The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Conaway)
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.

                             General Leave

  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. 6963.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6963, to designate the
community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs
in Lafayette, Louisiana, as the Rodney C. Hamilton Sr. VA Clinic
sponsored by Representative Higgins.
  At just 17 years old, Rodney Hamilton enlisted in the United States
Marine Corps out of Lafayette, Louisiana, to serve his country. He
would go to serve in the Korean war, where he was wounded in combat and
received the Purple Heart. As a fellow marine, I know that the Marine
Corps leaves a mark on every man and woman that earns the title.
  For Rodney, this sense of duty did not end when he returned home. He
came back to Lafayette and continued serving by working to improve the
lives of fellow veterans across southwest Louisiana.
  He served in Lafayette city government from 1968 to 1972 and later
founded the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Action Coalition, giving local
veterans a stronger voice and fighting to make sure their needs were
met. That advocacy helped lead to one of his most lasting
accomplishments, the establishment of the VA clinic in Lafayette.
  When the clinic opened in 2016, it brought VA care closer to home for
veterans across the region and reflected years of work by Rodney
Hamilton and others who believed Lafayette veterans deserved better
access to the care they had earned.
  Naming this facility in his honor would recognize a marine, a Purple
Heart recipient, and a community leader whose work continues to serve
veterans today.

                              {time}  1130

  H.R. 6963 is a fitting tribute to Rodney Hamilton, Sr., a man who
served his country in war, returned home to serve his community, and
never stopped standing up for his fellow veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 6963, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6963 to designate the
community-based outpatient clinic in Lafayette, Louisiana, as the
Rodney C. Hamilton Sr. VA Clinic.
  Rodney Hamilton was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 24, 1932. In
1948, his family moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he resided for
over 70 years until his passing. At just 17 years old, Hamilton joined
the Marine Reserve as a member of the Marine Reserve Rifle Corps. He
received orders to serve in the Seventh Marine Regiment during the
Korean war.
  While stationed on the front lines in September 1951, he was wounded
by mortar shells and received the Purple Heart for his service. He was
reassigned to the First Marine Division's service battalion and was
honorably discharged in 1952 with the rank of sergeant.
  Back home in Lafayette, Hamilton married his high school sweetheart
and the love of his life, Barbara Webb. The couple have 5 children and
12 grandchildren and were together for nearly seven decades.
  Sergeant Hamilton became a leading advocate for his fellow Marines
and veterans in the following years. He founded the Southwest Louisiana
Veterans Action Coalition, and he was an active member of the Marine
Corps League, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and The American
Legion.
  Sergeant Hamilton's advocacy and leadership were instrumental in
establishing the VA community-based outpatient clinic in Lafayette,
which opened in 2016 and expanded access to medical care for veterans
throughout the region. The road that leads to the facility already
bears his name in honor of the tireless work that he put into bringing
this clinic into fruition.
  Sergeant Hamilton's long record of giving back extended even further
through his tireless dedication to his community. He was active in his
church and several local organizations, including the Chamber of
Commerce and the Beaver Club. From 1968 until 1972, he also served in
local government as a trustee for public property.
  Rodney Hamilton passed away in 2020 and was buried with full military
honors. His legacy is one of advocacy, leadership, compassion, and
sacrifice. It is only fitting that we honor his contributions by
designating the Lafayette VA clinic in his honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 6963, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today, we are actually naming many clinics. This one in
Lafayette, the sponsor, Representative Higgins, feels that this is
vitally important. With the hecticness around here today, we are hoping
that he does make it to make comments on this bill, but we need to move
on with our business.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no more Members wishing to speak, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 6963 to honor this very
deserving veteran, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Louisiana (Mr. Higgins), the sponsor of the legislation.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for
allowing me to speak on behalf of an American patriot who was a man
amongst men, Mr. Speaker, Rodney C. Hamilton.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6963,
which would designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the
Department of Veterans Affairs in Lafayette, Louisiana, as the Rodney
C. Hamilton Sr. VA Clinic.
  This legislative effort, Mr. Speaker, to honor Mr. Hamilton has been
in the making for many years. I am proud and humbled to bring it to the
floor on behalf of the Louisiana delegation today.
  Rodney C. Hamilton, Sr., joined the United States Marine Corps at 17
years old and served in the Korean war. He was wounded, served
honorably, and received the Purple Heart. After serving his Nation in
combat, he returned home to Lafayette where he continued to serve those
around him, becoming a community leader in Lafayette's city government.
He was ordained as a deacon, serving as a member of the First Baptist
Church of Youngsville, Louisiana, a community near Lafayette.
  Mr. Hamilton was a cofounder of the Southwest Louisiana Veterans
Action Coalition, serving as a longtime veterans advocate. This marine,
Mr. Hamilton, played an integral role in establishing the Louisiana
community-based outpatient clinic, which opened in 2016, and the road
leading to the clinic was named in his honor in 2017.
  I am joined in support by Speaker Mike Johnson, Leader Steve Scalise,
Representatives Letlow, Carter, and Fields, and Senators Kennedy and
Cassidy in support of this legislation honoring Mr. Hamilton.
  Louisiana's American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans, and
Louisianans across the State have offered their strong support to
rename this clinic in honor of Mr. Hamilton.
  Passing H.R. 6963 will be to honor an American who did so much for
our Nation, our veterans, and the people of Lafayette, Louisiana. Not
only will this serve as a tribute to our beautiful Nation but would
show this body's resolve to remember and honor all veterans who
answered the call to serve our Nation and our communities.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fine). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6963.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.