To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, as the "Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic".
HB4288 is a commemorative naming bill that would rename the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, as the “Corporal Patrick D. Tillman Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic,” also referred to as the “Pat Tillman VA Clinic.” The bill includes findings recounting Patrick Tillman’s life and service: his upbringing in San Jose, his football career at Arizona State and in the NFL, his decision to leave professional football to join the U.S. Army after September 11, and his death in Afghanistan in 2004. It also notes his posthumous recognition with the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and promotion to corporal.
The bill’s operative legal effect is limited to the official designation of one VA outpatient clinic. It directs that any reference in federal law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record to the San Jose clinic be treated as a reference to the newly named clinic. The measure does not create new veterans’ benefits, change eligibility rules, or alter VA operations beyond the facility name.
The general sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly positive and honorific. The findings frame Tillman as a national hero and emphasize his sacrifice and military service, suggesting broad symbolic support for commemorating him through a federal facility naming. No committee transcript or vote record is available in the provided materials, so there is no recorded debate or roll-call evidence of opposition or support beyond the bill’s introduction and referral.
Because the bill is a naming resolution rather than a policy change, likely points of contention would be minimal and procedural rather than substantive. Any discussion would most likely concern whether a federal VA clinic should be named for Tillman, the appropriateness of using his full military title versus a shorter public name, or the general practice of commemorative naming of federal facilities. The available record, however, shows no explicit controversy.
HB4288 would amend the official federal designation of the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, by assigning it the honorary name “Corporal Patrick D. Tillman Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic” and allowing the shorter “Pat Tillman VA Clinic.” It would require federal references to that clinic to be read as referring to the renamed facility, but it would not change veterans’ benefits, VA eligibility, funding formulas, or service delivery rules. The bill primarily affects federal records and signage associated with the San Jose VA clinic.
The bill appears to have a respectful, commemorative tone and is framed as a tribute to Patrick Tillman’s military service, sacrifice, and local ties to San Jose. The introduction by bipartisan sponsors and the absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials suggest generally favorable sentiment. No votes or committee debate are available, so the record does not show any organized support or resistance beyond the bill’s ceremonial purpose.
No explicit contention is shown in the provided text, votes, or committee materials. If any concerns were raised, they would likely be limited to the usual questions surrounding commemorative naming bills, such as whether the honor is appropriate, whether the full formal title should be used, or whether federal naming actions should be reserved for certain categories of service. The available record does not identify any member or stakeholder opposition.