H.R. 4689

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4689 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4689

To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient 
clinic in Bloomington, Illinois, as the ``Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of 
Honor Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 23, 2025

Mr. LaHood (for himself, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Kelly of 
Illinois, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Quigley, Mr. 
Casten, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. 
Schneider, Mr. Foster, Mr. Bost, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Underwood, Mrs. 
Miller of Illinois, and Mr. Sorensen) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient 
clinic in Bloomington, Illinois, as the ``Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of 
Honor Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Color Sergeant Andrew Jackson Smith of the 55th 
Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, formerly of the 41st Illinois 
Infantry Regiment, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor 
for his heroic actions in the Civil War.
(2) His Medal of Honor citation reads ``Corporal Andrew 
Jackson Smith, of Clinton, Illinois, a member of the 55th 
Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry, distinguished himself on 30 
November 1864 by saving his regimental colors, after the color 
bearer was killed during a bloody charge at the Battle of Honey 
Hill, South Carolina. In the late afternoon, as the 55th 
Regiment pursued enemy skirmishers and conducted a running 
fight, they ran into a swampy area backed by a rise where the 
Confederate Army awaited. The surrounding woods and thick 
underbrush impeded infantry movement and artillery support. The 
55th and 54th regiments formed columns to advance to the enemy 
position in a flanking movement. As the Confederates repelled 
other units, the 55th and 54th regiments continued to move into 
flanking positions. Forced into a narrow gorge crossing a swamp 
in the face of the enemy positions, the 55th's Color-Sergeant 
was killed by an exploding shell, and Corporal Smith took the 
Regimental Colors from his hand and carried them through heavy 
grape and canister fire. Although half of the officers and a 
third of the enlisted men engaged in the fight were killed or 
wounded, Corporal Smith continued to expose himself to the 
enemy fire by carrying the colors throughout the battle. 
Through his actions, the Regimental Colors of the 55th Infantry 
Regiment were not lost to the enemy. Corporal Andrew Jackson 
Smith's extraordinary valor in the face of deadly enemy fire is 
in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and 
reflect great credit upon him, the 55th Regiment, and the 
United States Army.''.

SEC. 2. NAME OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMUNITY-BASED 
OUTPATIENT CLINIC, BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

The Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient 
clinic located at 207 Hamilton Road, Bloomington, Illinois, shall after 
the date of enactment of this Act be known and designated as the 
``Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of Honor Department of Veterans Affairs 
Clinic''. Any reference to such clinic in any law, regulation, map, 
document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be 
considered to be a reference to the Andrew Jackson Smith Medal of Honor 
Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.
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