HONORING ROBERT DUVALL

On 2026-02-23, Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING ROBERT DUVALL" in the House. The speech addressed taxes and also covered the environment, defense.

HONORING ROBERT DUVALL

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)] [House] [Page H2238] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ROBERT DUVALL (Mr. Subramanyam of Virginia was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and career of the great Robert Duvall, who passed away on February 15 at the age of 95. Many know Mr. Duvall as one of the most iconic actors and filmmakers of his generation. He is known worldwide for his unparalleled range and for bringing to life some of the greatest stories ever told, such as his haunting debut as Boo Radley in ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' and powerful portrayal of Tom Hagen in ``The Godfather.'' In our community, we know him as just a great guy and great human being, an Army veteran who served our country, and a man of quiet integrity, who preferred his Virginia farm to the glitz of Hollywood. Robert lived by a simple rule: listen, really listen. He did that as a resident of Fauquier County, where he was known as a great neighbor and environmentalist, who supported so many causes in our community. In Winchester, he supported a children's home, often visiting the kids with gifts, like gingerbread houses during the holidays. As Robert once said: ``Yesterday is gone, and we can't get it back.'' While we cannot get him back, we are left with an incredible legacy that he leaves behind in our community and around the world. Mr. Speaker, I extend my condolences to all of his family. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy in Hollywood and in our community continue to inspire. honoring the life of witold ``vic'' brick Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life of Witold ``Vic'' Brick, a local veteran in Loudoun County who fought with the Allies in World War II. Vic passed away last week at the age of 103. He was born in Warsaw in 1923, and he graduated from school in 1943. After experiencing the worsening conditions under German occupation, Vic joined the Polish underground movement, the AK. The AK was the primary Polish resistance of the Germans in World War II, tasked with sabotaging German military efforts. He was part of an uprising that lasted 63 days until it was captured. Vic was amazingly able to survive this and was liberated by General Patton. Vic didn't stop his service there. After being rescued, he joined the Polish 2nd Corps, part of the British Eighth under the command of General Alexander, who served bravely until the end of the war. It was Congress that allowed Vic and 10,000 other Polish servicemen living in England to immigrate to the United States. Vic considered himself lucky in an unlucky situation and remained forever grateful for the opportunities he was given as an American citizen. Vic was a valued part of our community in Loudoun County. We were proud to have him and lucky to hear his stories about all the years that he served, as well as the years after that. Vic is survived by his children, George, Kay, and Michelle, and his nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. May Witold ``Vic'' Brick rest in peace and his bravery inspire others to do the right thing, even when the odds are against you. va disability benefits determinations Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in response to the recent interim rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs that would change how disability benefits are determined for our veterans. Under this rule, disability ratings would be based not on the underlying condition, but on how a veteran presents after medication. If you have severe PTSD and take medication for it, your benefits will be evaluated not based on your underlying PTSD but based on your condition after taking the medication at the time you are being evaluated. Remember, these medications wear off. Maybe you seem fine right now after taking your medication during your evaluation, but then the medication doesn't work later on or loses its effectiveness over time. You are still judged based on the time you were evaluated. We are creating a system here that is destined to fail our veterans. We are even incentivizing them not to take their medication if they want to receive full benefits. Thankfully, because of public backlash, the VA has said that it will not enforce this rule right now. However, the rule is still in place, and it can be enforced at any time. Veterans relying on these lifesaving medications every day are still left in limbo, not only for their mental health but for their chronic pain, traumatic brain injuries, seizures, heart disease, diabetes, and all the other ailments that they have suffered as a result of their service. These medications do not cure disabilities. They help veterans function despite them. It makes no sense, and it is wrong for a veteran's benefits to be dependent on how well their medication is working during the time of evaluation. We must eliminate this rule once and for all. ____________________