[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 150 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7942-H7944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COLONEL CHARLES AND JOANNE POWELL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 2771) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Angelo, Texas, as the 
``Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell Department of Veterans Affairs 
Clinic''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2771

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

        Congress finds the following:
       (1) Colonel Charles Powell and his wife, Mrs. JoAnne 
     Powell, served the community of San Angelo, Texas, with 
     character and dignity.
       (2) Colonel Powell served as the base commander of 
     Goodfellow Air Force Base from 1980 to 1984.
       (3) When the Powells moved to San Angelo, Charles was 
     ordered to help Goodfellow avoid closure and the displacement 
     of many members of the Armed Forces from the community they 
     had grown to love.
       (4) The impact of Charles' career can still be felt today 
     at Goodfellow Air Force Base, as it serves as a training 
     school for thousands of members from every Armed Force to 
     train in cryptology, intelligence, and firefighting.
       (5) JoAnne assisted thousands of constituents in the 
     district offices of Representatives Tom Loeffler, Lamar 
     Smith, K. Michael Conaway, and August Pfluger.
       (6) One of the several duties JoAnne spearheaded was the 
     annual process of nominations to the military service 
     academies, which was always a year-round process for her.
       (7) With JoAnne's assistance, many of the young men and 
     women of the 11th congressional district of Texas went on to 
     serve the United States and attend one of the military 
     service academies.
       (8) In addition, JoAnne was a fierce advocate of veterans 
     and helped thousands of individuals gain access to the 
     veterans benefits they rightfully earned.
       (9) JoAnne's compassion and dedication helped make the 
     Concho Valley a better place.

     SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT CLINIC OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN SAN ANGELO, 
                   TEXAS.

       (a) Designation.--The community-based outpatient clinic of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Angelo, Texas, 
     shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known 
     and designated as the ``Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic'' or the ``Colonel 
     Charles and JoAnne Powell 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 Colonel 
     Charles and JoAnne Powell Department of Veterans Affairs 
     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. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and insert extraneous material on S. 2771.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the lives of Colonel Charles and 
JoAnne Powell, both of whom served the community of San Angelo, Texas, 
and advocated for veterans for many years.

[[Page H7943]]

  I thank Senator John Cornyn and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Pfluger) for putting forward this legislation, which will rename the 
San Antonio VA clinic in Colonel and Mrs. Powell's honor.
  Colonel Powell served as base commander of Goodfellow Air Force Base 
in San Angelo from 1980 to 1984. He was instrumental in helping to 
avoid closure of the base, which today serves as a school for thousands 
of servicemembers training to be cryptologists, intelligence officers, 
and military firefighters.
  Mrs. Powell also lived a life devoted to public service as district 
manager to four separate Members of Congress. In this role, Mrs. Powell 
encouraged many young men and women in the 11th Congressional District 
of Texas to serve in the United States military and helped numerous 
veterans access the VA benefits they rightfully earned.
  S. 2771 and its companion bill, H.R. 4328, are cosponsored by nearly 
40 Members of Congress, Democrat and Republican, and the legislation 
has the support of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and 
Disabled American Veterans.
  Madam Speaker, I include letters of support from these Members and 
organizations for the Record.

