Fattah Leads Pennsylvania Delegation Effort to Bring Philadelphia VA Hospital Renaming Bill to a Vote

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02) led an effort this week to pass legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would rename the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center in honor of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz.  Crescenz was the only Philadelphian to receive the Medal of Honor for military service during the Vietnam War. Fattah introduced the renaming bill, H.R. 454, in February 2013.  Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey followed with a Senate companion of the bill that month.

A bipartisan letter, supported and signed by all 18 members of Pennsylvania's House delegation was sent to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Monday.

In the letter, the Pennsylvania delegation requested that the Committee bring the legislation to a vote before the end of the 113^th Congress, writing: "Renaming the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center in honor of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz would pay tribute to the sacrifice and service of this American hero. Moreover, it pays tribute to the veterans of our Commonwealth and the veterans of this great nation."  A copy of the full letter can be found here.

"Passage of H.R. 454, recognizing one of Philadelphia's most distinguished military servicemen, is long overdue," Congressman Fattah said. "For the last year and a half, I have been working with the entire Pennsylvania delegation to see this legislation through. Now, as we near the end of the 113^th Congress, I urge my colleagues to bring either the Senate version or the House version of the bill to a vote."

In addition to endorsing the letter to the Committee, the entire Pennsylvania House delegation served as co-sponsors of the Fattah bill: Reps. Bob Brady, Mike Kelly, Scott Perry, Glenn Thompson, Jim Gerlach, Patrick Meehan, Mike Fitzpatrick, Bill Shuster, Tom Marino, Lou Barletta, Keith Rothfus, Allyson Schwartz, Mike Doyle, Charlie Dent, Joe Pitts, Matt Cartwright, and Tim Murphy.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fattah-leads-pennsylvania-delegation-effort-to-bring-philadelphia-va-hospital-renaming-bill-to-a-vote-300004183.html

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah

Related Links

http://www.fattah.house.gov