To Name the Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Vallejo, California, As the ``Delphine Metcalf-Foster Va Clinic''

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce legislation to rename the Mare Island Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic in Vallejo, California as the ``Delphine Metcalf-Foster VA Clinic,'' in recognition of her lifetime of service to others. A life-long resident of Vallejo, Ms. Delphine Metcalf-Foster is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, longtime leader with numerous veterans service organizations, and a pillar of the community. I thank my colleague Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-4) for being the bill's original cosponsor.

Ms. Metcalf-Foster is a disabled U.S. Army Reserve veteran who served during Operation Desert Storm and is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal. Military service runs in her family. Her father served during the Spanish-American War and was in the U.S. Army's 9th Calvary Regiment, whose members were known as ``Buffalo Soldiers.'' After retiring as a First Sergeant (E-8) in 1996, Ms. Metcalf-Foster began her lifelong work to advocate for and assist fellow veterans.

Ms. Metcalf-Foster has served the VA Northern California Health Care System for over 25 years. She began volunteering to drive veterans to medical appointments. In 2004, she became the Commander of the Disabled American Veterans' Ozie Boler Chapter 21 in Vallejo, DAV Department of California until 2005. Later. she served as the DAV National Commander from 2017 to 2018. This made her the first woman to become the Disabled American Veterans' National Commander, as well as a distinguished leader of this major veterans service organization.

Ms. Metcalf-Foster is also a life-member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2018, she was recognized as one of the ``Mighty 25: Influencers Supporting the Military Community.'' In 2019, she was selected as the Grand Marshall for the 166th Vallejo 4th of July Parade. Her expertise was sought after for testimony at hearings before the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees advocating to improve outreach to and services for American veterans and those with service-connected disabilities.

lt is truly an honor to reintroduce this legislation. I stand with my constituents in Vallejo and California's 8th Congressional District to honor Ms. Delphine Metcalf-Foster and her service to veterans in our community and across the country.

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