[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4473-H4474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COLONEL MICHAEL H. BOYCE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MULTISPECIALTY
CLINIC
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 5362) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty
clinic in Marietta, Georgia, as the ``Colonel Michael H. Boyce
Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5362
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Colonel Mike Boyce was born on September 1, 1949, in
Brawley, California.
(2) Mike Boyce graduated from the University of Notre Dame
in 1971, and was commissioned as a 2d Lieutenant in the
United States Marine Corps in 1971.
(3) After completing Marine Corps Basic School and the U.S.
Army Field Artillery School in 1972, Mike Boyce was assigned
to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California.
(4) Throughout his service, Colonel Mike Boyce was also
assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air
Station New River, the 1st Marine Air Wing in Okinawa, the
4th Marine Air Wing at Naval Air Station Andrews, Korea, and
the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
(5) After completing attache training, Mike Boyce was
assigned to Ankara, Turkey, in support of Operations Desert
Shield, Desert Storm, and Provide Comfort. He was later
assigned to Marine Air Group-16 for deployment to Somalia for
Operation Restore Hope.
(6) Before his retirement in 2001, Colonel Mike Boyce
served as Head Programmer for OPNAV N88, the Deputy Commander
of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Head of Operational Plans at
MARFORPAC, and served in Bahrain and Oman in support of
Operations Desert Thunder and Desert Fox.
(7) After his service, Colonel Mike Boyce moved to
Marietta, Georgia, and was active in his community. Colonel
Mike Boyce served multiple charities including Habitat for
Humanity, MUST Ministries, and the United Service
Organizations.
(8) A dedicated member of his church, Colonel Mike Boyce
served in the men's ministry, youth programs, led Bible
studies, and helped create the veterans' ministry.
(9) Colonel Mike Boyce was an active member of American
Legion Post 29, the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign
Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Officers
Association of America.
(10) Colonel Mike Boyce served as the chairman of the Cobb
County Board of Commissioners from 2016 until 2020. During
that time, he led the effort to make Veterans Day a paid
holiday for county employees and was instrumental in
establishing the first Veterans Service Office in Cobb
County. He also led the effort to have the first Department
of Veterans Affairs clinic established in Cobb County so
veterans would have an easier experience seeking medical
care.
(11) Colonel Mike Boyce died on January 25, 2022, in South
Bend, Indiana, and is survived by his wife, Judy Moon Boyce,
and his children Alison Boyce Cotsonika, Kevin Reid Boyce,
and Sean Michael Boyce.
SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MULTISPECIALTY
CLINIC, MARIETTA, GEORGIA.
The Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic
located at 1263 Cobb Parkway NW, Marietta, Georgia, shall
after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and
designated as the ``Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of
Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic'' or the ``Colonel
Michael H. Boyce VA Clinic''. Any reference to such
multispecialty clinic in any law, regulation, map, document,
paper, or other record of the United States shall be
considered to be a reference to the Colonel Michael H. Boyce
VA Multispecialty Clinic.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Conaway)
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 have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R.
5362.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
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. 5362, Colonel Michael H.
Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic, sponsored
by Representative Loudermilk.
Colonel Michael H. Boyce dedicated almost three decades to our Nation
as a United States marine, serving in key leadership and operational
roles around the world.
Throughout Colonel Boyce's career, he served with the First Marine
Division, the First, Second, and Fourth Marine Aircraft Wings, and the
First Marine Expeditionary Brigade. He also served overseas in Turkiye,
Bahrain, Oman, and Somalia in support of operations to include Desert
Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Restore Hope, Desert Thunder,
and Desert Fox.
{time} 1120
Before his retirement in 2001, Colonel Boyce held multiple senior
leadership roles, including head programmer for the Office of the Chief
of Naval Operations, Air Warfare Division, head of operational plans at
Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and deputy commander of Marine Corps Base
Hawaii.
After his military service, Colonel Boyce returned home and continued
to serve his community as chairman of the Cobb County Board of
Commissioners.
In this role, he advocated for veterans by establishing the county's
first
[[Page H4474]]
veterans service office and led efforts to construct a VA clinic.
Colonel Boyce's lifelong commitment to veterans and leadership makes
this recognition a fine tribute to an extraordinary American.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5362 honors a true American leader who put service
above self. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5362, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5362 to name the Department of
Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic in Marietta, Georgia, after
Colonel Michael H. Boyce, a dedicated Marine Corps veteran, public
servant, and community leader.
Colonel Boyce was born in Brawley, California, in September 1949 and
graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. With this degree
in hand, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United
States Marine Corps. After attending The Basic School and Army Field
Artillery School, he was assigned to the First Marine Division in Camp
Pendleton, California.
He continued to wear the uniform for the next 30 years, reaching the
rank of colonel with assignments in Hawaii, Japan, Turkiye, Bahrain,
and Oman, where he supported operations including Desert Shield, Desert
Storm, and Desert Fox. Colonel Boyce also deployed to Somalia for
Operation Restore Hope during his time with the Marine Air Group 16.
In 2001, Colonel Boyce retired from the Marine Corps, but that did
not mark the end of his service to country and community. He moved to
Marietta, Georgia, and became a dedicated member of his local church,
alongside several charities and veterans service organizations
including Habitat for Humanity, the VFW, and The American Legion.
In 2016, Colonel Boyce was elected as chairman of the Cobb County
Board of Commissioners. During his time in office, he led the efforts
to make Veterans Day a paid holiday for county employees, established a
veterans service office in the county, and opened a VA clinic to expand
access to care for local veterans.
Colonel Boyce passed away in January of 2022 and was laid to rest
with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.
Colonel Boyce's unwavering commitment to service and stewardship is a
model to which we should all aspire. Naming the VA clinic that he
helped bring to Marietta in his honor is a perfect way to demonstrate
our appreciation for Colonel Boyce's life of service.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk).
Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the chairman of
the Veterans' Affairs Committee for bringing this bill to the floor.
As the Representative of Georgia `s 11th Congressional District and a
veteran of the United States Air Force, I proudly rise today in support
of H.R. 5362 to name the Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty
clinic in Marietta, Georgia, as the Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department
of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic.
As he was to many, Mike Boyce was a friend of mine, who unfortunately
passed away in 2022.
Mike took his duties to our country and our community seriously. Like
a true patriot, Mike spent much of his life in service to his
community, State, and Nation. Throughout his service in the Marine
Corps and later in elected office as the chairman of the Cobb County
Board of Commissioners, Mike was a tireless advocate for the health and
welfare of our Active-Duty servicemen and veterans. Mike worked to
ensure our servicemembers had the tools to succeed and was instrumental
in establishing the Cobb County VA Clinic, which remains a vital
resource for those who served our country.
Mr. Speaker, recognizing Colonel Boyce through this legislation is a
fitting tribute to an American hero whose service and advocacy inspired
so many, including myself. I greatly appreciate his wife, Judy, for
continuing his incredible legacy.
Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5362, to honor this
very deserving veteran. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this
legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.
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. 5362.
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, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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