COLONEL MICHAEL H. BOYCE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MULTISPECIALTY CLINIC

On 2026-07-15, Representative Herbert C. Conaway, Jr. (D-NJ-3) delivered a floor speech titled "COLONEL MICHAEL H. BOYCE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MULTISPECIALTY CLINIC" in the House.

COLONEL MICHAEL H. BOYCE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MULTISPECIALTY CLINIC

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 15, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4473-H4474] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] COLONEL MICHAEL H. BOYCE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MULTISPECIALTY CLINIC Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5362) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic in Marietta, Georgia, as the ``Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic''. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5362 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Colonel Mike Boyce was born on September 1, 1949, in Brawley, California. (2) Mike Boyce graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1971, and was commissioned as a 2d Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1971. (3) After completing Marine Corps Basic School and the U.S. Army Field Artillery School in 1972, Mike Boyce was assigned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. (4) Throughout his service, Colonel Mike Boyce was also assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station New River, the 1st Marine Air Wing in Okinawa, the 4th Marine Air Wing at Naval Air Station Andrews, Korea, and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. (5) After completing attache training, Mike Boyce was assigned to Ankara, Turkey, in support of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Provide Comfort. He was later assigned to Marine Air Group-16 for deployment to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. (6) Before his retirement in 2001, Colonel Mike Boyce served as Head Programmer for OPNAV N88, the Deputy Commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Head of Operational Plans at MARFORPAC, and served in Bahrain and Oman in support of Operations Desert Thunder and Desert Fox. (7) After his service, Colonel Mike Boyce moved to Marietta, Georgia, and was active in his community. Colonel Mike Boyce served multiple charities including Habitat for Humanity, MUST Ministries, and the United Service Organizations. (8) A dedicated member of his church, Colonel Mike Boyce served in the men's ministry, youth programs, led Bible studies, and helped create the veterans' ministry. (9) Colonel Mike Boyce was an active member of American Legion Post 29, the Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Officers Association of America. (10) Colonel Mike Boyce served as the chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners from 2016 until 2020. During that time, he led the effort to make Veterans Day a paid holiday for county employees and was instrumental in establishing the first Veterans Service Office in Cobb County. He also led the effort to have the first Department of Veterans Affairs clinic established in Cobb County so veterans would have an easier experience seeking medical care. (11) Colonel Mike Boyce died on January 25, 2022, in South Bend, Indiana, and is survived by his wife, Judy Moon Boyce, and his children Alison Boyce Cotsonika, Kevin Reid Boyce, and Sean Michael Boyce. SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS MULTISPECIALTY CLINIC, MARIETTA, GEORGIA. The Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic located at 1263 Cobb Parkway NW, Marietta, Georgia, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the ``Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic'' or the ``Colonel Michael H. Boyce VA Clinic''. Any reference to such multispecialty clinic in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States shall be considered to be a reference to the Colonel Michael H. Boyce VA Multispecialty Clinic. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Conaway) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois. General Leave Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 5362. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois? There was no objection. Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5362, Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic, sponsored by Representative Loudermilk. Colonel Michael H. Boyce dedicated almost three decades to our Nation as a United States marine, serving in key leadership and operational roles around the world. Throughout Colonel Boyce's career, he served with the First Marine Division, the First, Second, and Fourth Marine Aircraft Wings, and the First Marine Expeditionary Brigade. He also served overseas in Turkiye, Bahrain, Oman, and Somalia in support of operations to include Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Restore Hope, Desert Thunder, and Desert Fox. {time} 1120 Before his retirement in 2001, Colonel Boyce held multiple senior leadership roles, including head programmer for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Air Warfare Division, head of operational plans at Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and deputy commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii. After his military service, Colonel Boyce returned home and continued to serve his community as chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. In this role, he advocated for veterans by establishing the county's first [[Page H4474]] veterans service office and led efforts to construct a VA clinic. Colonel Boyce's lifelong commitment to veterans and leadership makes this recognition a fine tribute to an extraordinary American. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5362 honors a true American leader who put service above self. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5362, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5362 to name the Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic in Marietta, Georgia, after Colonel Michael H. Boyce, a dedicated Marine Corps veteran, public servant, and community leader. Colonel Boyce was born in Brawley, California, in September 1949 and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. With this degree in hand, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. After attending The Basic School and Army Field Artillery School, he was assigned to the First Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California. He continued to wear the uniform for the next 30 years, reaching the rank of colonel with assignments in Hawaii, Japan, Turkiye, Bahrain, and Oman, where he supported operations including Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Desert Fox. Colonel Boyce also deployed to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope during his time with the Marine Air Group 16. In 2001, Colonel Boyce retired from the Marine Corps, but that did not mark the end of his service to country and community. He moved to Marietta, Georgia, and became a dedicated member of his local church, alongside several charities and veterans service organizations including Habitat for Humanity, the VFW, and The American Legion. In 2016, Colonel Boyce was elected as chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners. During his time in office, he led the efforts to make Veterans Day a paid holiday for county employees, established a veterans service office in the county, and opened a VA clinic to expand access to care for local veterans. Colonel Boyce passed away in January of 2022 and was laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Colonel Boyce's unwavering commitment to service and stewardship is a model to which we should all aspire. Naming the VA clinic that he helped bring to Marietta in his honor is a perfect way to demonstrate our appreciation for Colonel Boyce's life of service. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk). Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for bringing this bill to the floor. As the Representative of Georgia `s 11th Congressional District and a veteran of the United States Air Force, I proudly rise today in support of H.R. 5362 to name the Department of Veterans Affairs multispecialty clinic in Marietta, Georgia, as the Colonel Michael H. Boyce Department of Veterans Affairs Multispecialty Clinic. As he was to many, Mike Boyce was a friend of mine, who unfortunately passed away in 2022. Mike took his duties to our country and our community seriously. Like a true patriot, Mike spent much of his life in service to his community, State, and Nation. Throughout his service in the Marine Corps and later in elected office as the chairman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, Mike was a tireless advocate for the health and welfare of our Active-Duty servicemen and veterans. Mike worked to ensure our servicemembers had the tools to succeed and was instrumental in establishing the Cobb County VA Clinic, which remains a vital resource for those who served our country. Mr. Speaker, recognizing Colonel Boyce through this legislation is a fitting tribute to an American hero whose service and advocacy inspired so many, including myself. I greatly appreciate his wife, Judy, for continuing his incredible legacy. Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5362, to honor this very deserving veteran. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. BOST. Mr.

Referenced legislation: HR5362, HR5362