Louis A. Conter Va Clinic

Floor Speech

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Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, I am truly grateful that today the House is taking up my legislation to honor a truly extraordinary constituent of mine whom we lost earlier this year.

My bill would rename the Auburn VA facility after Grass Valley resident and World War II veteran Lieutenant Commander Lou Conter.

It is notable that in order to advance this legislation, we actually had to get the signatures of each and every member of the California congressional House delegation. That is 52 people who came together and all signed on to this bill. I think it speaks to what a true American hero Lou Conter was.

He was, in fact, the last survivor of the attack on the USS Arizona during Pearl Harbor. On that fateful day in 1941, Commander Conter heroically evacuated shipmates who were blinded, wounded, or burned, even restraining some of his fellow shipmates from jumping overboard into the burning sea. Then, on the day after the attack, he helped in recovering bodies and putting out fires.

Lou Conter's heroic actions saved the lives of many of his shipmates. Not only that, but he also continued to serve our country for decades following Pearl Harbor. He flew over 200 combat missions.

On one of those missions, Commander Conter would be awarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross for actively taking part in the rescue of 219 Australians trapped by Japanese troops in New Guinea.

He later served in the Korean war and retired from the Navy in 1967 after 23 years as a lieutenant commander. He resided in Grass Valley, California, until his death earlier this year at the age of 102.

Lieutenant Commander Conter dedicated his life to the service of others and sacrifice for our country. His courage, along with that of so many from the Greatest Generation, has left an indelible mark on our country and defined our national character in so many ways.

Following his passing this last April, there really could be no better way to honor Lieutenant Commander Conter and his enduring legacy than naming a veterans healthcare facility in his honor.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bost for his work on this legislation as well, and I look forward to seeing it pass with unanimous bipartisan support.

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