[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2976-H2977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       PFC. JUSTIN T. PATON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3672) to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton 
Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3672

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF PFC. JUSTIN T. PATON DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC.

       (a) Designation.--The community-based outpatient clinic of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 5739 Hwy M-68, 
     Indian River, Michigan, shall after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act be known and designated as the ``Pfc. Justin T. 
     Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.
       (b) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     clinic referred to in subsection (a) shall be considered to 
     be a reference to the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of 
     Veterans Affairs Clinic''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H.R. 3672.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?

[[Page H2977]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3672, a bill to 
designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian 
River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans 
Affairs Clinic.''
  Justin Paton was born on July Fourth, 1982, in Emmet County, 
Michigan. He joined the U.S. Army in 2005 and deployed to Iraq in 
October 2006, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division based out of Fort 
Hood, Texas.
  While deployed to Iraq in 2007, his unit came in contact with the 
enemy just north of Baghdad, with small arms fire being exchanged. 
While in this firefight, Private First Class Paton was hit by an Iraqi 
sniper and did not survive his wounds. He was posthumously awarded the 
Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He bravely answered the Nation's call 
when it came, like many others before him and so many after.
  Naming the VA clinic in his hometown, which he so loved, is an honor 
that would be a fitting remembrance of Private First Class Paton's life 
and sacrifice.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3672, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 3672, a bill that 
would honor the service and sacrifice of Private First Class Justin T. 
Paton, who was killed by enemy fire during combat operations 40 miles 
north of Baghdad in February 2007. He was posthumously awarded the 
Bronze Star for his contributions to our country while deployed.
  Despite being only 24 years old when he died, Private First Class 
Paton nonetheless left his mark on the world. A native of the Indian 
River area, many in his community were struck by his character and 
leadership potential.
  Shortly after word of his death spread throughout the Indian River 
community, Private First Class Paton's high school football coach noted 
that he was ``the kind of kid you hope your own son grows up to be.''
  It seems fitting that a clinic where veterans receive the care they 
earned would be named after Private First Class Paton.
  Before enlisting in the Army in 2005, he worked as a rehabilitation 
technician at Northern Michigan Hospital. The VA providers at the 
clinic that will bear his name will carry on Private First Class 
Paton's legacy of serving members of his community.
  I thank my colleague, Representative Bergman, for introducing this 
legislation to recognize Private First Class Paton's heroic service to 
our Nation by designating the Indian River, Michigan, VA clinic as the 
``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''
  We shall never forget the sacrifices of young men and women like 
Private First Class Paton, who bravely raised their right hand and 
swore an oath to protect and defend our Nation.
  This bill has letters of support from The American Legion, Veterans 
of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the members of the 
Michigan delegation.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 3672 and urge my colleagues to do the 
same. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), the sponsor of this legislation 
and also a very good friend.
  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for getting 
involved in this relevant and timely bill.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 3672 to name the Department of 
Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Indian River, 
Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs 
Clinic.''
  It is an honor for me to lead this legislation to rename the VA care 
facility in the hometown and the final resting place of a young man who 
embodied the ethic of service above self as he gave his last full 
measure of devotion for our Nation.
  Justin Paton was born and raised in northern Michigan and graduated 
from Inland Lakes High School in the year 2000. Feeling called to 
serve, he enlisted in the Army in 2005 and was deployed to Iraq on 
October 31, 2006. There, he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division, 
Delta Company and was named one of the unit leaders.
  In February 2007, at the age of 24, he was killed in action in Iraq 
when his patrol came under intense sniper fire north of Baghdad.
  Private First Class Paton was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart 
and Bronze Star for his sacrifice and heroism.
  He is interred in the Ohioville Cemetery, just down the road from the 
Indian River VA clinic opening later this year that I am confident will 
bear his name.
  Naming the Indian River CBOC is one small way to honor Justin and his 
family's sacrifice. His legacy is beyond deserving of the designation 
that we are seeking today.
  I sincerely thank Pfc. Paton's family for all of their support. I 
thank the local leaders in Indian River and Tuscarora Township, who 
have been key in our efforts; the Michigan veterans service 
organizations for backing this bill; and the entirety of my Michigan 
delegation colleagues, who have come together in a bipartisan manner to 
cosponsor this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3672.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 3672 to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton 
Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

  I thank my colleague, General Bergman, for bringing this legislation 
to the floor. It is always a poignant matter to consider the sacrifice 
of such a young American.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support 
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3672, 
which designates the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 
Indian River, Michigan as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of 
Veterans Affairs Clinic.''
  This bill honors Private First Class Justin T. Paton and his 
courageous service to our Nation.
  Today and every day, I stand with our Nation's veterans and their 
brave and selfless service in support of our freedoms.
  Over 280,000 of our Nation's veterans reside in the city of Houston 
and I am proud to fight every day for the honor, recognition, and 
appreciation they, and all of our Nation's veterans, deserve.
  Veterans have kept their promise to serve our Nation; they have 
willingly risked their lives to protect the country we all love.
  We must now ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans by 
recognizing, remembering, and honoring their service.
  I urge my colleagues to join me today in recognizing and honoring the 
service and sacrifice of Private First Class Justin Paton.
  This bill honors the Indian River native who valiantly served in the 
United States Army with the 1st Cavalry Division, Delta Company until 
he was killed in action by enemy fire.
  Private First Class Justin Paton gave his last full measure of 
devotion to the United States as he was killed by hostile sniper fire 
in Iraq in February 2007 at the age of 24.
  Paton served as unit leader of his Company and was posthumously 
awarded a Bronze Star for his selfless actions in service to a grateful 
Nation.
  As such, I rise in support of this bill, which honors his memory by 
designating the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in his hometown 
as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3672.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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