Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic
Floor Speech
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2159) to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 400 College Drive, Middleburg, Florida, as the ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic'', and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 2159
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF ANDREW K. BAKER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC.
(a) Designation.--The community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 400 College Drive, Middleburg, Florida, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic'' or the ``A.K. Baker VA Clinic''.
(b) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the community-based outpatient clinic referred to in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a reference to the Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
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Mr. TAKANO. 2159.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew Kenneth Baker, an esteemed antisubmarine warfare chief, a distinguished combat search and rescue swimmer, and a faithful servicemember who gave his life honoring his commitment to his country.
The bill before us, S. 2159, would appropriately name VA's community- based outreach clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA Clinic.
Chief Petty Officer Baker represented self-sacrifice and courage in the name of public service.
Born in West Virginia in 1960, Chief Petty Officer Baker moved to Pensacola, Florida, in 1980 to begin what would be a remarkable 17-year stint in the U.S. Navy.
In Pensacola, CPO Baker graduated from the Search and Rescue Swimmer School before entering Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, where he earned his ``Wings of Gold.''
Upon graduation, CPO Baker served on the USS Nimitz, reporting to HS- 9, a helicopter antisubmarine warfare squadron for the Navy. From there, he served on HS-3 as the Training and Operations Chief for another antisubmarine warfare squadron safeguarding American interests over and under the seas.
Tragically, on March 13, 1997, while serving aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, Chief Petty Officer Baker and three others perished when their H-60 ``Sea Hawk'' helicopter crashed at sea during a Navy SEAL training mission.
Though his life was tragically cut short, in his 17 years of service, CPO Baker managed to cement a legacy of leadership, dedication, and steadfastness which will reverberate for generations to come. Indeed, today, Chief Petty Officer Baker is survived by his wife, Tina, and their son, who, himself, has completed six tours in Iraq, carrying on his father's legacy as a decorated patriot.
During his lifetime of service, Chief Petty Officer Baker won various honors, including the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, and the American Defense Service Medal, among others.
Today, I hope we will come together to honor Chief Petty Officer Baker one more time by renaming the VA's community-based outreach clinic in Middleburg, Florida, the Andrew K. Baker VA Clinic.
As an institution dedicated to supporting those who served, it is fitting that this VA clinic bear the name of a Navy chief who placed service to others above all else. With this legislation, we will take an important step in commemorating one servicemember's courage and bravery, as we continue to honor all those who have served our country.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support for S. 2159 from The American Legion, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans as well as the Florida delegation. The American Legion, Office of Department Commander, Orlando, FL, December 21, 2021. Re Support for S. 2159, to name the Department of Veterans Affairs in Middleburg, Florida located in Clay County as the ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''. Hon. Marco Rubio, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Rubio: On behalf of The American Legion, Department of Florida, Inc., we write to lend our support in naming the new Clay County Veterans Affairs Clinic after Chief Andrew K. Baker of Middleburg, Florida.
Chief Baker was an esteemed antisubmarine warfare chief and combat search and rescue swimmer of HS-3 in Jacksonville, Florida. After quickly rising through the ranks at Naval Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, Chief Baker earned his Wings of Gold for distinguished performance and served a tour on the U.S.S. Nimitz, being assigned as the Training and Operations Chief. In 1997, Chief Baker lost his life during a mission in North Carolina when his H-60 Seahawk helicopter crashed at sea during a SEAL training mission. His legacy currently lives on in his son who has completed six tours in the Middle East and has proven himself a dedicated hero.
We know that in naming the new Veterans Affairs clinic for Chief Baker, his heroic legacy will be enhanced in the Clay County community and will inspire future servicemen and women from across our great state. Sincerely, Jerry Brandt, Department Commander. ____ Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ocala, FL, September 30, 2021. Hon. Marco Rubio, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Rubio: On behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Florida we write to lend our support in naming the new Clay Country Veterans Affairs Clinic after Chief Andrew K. Baker of Middleburg, Florida.
