House · HR 4288 · 119th Congress
To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in San Jose, California, as the "Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic".
Summary
This bill renames the VA clinic in San Jose, California, after Corporal Patrick D. Tillman. Pat Tillman gave up an NFL career to serve as an Army Ranger and was killed in Afghanistan in 2004. The new official name is the Corporal Patrick D. Tillman Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
In Favor
Pat Tillman sacrificed a million-dollar NFL career to serve his country after September 11. Naming the San Jose VA clinic after him honors that choice and gives local veterans a daily reminder of his courage. It costs nothing and gives the community a meaningful way to remember a true hero.
Against
Pat Tillman's mother publicly opposed the political use of his image, raising a real question about whether this renaming honors him or claims his legacy without his family's blessing. Congress also spent floor time on a symbolic name change while veterans face long wait times and underfunded care. Tribute should not come at the cost of ignoring those real needs.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
This bill officially renames a VA clinic in San Jose, California, after Army Ranger Corporal Patrick D. Tillman. Tillman left an NFL career to serve and died in Afghanistan in 2004.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill stays focused on its core purpose of renaming one specific VA clinic. No unrelated provisions are added to the bill's text.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Veterans and staff who use or work at the San Jose VA clinic will see the new name in official records. Federal agencies must update any laws, maps, or documents that reference the clinic.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill authorizes no specific dollar amount and does not create fees or new spending programs. The main cost would come from the agency updating signs, records, and documents to reflect the new name.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The bill requires all existing government records, maps, and documents to be updated to use the new clinic name. Coordinating those updates across multiple federal offices could take time and administrative effort.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 10/12/2026