[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.
____________________