[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.
____________________