Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5362) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic in Marietta, Georgia, as the ``Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic''.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5362

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Colonel Mike Boyce was born on September 1, 1949, in Brawley, California.

(2) Mike Boyce graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1971, and was commissioned as a 2d Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1971.

(3) After completing Marine Corps Basic School and the U.S. Army Field Artillery School in 1972, Mike Boyce was assigned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California.

(4) Throughout his service, Colonel Mike Boyce was also assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station New River, the 1st Marine Air Wing in Okinawa, the 4th Marine Air Wing at Naval Air Station Andrews, Korea, and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

(5) After completing attache training, Mike Boyce was assigned to Ankara, Turkey, in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Provide Comfort. He was later assigned to Marine Air Group-16 for deployment to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope.

(6) Before his retirement in 2001, Colonel Mike Boyce served as Head Programmer for OPNAV N88, the Deputy Commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Head of Operational Plans at MARFORPAC, and served in Bahrain and Oman in support of Operations Desert Thunder and Desert Fox.

(7) After his service, Colonel Mike Boyce moved to Marietta, Georgia, and was active in his community. Colonel Mike Boyce served multiple charities including Habitat for Humanity, MUST Ministries, and the United Service Organizations.

(8) A dedicated member of his church, Colonel Mike Boyce served in the men's ministry, youth programs, led Bible studies, and helped create the veterans' ministry.

(9) Colonel Mike Boyce was an active member of American Legion Post 29, the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Officers Association of America.

(10) Colonel Mike Boyce served as the chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners from 2016 until 2020. During that time, he led the effort to make Veterans Day a paid holiday for county employees and was instrumental in establishing the first Veterans Service Office in Cobb County. He also led the effort to have the first Department of Veterans Affairs clinic established in Cobb County so veterans would have an easier experience seeking medical care.

(11) Colonel Mike Boyce died on January 25, 2022, in South Bend, Indiana, and is survived by his wife, Judy Moon Boyce, and his children Alison Boyce Cotsonika, Kevin Reid Boyce, and Sean Michael Boyce. SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MULTISPECIALTY CLINIC, MARIETTA, GEORGIA.

The Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic located at 1263 Cobb Parkway NW, Marietta, Georgia, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic'' or the ``Colonel Michael H. Boyce VA Clinic''. Any reference to such multispecialty clinic in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States shall be considered to be a reference to the Colonel Michael H. Boyce VA Multispecialty Clinic.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BOST. 5362.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5362, Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic, sponsored by Representative Loudermilk.

Colonel Michael H. Boyce dedicated almost three decades to our Nation as a United States marine, serving in key leadership and operational roles around the world.

Throughout Colonel Boyce's career, he served with the First Marine Division, the First, Second, and Fourth Marine Aircraft Wings, and the First Marine Expeditionary Brigade. He also served overseas in Turkiye, Bahrain, Oman, and Somalia in support of operations to include Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Restore Hope, Desert Thunder, and Desert Fox.

Before his retirement in 2001, Colonel Boyce held multiple senior leadership roles, including head programmer for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Air Warfare Division, head of operational plans at Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and deputy commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

After his military service, Colonel Boyce returned home and continued to serve his community as chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.

In this role, he advocated for veterans by establishing the county's first veterans service office and led efforts to construct a VA clinic.

Colonel Boyce's lifelong commitment to veterans and leadership makes this recognition a fine tribute to an extraordinary American.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5362 honors a true American leader who put service above self. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5362, and I reserve the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source