[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 175 (Monday, November 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H8444-H8446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ANDREW K. BAKER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 2159) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 400 College Drive, 
Middleburg, Florida, as the ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans 
Affairs Clinic'', and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2159

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF ANDREW K. BAKER DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC.

       (a) Designation.--The community-based outpatient clinic of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 400 College 
     Drive, Middleburg, Florida, shall after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Andrew 
     K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic'' or the 
     ``A.K. Baker 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 Andrew K. 
     Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ellzey) 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 S. 2159.
  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 honor the memory of U.S. Navy Chief Petty 
Officer Andrew Kenneth Baker, an esteemed antisubmarine warfare chief, 
a distinguished combat search and rescue swimmer, and a faithful 
servicemember who gave his life honoring his commitment to his country.
  The bill before us, S. 2159, would appropriately name VA's community-
based outreach clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA 
Clinic.
  Chief Petty Officer Baker represented self-sacrifice and courage in 
the name of public service.
  Born in West Virginia in 1960, Chief Petty Officer Baker moved to 
Pensacola, Florida, in 1980 to begin what would be a remarkable 17-year 
stint in the U.S. Navy.
  In Pensacola, CPO Baker graduated from the Search and Rescue Swimmer 
School before entering Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at the 
Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, where he earned his ``Wings of 
Gold.''
  Upon graduation, CPO Baker served on the USS Nimitz, reporting to HS-
9, a helicopter antisubmarine warfare squadron for the Navy. From 
there, he served on HS-3 as the Training and Operations Chief for 
another antisubmarine warfare squadron safeguarding American interests 
over and under the seas.
  Tragically, on March 13, 1997, while serving aboard the USS John F. 
Kennedy, Chief Petty Officer Baker and three others perished when their 
H-60 ``Sea Hawk'' helicopter crashed at sea during a Navy SEAL training 
mission.
  Though his life was tragically cut short, in his 17 years of service, 
CPO Baker managed to cement a legacy of leadership, dedication, and 
steadfastness which will reverberate for generations to come. Indeed, 
today, Chief Petty Officer Baker is survived by his wife, Tina, and 
their son, who, himself, has completed six tours in Iraq, carrying on 
his father's legacy as a decorated patriot.
  During his lifetime of service, Chief Petty Officer Baker won various 
honors, including the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement 
Medal, and the American Defense Service Medal, among others.
  Today, I hope we will come together to honor Chief Petty Officer 
Baker one more time by renaming the VA's community-based outreach 
clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA Clinic.
  As an institution dedicated to supporting those who served, it is 
fitting that this VA clinic bear the name of a Navy chief who placed 
service to others above all else. With this legislation, we will take 
an important step in commemorating one servicemember's courage and 
bravery, as we continue to honor all those who have served our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for S. 2159 
from The American Legion, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans as well 
as the Florida delegation.
                                              The American Legion,


                               Office of Department Commander,

                                   Orlando, FL, December 21, 2021.
     Re Support for S. 2159, to name the Department of Veterans 
         Affairs in Middleburg, Florida located in Clay County as 
         the ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs 
         Clinic''.

     Hon. Marco Rubio,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Rubio: On behalf of The American Legion, 
     Department of Florida, Inc., we write to lend our support in 
     naming the new Clay County Veterans Affairs Clinic after 
     Chief Andrew K. Baker of Middleburg, Florida.
       Chief Baker was an esteemed antisubmarine warfare chief and 
     combat search and rescue swimmer of HS-3 in Jacksonville, 
     Florida. After quickly rising through the ranks at Naval 
     Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, Chief Baker 
     earned his Wings of Gold for distinguished performance and 
     served a tour on the U.S.S. Nimitz, being assigned as the 
     Training and Operations Chief. In 1997, Chief Baker lost his 
     life during a mission in North Carolina when his H-60 Seahawk 
     helicopter crashed at sea during a SEAL training mission. His 
     legacy currently lives on in his son who has completed six 
     tours in the Middle East and has proven himself a dedicated 
     hero.
       We know that in naming the new Veterans Affairs clinic for 
     Chief Baker, his heroic legacy will be enhanced in the Clay 
     County community and will inspire future servicemen and women 
     from across our great state.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Jerry Brandt,
     Department Commander.
                                  ____



