[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN STEVE PETTY
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HON. KAT CAMMACK
of florida
in the house of representatives
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor
Captain Steve Petty, a United States Army veteran, who was inducted
into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame on November 5, 2025, for his
outstanding service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the
health and dignity of his fellow veterans.
Captain Petty has dedicated his post-service life to ensuring that
those who served our Nation receive the care, respect, and honors they
have earned. As Director of the Veterans Resource Center in Ocala,
Florida, he has led groundbreaking efforts to provide free Galleri
blood testing for veterans exposed to carcinogens such as Agent Orange
and burn pits--conditions that have claimed far too many lives long
after the battles ended. Through his leadership, veterans who served
``boots on the ground'' in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and the Global
War on Terrorism can now access this $950 cancer screening at no cost,
right in their own community. This lifesaving initiative--made possible
through partnerships with the Marion County Hospital District and the
Marion County Community Development Block Grant--stands as a model of
community collaboration, compassion, and unwavering commitment to those
who have borne the battle.
Beyond his work in advancing preventive care, Captain Petty has also
been instrumental in ensuring that every Marion County veteran interred
at the Bushnell National Cemetery receives full military honors--a
solemn and sacred recognition of their service to our Nation. Captain
Petty's dedication exemplifies the very best of the veteran community:
leadership through service, compassion through action, and a steadfast
refusal to leave any brother or sister behind. His induction into the
Florida Veterans Hall of Fame is not only well-deserved--it stands as a
testament to what one individual can accomplish when driven by love of
country and devotion to those who have borne the battle.
On behalf of Florida's 3rd Congressional District, I offer my deepest
congratulations to Captain Steve Petty, his wife Joan, and all those at
the Veterans Resource Center who continue to serve those who served us.
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