[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5755]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




MAJOR CHARLES R. SOLTES, JR., O.D. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS BLIND 
                         REHABILITATION CENTER

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 4360 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 4360) to designate the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, 
     California, as the ``Major Charles Robert Soltes, Jr., O.D. 
     Department of Veterans Affairs Blind Rehabilitation Center.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I am pleased that the Senate is passing 
H.R. 4360 by unanimous consent. Major Soltes was truly an inspiration 
to all of us, and I am proud to support this legislation. Major Soltes 
deployed to Iraq in 2004 and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our great 
country after the vehicle in which he was traveling ran over an 
improvised explosive device. Throughout his career in the Army, he 
assumed many leadership positions, received numerous military 
decorations, and was instrumental in establishing a free medical clinic 
for the local population in Iraq.
  It is particularly fitting that we are naming the VA blind 
rehabilitation center in Long Beach, CA, after Major Soltes. He was 
from Irvine, CA, a graduate of the New England College of Optometry, 
and completed his residency at the prestigious Brooke Army Medical 
Center. He also served as the Director of the Optometry Residency 
Program at the U.S. Military Academy. In 1999, Major Soltes became the 
clinical director of Irvine Vision Institute, an optometry specialty 
center where served until his voluntary deployment to Iraq.
  Major Soltes leaves behind his wife, Sally Dang, O.D., and three 
young children. Dr. Dang is a low-vision optometrist who received her 
training at the West Haven VA Blind Rehabilitation Center after 
graduating from the New England College of Optometry. She has recently 
volunteered to provide low-vision services and care for blinded 
veterans to fulfill a promise she made to her husband before he 
deployed to Iraq.
  Major Soltes was a dedicated Army officer, and an outstanding 
clinician, educator, and military optometrist and naming the Long Beach 
VA blind rehabilitation center in honor of him will be a fitting 
tribute to his lasting memory.
  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements 
relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 4360) was ordered to a third reading, was read the 
third time, and passed.

                          ____________________