[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 203 (Monday, December 11, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H6746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING CORDELL WALKER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KUSTOFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Cordell Walker for 
his work caring for veterans in the Memphis area.
  I first met Cordell probably more than 20 years ago through current 
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. Mr. Walker is retiring as executive 
director of Alpha Omega Veterans Services later this month after 
several decades of service to our community and to our veterans.
  Cordell Walker said that after seeing his friends return home from 
Vietnam a shell of who they were, he decided that he wanted to dedicate 
his life to serving our Nation's veterans, and he has done exactly 
that.
  This past Veterans Day, just a month or so ago, Cordell Walker was 
honored in a ceremony to open the new Cordell Walker Veterans Center in 
Memphis.
  I believe--I think we probably all believe--that answering the call 
to service in the United States military is about the most admirable 
thing that a person can do.
  Cordell Walker recognized that our veterans sacrificed so much for 
all of our freedom and that they deserve the best care after they 
retire from our military.

  I thank Cordell Walker for his service caring for veterans in the 
Memphis area and throughout west Tennessee.
  I am really proud to know Cordell, and I congratulate Cordell Walker 
on a job well done. Roberta and I wish him the best in his future 
endeavors.


                         Honoring Justin Hunter

  Mr. KUSTOFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a good 
friend, Justin Hunter, who left us way too soon on September 16 of this 
year, 2023.
  Originally from the bootheel of Missouri, just north of my district 
in west Tennessee, Justin Hunter had a big impact in west Tennessee. He 
served our community many years ago by working for former Congressman 
Ed Bryant.
  It was in west Tennessee that Justin met his wife, Caroline. 
Together, they attended law school at the University of Memphis.
  Later, while working for Encompass Health, Justin put his experience 
to work to help improve access to rehabilitation hospital care.
  Justin Hunter was a really strong and passionate advocate for 
rehabilitation hospitals. Justin used his understanding of the laws 
governing Medicare programs to help improve the quality of healthcare 
available to Americans across our Nation.
  I know I just used the word ``passion,'' but Justin was very 
passionate about everything he did and believed in. If he was in, he 
was in 100 percent on everything.
  Justin Hunter will be remembered not only for his dedication to 
healthcare and to the law but also as an avid hunter and barbecue 
master and for his tremendous devotion to his family.
  For both Roberta and me, our thoughts are with Justin's wife, 
Caroline, and with their two daughters, Helena and Vivian.
  Justin is truly and sorely missed by so many, and I will always have 
good and fond memories of our friendship together.

                          ____________________