HR-4983-116
Became Public Law No: 116-295.
Sponsored by Andy Biggs (R-AZ)
What it does
This law renames the Southeast Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic at 3285 South Val Vista Drive in Gilbert, Arizona, to the "Staff Sergeant Alexander W. Conrad Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic." It requires all future references in laws, regulations, maps, and official documents to use the new name. No operational, funding, or structural changes to the clinic are made.
Who benefits
The family and friends of Staff Sergeant Alexander W. Conrad, who died in Somalia in 2018 from combat injuries. Veterans and community members in the Gilbert, Arizona area who use the clinic and may find meaning in the commemoration. Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Octave Shield who served alongside Conrad.
Who is hurt
No group is materially harmed. Federal agencies, the VA, and local governments may incur minor administrative costs to update signage, maps, and official documents to reflect the new name.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that renaming the clinic honors Staff Sergeant Conrad's sacrifice — two combat deployments to Afghanistan, a deployment to Somalia, and a death in action — and that naming federal facilities after fallen service members is a meaningful, low-cost way for Congress to formally recognize military service. They contend Conrad's posthumous awards, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor, reflect a record of distinguished service that merits lasting public recognition.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that while the honor is well-intentioned, Congress routinely passes dozens of facility-naming bills each session, consuming limited floor time that could be directed toward substantive veterans' policy issues such as VA funding, mental health services, or benefits backlogs. They contend that the cumulative administrative burden of frequent renaming — updating signage, records, and official documents — represents a small but recurring cost to federal agencies and taxpayers.
Constitutional context
No significant constitutional issues are raised by this bill. Congress has broad authority to name and designate federal facilities, and commemorative legislation of this type is a routine exercise of legislative power with no conflict among the constitutional provisions relevant to defense legislation.
Checks and balances
Congress exercises its authority to designate federal facilities; the VA is responsible for implementing the name change administratively, with no meaningful check required given the purely ceremonial nature of the action.
Historical precedent
Congress regularly enacts facility-naming legislation; hundreds of VA clinics, hospitals, and federal buildings have been named after fallen service members under similar standalone bills.