Date: 2008-06-24
Speaker: CORRINE BROWN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Florida

Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you for your leadership on the committee and your leadership for these veterans in this country. And to the ranking member. I know that he did not mean that the leadership of this House. that have devoted a block of time to talk about the veterans and their service to this country. is filling the time. I want to thank the leadership. I want to thank the chairman. and I want to thank the Republicans on the committee because we have some issues that we want to talk about honoring veterans that have served this country. So I know he did not mean that talking about veterans. other than Memorial Day or Veterans Day. is filling our time. He didnt mean that. I know that. So I want to rise in support of veteransrelated bills being considered today. and I support all eight of them. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of House Resolution 1231. supporting Vietnam Veterans Day. In my State of Florida. we have close to 600.000 thousand veterans in Florida. and I am pleased to be given the chance to serve their interests as a member for 16 years on the Veterans Affairs Committee. The Vietnam War was a very divisive time in our. Nations history. and I hope that all Americans. through this resolution. will be able to continue to help heal this Nation. and that the Vietnam vets. who so bravely served our country. will finally get the respect they have earned. Let me just say: Vietnam veterans bravely served this country finally get the respect they helped earn. I am also pleased recently to visit Puerto Rico recently and tour the VA Medical Center in San Juan. I was very impressed with the people who work at that facility and with the people in the territory as a whole. The employees were very professional. and it is a credit to both Puerto Rico and to the VA. I was also in Ponce. admiring the port there. in my other role as a member on the Transportation Committee. and was very impressed by the city and very pleased that the veterans there have access to the VA clinic. I support H.R. 4289. to name the VA clinic in Ponce after Captain Rubio. who earned the Medal of Honor for his service protecting his comrades above. and beyond the call of duty. I also rise in support of H.R. 4918. to rename the Miami Veterans Medical Center after one of Floridas bravest servicemen. Private Bruce Wayne Carter. of the United States Marine Corps. His mother still lives in Jacksonville. Private First Class Carter was ordered to Vietnam in April. 1969. and served as a radio operator. When he was 19. and in an act of incredible altruism. he threw himself on an enemy grenade. absorbing the full extent of the blast to protect his fellow marines. He gave his life in service to our country .and to his fellow marines and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. I am pleased to join the en-. tire Florida delegation in support of this legislation in honor of Bruce Carter. Again. I want to thank the chairman. and I urge all of my colleagues to support all eight bills honoring veterans on the floor of the House of Representatives today. And once again I want to thank the leadership for bringing these veterans bills up today.