Summary#
This bill would give an official, honorary name to a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) community-based outpatient clinic in Lubbock, Texas. The clinic would be named the "Lieutenant General Bernie Mittemeyer VA Clinic." The main purpose is to change the clinic’s name as a form of recognition.
- Main change: renames the VA community-based outpatient clinic in Lubbock to the "Lieutenant General Bernie Mittemeyer VA Clinic."
- Who introduced it: Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are listed as sponsors.
- Policy goal: to honor Lieutenant General Bernie Mittemeyer by naming a VA clinic after him.
- Does not clearly change: benefits, services, eligibility, or operations of the clinic (no program or funding changes are stated in the available material).
- Status: read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
What it means for you#
- Veterans and patients who use the Lubbock clinic: The clinic’s official name would change. Appointments, care, and eligibility are not changed by the naming itself.
- Clinic staff and VA administrators: They would likely need to update signs, letterheads, web pages, directories, and internal records to reflect the new name.
- Local community and visitors: Maps, directions, and references to the clinic could use the new name. Existing informal names (for example, “Lubbock VA clinic”) might still be used in conversation.
- Taxpayers and the broader public: The bill does not say it changes funding or services. Any public impact would most likely be limited to the costs of renaming and updating materials.
Expenses#
No publicly available information.
- The bill text and the supplied material do not include a fiscal note or cost estimate.
- This could mean small, one-time costs for new signs, printed materials, website updates, and administrative time.
- The bill does not say whether the VA, federal government, state, or local partners would pay those costs.
- There is no stated change to ongoing funding, staff, or services for the clinic.
Proponents' View#
- The bill appears intended to honor Lieutenant General Bernie Mittemeyer by naming a VA clinic after him.
- A possible argument for the bill is that naming a clinic recognizes military or public service and highlights a local connection to veterans’ care.
- The change is limited in scope and does not appear to alter benefits or operations, so supporters might see it as a symbolic gesture with low policy impact.
Opponents' View#
- One concern is that the bill does not explain who pays for renaming costs (signs, websites, stationery).
- The bill does not state a date when the new name would start or how the VA should implement the change. This may create administrative uncertainty.
- Some may view naming public facilities after individuals as a low-priority use of legislative attention, though the bill itself does not change services or funding.
- It is unclear whether the naming could cause confusion in records or referrals if not widely communicated.