Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. HECK of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I actually plan on withdrawing my amendment, but would like to make my colleagues aware of some amazing work being done in my district on behalf of veterans and wounded warriors.

Mr. Chairman, millions--millions--of people watched the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in Washington's 10th Congressional District last June. It showcased, frankly, the irreplaceable beauty of golf in the Pacific Northwest. But just a 10-minute drive from Chambers Bay, you will also find yourself at beautiful American Lake.

At American Lake, that is where veterans recover and heal from injuries at the VA facility, which is located near Joint Base Lewis- McChord. A big part of that recuperation includes a bit of TLC from another golf course in addition to Chambers Bay.

Since 1955, 61 years, nine holes of golf at the American Lake Veterans Golf Course is where South Sound veterans could escape the stresses of their daily lives and engage in some healthy competition. And let's be honest, it is hard to look forward to a visit to the doctor, but looking forward to a round of golf with your buddies is something entirely different. It has become a great way for older vets to connect with younger vets for more recent conflicts.

Currently, American Lake Veterans Golf Course--it is important that you hear this--is the Nation's only golf course designed specifically for the rehabilitation of wounded and disabled veterans. Almost all of the dedicated volunteers there are veterans as well. Well, except one, and his name is Jack Nicklaus--yes, that Jack Nicklaus--the ``Golden Bear,'' widely regarded, perhaps, as the greatest golfer of our time, who now spends his time actually designing golf courses. He is the one who helped design and expand the American Lake Veterans Golf Course to include a back nine. They went from nine holes to 18. The back nine is now in place, and the course is waiting for VA Secretary McDonald to sign the necessary paperwork to formally accept the course improvements.

The course exists because of the determination of hardworking volunteers--really angels among us. And now it is time to honor one of those committed volunteers for his commitment to our veterans and wounded warriors, and officially designate holes 10 through 18 as the Nicklaus Nine.

With the Nicklaus Nine, we will now have an 18-hole, 100 percent ADA accessible golf course to accommodate returning troops and our local combat veterans. With the Nicklaus Nine, we will have double the accessibility and green to offer our veterans who have given so much to all of us.

Now, I am going to tell you a story, and I guarantee it is going to stay with you, I guarantee that you are going to remember this story. There is a program at American Lake Veterans Golf Course that teaches blind veterans how to play golf. One year, we had a local golfer--his name happens to be Ray Reed--who was sent to the National Blind Golf Tournament in Iowa. Ray Reed, blind, wounded warrior.

And do you know what he did at that national golf tournament? He scored a hole in one. Yes, blind veterans can golf, and they learn how to do that at American Lake. It is incredible. They are an inspiration to all of us.

Mr. Chairman, to avoid a point of order on my amendment, I would like to withdraw it at this time. But I hope that I can work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find another vehicle, or a standalone bill, to get this done. I strongly believe it to be appropriate to honor and bestow on he who has changed the name of golf, the Golden Bear, this honor for changing the lives of wounded warriors. I hope this will encourage the design and development of more golf courses around the U.S. devoted to our veterans and our wounded warriors.

With that, Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues.

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