A bill to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in San Jose after fallen U.S. soldier Pat Tillman was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Tillman, who was born in Fremont and grew up in the San Jose area, was an NFL star who rejected a three-year, $3.6 million contract extension from the Arizona Cardinals to become an Army Ranger in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Tillman was deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, U.S.-led military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively. He was reported killed on April 22, 2004, in Afghanistan, at the age of 27, by what was later revealed to be friendly fire.
“Pat Tillman answered the call of his country in the wake of September 11th, exchanging his Arizona Cardinals uniform for an Army Ranger uniform,” said U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert, a co-leader of the legislation, in a statement. “His extraordinary sacrifice embodies the patriotism that inspires so many to serve.”
The bill, which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Santa Cruz, and cosponsored by every member of the California congressional delegation, would rename the clinic the Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic.
“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,” said Panetta in a statement. “In this day of division and dysfunction, we must always be reminded of the service and sacrifice of our great nation that Corporal Tillman exemplified.”
With the bill passed by Congress, senators will now vote on the initiative’s Senate companion bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. With Senate and presidential approval, the renaming would take place.
The bill is Congress’ most recent initiative to honor Tillman for his service in the U.S. Army. In April 2004, Tillman was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest military decoration for valor in combat, and the Purple Heart, awarded to U.S. military members who are wounded or killed during their service.