                                Congress of the United States,

                                Washington, DC, February 10, 2022.
     Chairman Jon Tester,
     Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
     Chairman Mark Takano,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Jerry Moran,
     Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mike Bost,
     House Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Tester, Chairman Takano, Ranking Member 
     Moran, and Ranking Member Bost: We are writing to express our 
     support to name the Veterans Affairs community-based 
     outpatient clinic in San Angelo, Texas, the ``Colonel Charles 
     and JoAnne Powell VA Clinic''.
       Colonel Charles Powell served 30 years in the U.S. Air 
     Force and was Commander of the 17th Training Wing at 
     Goodfellow Air Force Base from 1980 until retiring in 1984. 
     Only six months after his graduation from the U.S. Naval 
     Academy, he married JoAnne, who soon became a force of her 
     own in the military and veterans' communities. Together, they 
     settled in San Angelo for Charles's final assignment at 
     Goodfellow AFB. The two saved Goodfellow from closure and 
     helped the base become a technical training center.
       During her husband's two deployments in Vietnam and during 
     his time at Goodfellow, JoAnne revived the Officer Wives Club 
     and started a Christmas Bazaar program that is ongoing today. 
     Additionally, she was an active volunteer for a program that 
     supported MIA and POW families, the Red Cross, and various 
     other charitable causes.
       Beyond these acts of service, JoAnne spent 37 years as a 
     district staffer for four Members of Congress in the San 
     Angelo district. She is believed to have provided casework 
     assistance to thousands of service members and veterans and 
     helped hundreds of district students navigate service academy 
     selections and receive appointments. Although Charles passed 
     away on July 2, 2020, JoAnne upheld Charles' legacy by 
     staying active in the community, eventually being honored as 
     a Lifetime Hero in the community for her contributions to the 
     military community.
       On March 24, 2021, JoAnne Powell passed away. Throughout 
     Charles' and JoAnne's life together, they embodied the true 
     meaning of selflessness, patience, and perseverance. The 
     countless hours the Powells dedicated to changing the lives 
     of their neighbors and being a light in their community have 
     left a lasting impact on West Texas. We would be grateful for 
     your support of this effort and hope that the Senate and the 
     House Committees on Veterans' Affairs will give it its prompt 
     consideration.
           Sincerely,
       John Cornyn, United States Senator; Ted Cruz, United States 
     Senator, August Pfluger, Member of Congress; Louie Gohmert, 
     Member of Congress; Dan Crenshaw, Member of Congress; Van 
     Taylor, Member of Congress; Pat Fallon, Member of Congress; 
     Lance Gooden, Member of Congress; Jake Ellzey, Member of 
     Congress; Lizzie Fletcher, Member of Congress.
       Kevin Brady, Member of Congress; Al Green, Member of 
     Congress; Michael T. McCaul, Member of Congress; Kay Granger, 
     Member of Congress; Ronny L. Jackson, Member of Congress; 
     Randy K. Weber, Sr., Member of Congress; Vicente Gonzalez, 
     Member of Congress; Veronica Escobar, Member of Congress; 
     Pete Sessions, Member of Congress; Sheila Jackson Lee, Member 
     of Congress.
       Jodey C. Arrington, Member of Congress; Joaqin Castro, 
     Member of Congress; Chip Roy, Member of Congress; Troy E. 
     Nehls, Member of Congress; Tony Gonzales, Member of Congress; 
     Beth Van Duyne, Member of Congress; Roger Williams, Member of 
     Congress; Michael C. Burgess, M.D., Member of Congress; 
     Michael Cloud, Member of Congress; Henry Cuellar, Member of 
     Congress.
       Sylvia R. Garcia, Member of Congress; Eddie Bernice 
     Johnson, Member of Congress; John R. Carter, Member of 
     Congress; Colin Z. Allred, Member of Congress; Marc A. 
     Veasey, Member of Congress; Filemon Vela, Member of Congress; 
     Lloyd Doggett, Member of Congress; Brian Babin, D.D.S., 
     Member of Congress.
                                  ____

                                              The American Legion,


                                          Department of Texas,

                                   Austin, TX, September 23, 2021.
     Re Endorsement of re-naming the name of the San Angelo VA 
         Clinic

     Rep. August Pfluger,
     Attn: Meredith Moore,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Rep. Pfluger: As the State Commander of The American 
     Legion, Department of Texas, I write to you in support of re-
     naming the San Angelo VA Clinic to the Colonel Charles and 
     JoAnne Powell VA Clinic.
       The American Legion, the Nation's largest Veterans 
     organization, believes in memorializing and honoring our 
     Veterans, and we can see no better way to honor Colonel 
     Charles and JoAnne Powell for their dedicated service to the 
     Community, State, and Nation.
       For God and Country,
                                            James ``Bret'' Watson,
     State Commander.
                                  ____



                                     Veterans of Foreign Wars,

                                                    July 13, 2021.
     Hon. Mark Takano,
     Chairman, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Mike Bost,
     Ranking Member, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, 
         Washington, DC.
       Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost: On behalf of the 
     Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars, I am honored to extend my 
     support to U.S. Representative August Pfluger's H.R. 4328, to 
     rename the Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in San 
     Angelo, Texas, to the ``Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell VA 
     Clinic''.
       The Powells were beloved figures in their adopted hometown 
     of San Angelo who devoted a lifetime serving their country 
     and community with honor and dedication. Our hope is 
     memorializing their names on a facility that continues to the 
     veterans they cared so much for, will inspire future 
     generations.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Norman Macey,
                                                  State Commander.
       Attest:
                                                         Dan West,
     State Adjutant/Quartermaster.
                                  ____

                                                              DAV,


                                          Department of Texas,

                                        Lufkin, TX, June 29, 2021.
     Chairman Mark Takano,
     House Committee on Veterans Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
     Ranking Member Mike Bost,
     House Committee on Veterans Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Chairman Mark Takano and Ranking Member Mike Bost: On the 
     behalf of Disabled American Veterans, Department of Texas, I 
     am honored to extend my support to the efforts of Congressman 
     August Pfluger and the members of Congress from Texas to 
     rename The Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic 
     in San Angelo, Texas, to the Colonel Charles and JoAnne 
     Powell VA Clinic''.
       Colonel Powell was a graduate of the United States Naval 
     Academy and served a distinguished 30 year career in the Air 
     Force, including Commander of Goodfellow Air Base in San 
     Angelo, Texas.
       Mrs. Colonel Powell was in the Air Force and was a 
     dedicated Military wife and force in her own right, active in 
     the Officers Wives Club for 30 years. She was a voice for 
     Veterans and served 37 years as District Manager to four 
     members of Congress.
       The bill, Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell VA Clinic, 
     would rename the VA Clinic in San Angelo, Texas, to Honor the 
     lives of these two individuals. The Powells were beloved 
     figures in their adopted hometown who spent their lifetime 
     serving their country and community with honor and 
     dedication.
           Sincerely,

                                              Teresa Johniken,

                                               Adjutant/Treasurer,
                                          DAV Department of Texas.