Chief Baker was an esteemed antisubmarine warfare chief and combat search and rescue swimmer of HS-3 in Jacksonville, Florida. After quickly rising through the ranks at Naval Aircrew Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, Chief Baker earned his Wings of Gold for distinguished performance and served a tour on the USS Nimitz being assigned as the Training and Operations Chief. In 1997, Chief lost his life during a mission in North Carolina when his H-60 Seahawk helicopter crashed at sea during a SEAL training mission. His legacy now lives on in his son who currently has six completed tours in the Middle East and has proven himself a dedicated hero.
We know that in naming a new VA clinic for Chief Baker, his heroic legacy will be enhanced in the Clay County community and will inspire future service men and women from across our great state. Yours in Comradeship, Danette Jean Hernandez, State Commander. ____ Disabled American Veterans, Department of Florida, Gainesville, FL, January 11, 2022. Re Support for S. 2159 and H.R. 1960, to name the new Clay County Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg, FL, the ``Andrew K. Baker Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''
The Disabled American Veterans, Department of Florida is writing this letter in support of legislation introduced by Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. The propose legislation S. 2159 and H.R. 1960, would name the new Clay County Veterans Affairs Clinic in Middleburg, Florida after U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew K. Baker, Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic, who was killed during a training mission.
An antisubmarine warfare chief, CPO Baker was a combat search and rescue swimmer attached to HS-3 homeported at NAS Jacksonville. Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and USS Coral Sea as a ship's serviceman. Baker was killed when Trident 615, a H-60 Seahawk, crashed at sea on March 13, 1997, during a SEAL training event. CPO Baker served for seventeen years before his death.
We believe that naming the Clay County VA Clinic after Chief Petty Officer Andrew K. Baker will ensure the honor of duty he displayed for our grateful Nation. We respectfully request the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees quickly consider this important legislation. Sincerely, John Raber, Department Commander. ____ Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, January 11, 2022. Hon. Jon Tester, Chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Mark Takano, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Jerry Moran, Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Washington, DC. Hon. Mike Bost, Ranking Member, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairmen Tester and Takano, Ranking Members Moran and Bost: As Members of the Florida Delegation, we write in support of S. 2159 and H.R. 1960, legislation that would name the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Clay County, Florida after U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew Kenneth Baker. Chief Baker served his country honorably for 17 years before tragically perishing while aboard Trident 615, an HH-60H ``Sea Hawk'' helicopter that crashed at sea on March 13, 1997.
Chief Baker served on the USS Carl Vinson and USS Coral Sea as a Ship's Serviceman. He is a graduate of Search and Rescue Swimmer School in Pensacola and Fleet Replacement Aircrewman training at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, where he earned his ``Wings of Gold.'' Chief Baker then reported to HS-9, where he served on the USS Nimitz; and then at HS-3, where he was assigned as the Training and Operations Chief. His dedication to our nation reflects great honor on his family and our community. It is fitting that a VA clinic, an institution dedicated to supporting those who served, should be named after a faithful service member.
We respectfully request the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs quickly consider this important legislation. Please see the attached letters of support from the Florida Chapters of Several Veteran Service Organizations. Sincerely,
Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator; Rick Scott, U.S. Senator; Kat Cammack, Stephanie Murphy, Matt Gaetz, Lois Frankel, Carlos Gimenez, Gus Bilirakis, Mario Diaz Balart, Bill Posey, Brian Mast, W. Gregory Steube, John H. Rutherford, Mike Waltz, Val Demings, Neal P. Dunn, M.D., C. Scott Franklin, Maria Elvira Salazar, Charlie Crist, Al Lawson, Daniel Webster, Ted Deutch, Frederica S. Wilson, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bryon Donalds, Kathy Castor, Vern Buchanan, Darren Soto; Member of Congress.
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Mr. TAKANO. I thank Representative Cammack and the Florida delegation for their work on this bill, and I urge all my colleagues to support it.
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.
Mr. Speaker,
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentlewoman on this accomplishment, and I congratulate her also on her hard work in securing funding for the community-based outreach clinic.
I know how much of a difference they make, and I take this moment to call attention to the fact that the bipartisan achievement of funding so many community-based outreach clinics in the Honoring our PACT Act was transformational for this country, transformational for America's veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing S. 2159, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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