The House passed bipartisan legislation on Wednesday to rename the San Jose VA outpatient clinic the Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic. The bill, sponsored by Jimmy Panetta and co-led by Ken Calvert, now goes to the Senate, where Adam Schiff has introduced companion legislation.
Pat Tillman left the National Football League after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and built a military record that included service in the 75th Ranger Regiment. He played at Arizona State University, was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998, and later received the Silver Star and Purple Heart after his death on April 22, 2004.
Jimmy Panetta on the House floor
Panetta said after the vote, “Renaming the San Jose VA clinic after Corporal Pat Tillman is about carrying on his legacy of patriotism and passion, as well as the progress we must make as a nation,” and added, “Pat did nothing half-baked, did everything with a full heart, and represented the very best of our country in academics, athletics, and in service to the United States of America.” He also said, “In this day of division and dysfunction, we must always be reminded of the service and sacrifice for our great nation that Corporal Tillman exemplified.”
The legislation has backing from the California Congressional delegation, which co-sponsored the bill. That leaves the Senate as the next chamber to act on the companion measure before the clinic name can change in federal records and on the building itself.
Mary Tillman and the Army record
Panetta tied the honor to the way Tillman’s service was remembered and to the later dispute over how he died. He said, “At the same time, the circumstances surrounding his death in friendly fire remind us how our Army, Congress and our country must ensure that this never happens again and how we can always do better when it comes to serving those who serve us.”
The Army initially said Tillman and his unit were ambushed outside Spera, roughly 25 miles from the Pakistani border. An Army CID investigation released on March 19, 2007, found that Tillman and Sayed Farhad were killed when one segment of the platoon purportedly fired upon another.
Mary Tillman said following the Pentagon investigation that the briefing was “shamefully unacceptable.” With the House vote complete, the name change now depends on whether the Senate advances the companion bill and sends the measure forward to finish the renaming.