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I support naming VA's community-based 
outpatient clinic in San Angelo, Texas, in Colonel Charles and Mrs. 
JoAnne Powell's honor, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2771. This bill names the VA 
community-based outpatient clinic, or CBOC, in San Angelo, Texas, after 
Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell.
  Charles Powell graduated from the Naval Academy and went on to spend

[[Page H7944]]

three decades in the Air Force. In that time, he deployed twice to 
Vietnam, served as commander of Goodfellow Air Force Base in San 
Angelo, and eventually attained the rank of colonel.
  While not a veteran herself, his wife, JoAnne Powell, was, as the 
Disabled American Veterans, Department of Texas, put it, a force all 
her own. During her husband's time as commanding officer of Goodfellow, 
she revived the Officers Wives Club, started a Christmas bazaar program 
that continues to this day, supported efforts to prevent the base from 
closing, and actively volunteered for the local charities and helped 
families of servicemembers who were prisoners of war or missing in 
action.
  For her efforts, she was honored at the Goodfellow Air Force Base 
with a lifetime achievement award. JoAnne also spent almost 40 years 
working for her local Congressmen, helping thousands of servicemembers, 
veterans, and military families.
  This bill fulfills the committee's naming criteria. It has the full 
support of the Texas congressional delegation, local VSOs, and the 
veteran community in and around San Angelo.
  I particularly recognize the hard work and leadership of the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), my friend, and the Senate sponsor 
of this bill, Senator Cornyn. They have been relentless in their 
advocacy for the bill so that Charles and JoAnne's incredible legacy 
will finally receive the recognition it deserves. I thank them both.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this bill today.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Pfluger).
  Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues, the ranking member 
and the chairman, for bringing this bill to the floor.
  I rise today in support of my bill to rename the veterans community-
based outpatient clinic in San Angelo, Texas, the Colonel Charles and 
JoAnne Powell VA Clinic.
  I cannot think of two people more deserving of this honor than 
Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell. They are both true American heroes 
who, for their entire lives, dedicated their service to this country 
through a distinguished career not only in the U.S. Air Force but later 
in civilian life when they became two of the most ardent and fervent 
leaders for military and veterans issues.
  They shared a love story not only between themselves but also for 
this country. Colonel Charles and JoAnne Powell met in preschool in 
Nashville, Arkansas. They graduated high school together, and they were 
married in 1954 after Charles graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and 
then joined the Air Force. No matter where Charles' missions took them 
around the world to different locations, JoAnne was right there, 
serving alongside him.
  Colonel Powell and JoAnne first flew into San Angelo in 1980, and he 
became the base commander of Goodfellow and JoAnne the honorary first 
lady. Their mission was daunting, as they were tasked with saving 
Goodfellow, which was slated for closure. Not only did they immediately 
spring into action to save the base, but they built a lasting 
partnership that lasts today between the community and the base, 
completely converting the base mission into one of a premier 
intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and fire training 
installation for every branch of the U.S. military.
  After Charles retired, they settled in San Angelo, and their legacy 
has left over 360,000 graduates from Goodfellow Air Force Base that 
have joined all branches and all intelligence agencies, including not 
just the military but the CIA, DIA, FBI, NSA, and more.
  Thankfully, their professional service has made this country better, 
but it is there where they decided to plant their roots and set to work 
in their community, making it a better place.
  In addition to her service as a military spouse, JoAnne Powell gave 
of herself through immeasurable community involvement on countless 
boards and civic organizations. Through her 35-year career as a 
congressional liaison for the 11th District, she worked for 
Representatives Tom Loeffler, Lamar Smith, Mike Conaway, and, lastly, 
myself.

  She served thousands of veterans in this position. She helped in any 
way she possibly could. Not only did she spearhead the annual process 
of nominating young men and women to the service academies, which was a 
year-round position for both her and Charles Powell, but she also 
achieved what I think is probably more lasting in helping those cadets 
and those midshipmen go through the academies, including myself, which 
was probably her most generous contribution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Schrier). The time of the gentleman has 
expired.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentleman.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, Charles and JoAnne Powell were a perfect 
team, and they supported one another as they completed their missions 
of life with flying colors. Together, they raised an exceptional 
daughter, Terri, and adored their two wonderful grandchildren.
  I am thrilled today to be able to honor them, to honor their service, 
the impact that they had in the Concho Valley, the impact that they had 
on so many veterans, and the impact that they had on our military with 
the naming of the Charles and JoAnne Powell VA Clinic.
  I thank the chairman and ranking member and the entire Texas 
delegation and your staffs for helping make this a reality. Obviously, 
I thank Charles and JoAnne Powell for their love of this country, which 
is a legacy that I think all of us could stand to learn from.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, in closing, I encourage all of my colleagues 
to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in 
passing S. 2771, 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, S. 2771.
  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.

                          ____________________