Mike Bost

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks for S. 141.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. It is life-changing legislation for our Nation's veterans. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 141) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve certain programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs for home and community based services for veterans, and for other purposes.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 141, authored by my friend and colleague, Senator Moran, from Kansas. The House came together 1 month ago and passed H.R. 8371, the Dole act, with a bipartisan vote of 389-9. This vote was a strong message from the House of Representatives, Republicans and Democrats, to improve the veterans program and deliver on promises we made to those who served. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to finish the commitment we made 1 month ago. The Dole act would improve veterans' homeless programs, expand nontraditional education and employment programs, protect servicemembers while they are deployed, put veterans' healthcare back in the hands of the veterans, and hold VA officials accountable. This bill has many House Republican priorities that we have worked this Congress to pass. The Dole act is not only a commonsense bill, but one that would save lives and push the VA forward and not backward. I thank the over 40 veterans service organizations, advocacy organizations, and stakeholders from every corner of this country for their support of the Dole act. Their advocacy was the push we all needed to get the bipartisan bill done. I also thank the Senate for making technical changes to the language to make sure we sent the best version of this to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, before I reserve the balance of my time, I thank Mr. Ciscomani and dozens of other Members on both sides of the aisle who have provisions in this bill. This legislation will make a difference for veterans and their families. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support veterans by supporting this good bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani).

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3938) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the ``Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic''.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of S. 3938, a bill that designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic. Desmond T. Doss was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1919 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1944, he took part in both the Battle of Guam and the Battle of the Philippines, serving as a medic in the 77th Infantry Division. While serving in those battles, he earned two Bronze Stars for exceptional valor in assisting wounded soldiers while under fire. In 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa, PFC Doss saved an estimated 75 wounded men atop the infamous Hacksaw Ridge. For his heroism, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Truman. After the war, he raised a son with his wife, Dorothy, on a small farm in Georgia. PFC Doss remains a testament to the American spirit and an example of going above and beyond to answer the call of duty. By naming the VA clinic after him, his story of service will be told for generations of Americans. I thank the sponsor of the bill, Senator Warner, as well as the entire Virginia delegation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 3938, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 3938.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Good).

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4955) to name the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Henry Parham VA Clinic''.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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. 4955.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4955, a bill to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, as the Henry Parham VA Clinic. Henry Parham was born in 1921 in Greenville, Virginia, and was drafted into World War II in 1942. In June of 1944, he took part in the D-day landing in France, serving in the 320th Very Low Altitude Anti-Aircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion. His unit was responsible for downing dozens of enemy aircraft. After the war, he returned home. In his spare time, he kept serving his community by volunteering with his wife in their local VA. He was also the last surviving African American who took part in the D-day landings when he passed away in 2021. Henry Parham is a great example of what it means to live a life of service, and I am proud to name this VA clinic after him to continue to tell the story of service and inspire future generations. I thank the sponsor of the bill, Representative Lee, as well as the entire Pennsylvania delegation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, H.R. 4955, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9124, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Auburn, California, the Louis A. Conter VA Clinic. Louis Conter was born in Wisconsin in 1921. He enlisted in the Navy in 1939 and was assigned to the infamous USS Arizona. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Louis was standing watch on the deck of the Arizona when it came under attack by Japanese bombers. As the infamous explosion that ignited the ship's magazine happened, Louis was thrown to the ground. As the ship began to sink, he aided the wounded. In the following days, Louis helped put the fires out and recover the bodies from the wreckage. Following the attack, as the war kicked into high gear, Louis was selected for pilot training. He deployed to the Pacific theater and was shot down twice. Again, defying all odds, he survived and reached the rank of lieutenant, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross. Louis was reactivated during the Korean war in the 1950s, eventually retiring from the Navy in 1967 at the rank of lieutenant commander. After his service, he lived out the rest of his life as a real estate developer and author. Louis Conter was the last known survivor of the USS Arizona before passing away on April 1, 2024. I am proud to name the VA clinic after him to memorialize his historic story of service. I thank the sponsor of this bill, Representative Kiley, as well as the entire California delegation. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 9124, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Kiley), who is the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9124) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Auburn, California, as the ``Louis A. Conter VA Clinic''.

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. 9124.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar), who is the sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8667) to rename the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cadillac, Michigan, as the ``Duane E. Dewey VA Clinic''.

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. 8667.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 8667, a bill to rename the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cadillac, Michigan, as the Duane E. Dewey VA Clinic. Duane Dewey was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1931 and established in the U.S. Marine Corps during the height of the Korean war. Serving as a machine gunner, he was wounded by a grenade that landed by his feet. While being treated for his wounds, another enemy grenade landed near him. Without regard for his life, Corporal Dewey jumped on the grenade as it exploded. For his actions, he earned the Medal of Honor which was awarded to him by President Eisenhower. After being medically discharged from active duty in 1952, he went on to start his own business and serve as chaplain at the AMVETS post named in his honor in Baldwin, Michigan. I thank the sponsor of this bill, Representative Moolenaar, as well as the entire Michigan delegation for honoring their fellow Michigander with this tribute. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8667, and I reserve the balance of my time.