H.R. 7511

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7511 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7511

To designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Des 
Moines, Iowa, as the ``Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic'' 
and to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the 
Department in Marshalltown, Iowa, as the ``Staff Sergeant William 
Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 11, 2026

Mr. Nunn of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Feenstra, Mrs. Hinson, and Mrs. 
Miller-Meeks) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Des 
Moines, Iowa, as the ``Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic'' 
and to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the 
Department in Marshalltown, Iowa, as the ``Staff Sergeant William 
Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic''.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Iowa National Guard Heroes 
Commemoration Act''.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF STAFF SERGEANT EDGAR TORRES-TOVAR VA CLINIC.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Staff Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar was born in 
DeKalb, Illinois, on October 17, 2000, and raised in Des 
Moines, Iowa.
(2) Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar graduated from Dowling 
Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, in 2019.
(3) On February 21, 2019, Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar 
enlisted in the United States Army.
(4) Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar was the first in his family 
to serve in the Armed Forces.
(5) Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar deployed to Kosovo in 
November 2020, supporting United States and allied operations, 
and deployed to Syria in July 2025 in support of Operation 
Inherent Resolve.
(6) Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar served as a Cavalry Scout 
with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade 
Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard.
(7) On December 13, 2025, Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar was 
killed in action in Palmyra, Syria, while supporting United 
States counterterrorism operations.
(8) Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar was awarded the Bronze Star 
Medal with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, 
and the Army Commendation Medal with Combat Device for heroic 
service during combat operations in support of Operation 
Inherent Resolve.
(b) Designation.--The clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
located at 1211 East Army Post Road, Des Moines, Iowa, shall after the 
date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the 
``Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic'' or the ``Edgar Torres-
Tovar VA Clinic''.
(c) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the clinic 
referred to in subsection (b) shall be considered to be a reference to 
the Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAM NATHANIEL HOWARD VA 
CLINIC.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel ``Nate'' Howard was 
born on August 14, 1996, in Marshalltown, Iowa.
(2) Staff Sergeant Howard graduated from Marshalltown High 
School in 2014.
(3) At the age of 17, while a high school senior, Staff 
Sergeant Howard enlisted in the Iowa National Guard on November 
27, 2013, completing basic combat training and advanced 
individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
(4) Staff Sergeant Howard deployed to Kosovo from November 
2020 to July 2021 in support of United States and allied 
operations, served on the Texas border from April 2024 to May 
2024, and deployed to Syria in July 2025 in support of 
Operation Inherent Resolve.
(5) Staff Sergeant Howard served as a Cavalry Scout with 
Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade 
Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard.
(6) On December 13, 2025, Staff Sergeant Howard was killed 
in action in Palmyra, Syria, while supporting United States 
counterterrorism operations.
(7) Staff Sergeant Howard was awarded the Bronze Star Medal 
with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, and the 
Army Commendation Medal with Combat Device for heroic service 
in combat.
(b) Designation.--The outpatient clinic of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs located at 201 East Merle Hibbs Boulevard, 
Marshalltown, Iowa, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act 
be known and designated as the ``Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel 
Howard VA Clinic'' or the ``Nate Howard VA Clinic''.
(c) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map, 
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the clinic 
referred to in subsection (b) shall be considered to be a reference to 
the Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic.
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