Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3672) to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3672

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF PFC. JUSTIN T. PATON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CLINIC.

(a) Designation.--The community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 5739 Hwy M-68, Indian River, Michigan, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

(b) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the clinic referred to in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a reference to the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

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Mr. BOST. 3672.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3672, a bill to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

Justin Paton was born on July Fourth, 1982, in Emmet County, Michigan. He joined the U.S. Army in 2005 and deployed to Iraq in October 2006, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division based out of Fort Hood, Texas.

While deployed to Iraq in 2007, his unit came in contact with the enemy just north of Baghdad, with small arms fire being exchanged. While in this firefight, Private First Class Paton was hit by an Iraqi sniper and did not survive his wounds. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He bravely answered the Nation's call when it came, like many others before him and so many after.

Naming the VA clinic in his hometown, which he so loved, is an honor that would be a fitting remembrance of Private First Class Paton's life and sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3672, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3672, which designates the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

This bill honors Private First Class Justin T. Paton and his courageous service to our Nation.

Today and every day, I stand with our Nation's veterans and their brave and selfless service in support of our freedoms.

Over 280,000 of our Nation's veterans reside in the city of Houston and I am proud to fight every day for the honor, recognition, and appreciation they, and all of our Nation's veterans, deserve.

Veterans have kept their promise to serve our Nation; they have willingly risked their lives to protect the country we all love.

We must now ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans by recognizing, remembering, and honoring their service.

I urge my colleagues to join me today in recognizing and honoring the service and sacrifice of Private First Class Justin Paton.

This bill honors the Indian River native who valiantly served in the United States Army with the 1st Cavalry Division, Delta Company until he was killed in action by enemy fire.

Private First Class Justin Paton gave his last full measure of devotion to the United States as he was killed by hostile sniper fire in Iraq in February 2007 at the age of 24.

Paton served as unit leader of his Company and was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star for his selfless actions in service to a grateful Nation.

As such, I rise in support of this bill, which honors his memory by designating the Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in his hometown as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.''

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

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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