long, and this clinic memorializes his legacy.

[[Page H4543]]

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and my colleague, from 
Georgia, Drew Ferguson, the entire Georgia delegation, the VFW, the 
American Legion, the DAV, in supporting this bill to name the new 
community-based outpatient VA clinic in Columbus, Georgia, the Robert 
S. Poydasheff VA Clinic.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, and I 
ask all of my colleagues to join me in that, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 
3475, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3475.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________