U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler addressed the House floor Monday in support of his legislation to designate the new VA health care center in Center Township after a local veteran.
The bill, to name the facility the “Abie Abraham VA Clinic,” was co-sponsored by every member of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation, both Republican and Democrat. It was unanimously passed by the House and is expected to do the same in the U.S. Senate. It will likely be signed into law by year’s end.
During World War II, Abraham was a prisoner of war for three and a half years and endured the Bataan Death March. He was eventually rescued and would go on to serve as a recruiter and later a volunteer at VA Butler Healthcare in Butler Township, logging nearly 37,000 service hours. He passed away in 2012.
Excerpt of Rep. Kelly’s address:
“As he got into his later years, in his 80s and his 90s, going to Butler’s VA center every single day to help fellow veterans. His sole purpose in life was to help other American citizens, to help other veterans, to bring a little light into their life, to bring a little happiness into their life. Forty thousand hours of service in the VA center! He could’ve spent his time doing other things, but he didn’t. He chose to stay with those he loved. He chose to serve those he loved. He chose to continue to serve, even in his retirement, this nation that he loved so much. I can’t tell you how much it means to be able to look at that new health center going up and knowing that Mr. Abraham, from his new post, is looking down and is so thankful to a grateful nation that we are taking time to take care of those who’ve given everything they can to make sure our nation remains free.”
A previous version of Rep. Kelly’s bill was passed by the House of Representatives in June of 2016, but did not advance in the U.S. Senate. The bill is widely expected to now pass in the Senate and be signed into law this year.
You can watch Rep. Kelly’s address here.
Written By: Kayla Molczan for the Butler Radio Network
Photo Credit: C-Span