                                     Veterans of Foreign Wars,

                                    Ocala, FL, September 30, 2021.
     Hon. Marco Rubio,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Rubio: On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign 
     Wars Department of Florida we write to lend our support in 
     naming the new Clay Country Veterans Affairs Clinic after 
     Chief Andrew K. Baker of Middleburg, Florida.
       Chief Baker was an esteemed antisubmarine warfare chief and 
     combat search and rescue swimmer of HS-3 in Jacksonville, 
     Florida. After quickly rising through the ranks at Naval 
     Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, Chief Baker 
     earned his Wings of Gold for distinguished performance and 
     served a tour on the USS Nimitz being assigned as the 
     Training and Operations Chief. In 1997, Chief lost his life 
     during a mission in North Carolina when his H-60 Seahawk 
     helicopter crashed at sea during a SEAL training mission. His 
     legacy now lives on in his son who currently has six 
     completed tours in the Middle East and has proven himself a 
     dedicated hero.
       We know that in naming a new VA clinic for Chief Baker, his 
     heroic legacy will be enhanced in the Clay County community 
     and will inspire future service men and women from across our 
     great state.
           Yours in Comradeship,
                                           Danette Jean Hernandez,
                                                  State Commander.

[[Page H8445]]

     
                                  ____
                                       Disabled American Veterans,


                                        Department of Florida,

                                Gainesville, FL, January 11, 2022.
     Re Support for S. 2159 and H.R. 1960, to name the new Clay 
         County Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg, FL, the 
         ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs 
         Clinic.''

       The Disabled American Veterans, Department of Florida is 
     writing this letter in support of legislation introduced by 
     Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. The propose legislation 
     S. 2159 and H.R. 1960, would name the new Clay County 
     Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg, Florida after U.S. 
     Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew K. Baker, Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Clinic, who was killed during a training 
     mission.
       An antisubmarine warfare chief, CPO Baker was a combat 
     search and rescue swimmer attached to HS-3 homeported at NAS 
     Jacksonville. Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and USS 
     Coral Sea as a ship's serviceman. Baker was killed when 
     Trident 615, a H-60 Seahawk, crashed at sea on March 13, 
     1997, during a SEAL training event. CPO Baker served for 
     seventeen years before his death.
       We believe that naming the Clay County VA Clinic after 
     Chief Petty Officer Andrew K. Baker will ensure the honor of 
     duty he displayed for our grateful Nation. We respectfully 
     request the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees 
     quickly consider this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                       John Raber,
     Department Commander.
                                  ____



                                Congress of the United States,

                                 Washington, DC, January 11, 2022.
     Hon. Jon Tester,
     Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mark Takano,
     Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, 
         DC.
     Hon. Jerry Moran,
     Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mike Bost,
     Ranking Member, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairmen Tester and Takano, Ranking Members Moran and 
     Bost: As Members of the Florida Delegation, we write in 
     support of S. 2159 and H.R. 1960, legislation that would name 
     the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Clay 
     County, Florida after U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew 
     Kenneth Baker. Chief Baker served his country honorably for 
     17 years before tragically perishing while aboard Trident 
     615, an HH-60H ``Sea Hawk'' helicopter that crashed at sea on 
     March 13, 1997.
       Chief Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and USS Coral Sea 
     as a Ship's Serviceman. He is a graduate of Search and Rescue 
     Swimmer School in Pensacola and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman 
     training at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, where he earned 
     his ``Wings of Gold.'' Chief Baker then reported to HS-9, 
     where he served on the USS Nimitz; and then at HS-3, where he 
     was assigned as the Training and Operations Chief. His 
     dedication to our nation reflects great honor on his family 
     and our community. It is fitting that a VA clinic, an 
     institution dedicated to supporting those who served, should 
     be named after a faithful service member.
       We respectfully request the Senate and House Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs quickly consider this important 
     legislation. Please see the attached letters of support from 
     the Florida Chapters of Several Veteran Service 
     Organizations.
           Sincerely,
       Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator; Rick Scott, U.S. Senator; Kat 
     Cammack, Stephanie Murphy, Matt Gaetz, Lois Frankel, Carlos 
     Gimenez, Gus Bilirakis, Mario Diaz Balart, Bill Posey, Brian 
     Mast, W. Gregory Steube, John H. Rutherford, Mike Waltz, Val 
     Demings, Neal P. Dunn, M.D., C. Scott Franklin, Maria Elvira 
     Salazar, Charlie Crist, Al Lawson, Daniel Webster, Ted 
     Deutch, Frederica S. Wilson, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bryon 
     Donalds, Kathy Castor, Vern Buchanan, Darren Soto; Member of 
     Congress.

  Mr. TAKANO. I thank Representative Cammack and the Florida delegation 
for their work on this bill, and I urge all my colleagues to support 
it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2159, a bill to rename the 
Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in 
Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA clinic.
  Chief Petty Officer Baker was a respected naval aircrewman, 
antisubmarine warfare chief, and combat rescue swimmer. He served on 
the USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70, and USS Coral Sea as a ship's serviceman.
  He was a graduate of Search and Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola, 
and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at Naval Air Station Jax.
  While assigned to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 3, or HS-3, he 
served as the training and operations chief. Tragically, he lost his 
life while on a training mission off the coast of North Carolina in 
1997, along with three of his fellow crewmen, when their H-60 Sea Hawk 
crashed into the sea.
  He dedicated 17 years of service to our Nation's Navy and was 
responsible for training numerous warfighters.
  In the aftermath of this training accident, the Navy reviewed many of 
its training policies, and Chief Baker continues his legacy by 
potentially saving future aircrewmen lives. Naming this clinic after 
Chief Baker will serve as an inspiration and a tribute to his service.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Mrs. Cammack).
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in overwhelming support for 
the passage of S. 2159, or H.R. 1960, a bill designating the Florida 
Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
  First, I thank the entire Florida delegation for their support of 
this legislation, the entire Clay County community, the local elected 
officials who participated in this process, and all of the many 
veterans who call Clay County home.
  Of course, my biggest thanks go to Ms. Tina Baker, the widow of Chief 
Andrew K. Baker.
  Without a doubt, today's legislation would not be here for a vote 
without my colleague from Florida, Senator Marco Rubio, who ushered 
this legislation through the Senate Chamber earlier this year. I thank 
Senator Rubio for his work on this bill.
  This bill honors Antisubmarine Warfare Chief Andrew Kenneth Baker of 
Middleburg, Florida. Tragically, he lost his life in service to our 
great Nation. On March 13, 1997, Chief Baker's H-60 Seahawk crashed at 
sea during a SEAL training exercise. The mix of rough seas, the pitch 
of a frigate, fatigue, and visual disorientation caused by the night 
vision goggles they were all wearing were all factors in the accident.
  As a result of his death, the Navy launched a formal review of its 
training policies and has since made drastic changes with regard to 
night vision training.
  His widow, Tina, not wanting her husband's death to be in vain, has 
worked hard to make sure his memory and service didn't get lost in time 
and paperwork. Today, we have the chance to make sure that her husband 
is remembered forever.
  Chief Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Coral Sea as 
the ship's serviceman and completed training in Search and Rescue 
Swimmer School at Pensacola, and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training 
at NAS Jax, where he earned his ``Wings of Gold.''
  Chief Baker then reported to HS-9, serving on the USS Nimitz, then on 
HS-3, where he was assigned as the Training and Operations Chief.

                              {time}  1415

  At home in Middleburg, Chief Baker was an avid fisherman, always 
scouring the waters of Black Creek and the St. John's River as much as 
he could. He coached his son's Little League and served as the troop 
leader for the local Cub Scouts. He was a devoted husband to his wife, 
Tina, and sons, Andrew and Jacob.
  As a personal point of privilege, I say that this clinic has been a 
large part of my professional life for the past decade. Back in 2015, 
as the deputy chief of staff serving this district, our team worked 
hard to secure the appropriations funding for this clinic. Once we 
succeeded in getting this project funded, finding the building that met 
the required specs was an entirely new and frustrating battle. After 
multiple failed attempts to secure a building, we finally succeeded.
  This clinic has been a blessing to my beloved Clay County and to the 
veterans who call her home. With today's legislation as the final task 
outstanding, I can say with confidence to Chief Baker's widow, Tina: 
Now, he will always be remembered.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous passage of this legislation and look 
forward to it being signed into law to honor this incredible 
servicemember and his family.

[[Page H8446]]

  

  Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentlewoman on this 
accomplishment, and I congratulate her also on her hard work in 
securing funding for the community-based outreach clinic.
  I know how much of a difference they make, and I take this moment to 
call attention to the fact that the bipartisan achievement of funding 
so many community-based outreach clinics in the Honoring our PACT Act 
was transformational for this country, transformational for America's 
veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 
2159, 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. 2159.
  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.

                          ____________________