Overview

Title

An Act To name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Plano, Texas, as the U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic.

ELI5 AI

In this bill, Congress wants to change the name of a special health clinic in Plano, Texas, where veterans go for checkups, to honor a man named Sam Johnson. They want to call it the "U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic" everywhere it is mentioned in important papers and maps.

Summary AI

H.R. 4136 seeks to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic located in Plano, Texas. If passed, this clinic will be known as the “U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic.” The name change will apply to any references to the clinic in U.S. laws, regulations, maps, and official documents after the enactment of this act.

Published

2024-07-22
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Engrossed in House
Date: 2024-07-22
Package ID: BILLS-118hr4136eh

Keywords AI

va clinic renaming sam johnson plano texas department of veterans affairs h.r. 4136 veterans health care congress name change legislation clinic naming justification legislative process

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
245
Pages:
4
Sentences:
10

Language

Nouns: 109
Verbs: 13
Adjectives: 4
Adverbs: 0
Numbers: 7
Entities: 29

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.23
Average Sentence Length:
24.50
Token Entropy:
4.19
Readability (ARI):
14.08

AnalysisAI

Summary of the Bill

The proposed legislation seeks to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic located in Plano, Texas, in honor of U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson. The new name of the facility would be the "U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic." The bill mandates that all references to this clinic in legal, official, and public documents throughout the United States should be updated to reflect this change. The House of Representatives has passed the bill as of July 22, 2024.

Significant Issues

There are several notable issues associated with this bill:

  1. Potential Favoritism: The naming of the clinic after U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson raises concerns about perceived favoritism unless there is a public justification for the decision. The bill does not elaborate on Congressman Johnson’s specific contributions or why this honor is merited solely to him.

  2. Lack of Cost Transparency: The legislation does not disclose any financial or administrative implications associated with the renaming process. Renaming a facility typically involves costs for updating signs, documents, and other related materials, but these details are not addressed in the bill.

  3. Omission of Decision Criteria: The bill does not provide the criteria or reasons for choosing Congressman Johnson as the honoree. Without this information, it is unclear how decisions are made about naming public facilities, which might lead to public skepticism or questions about transparency.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the renaming of a public facility is a symbolic gesture. It aims to honor an individual’s legacy and can serve as a tribute to their contributions to society. However, without clear reasoning and transparency, such actions might invite public scrutiny or debate about the fairness and appropriateness of the honor.

For the public in Plano, Texas, the change might help create a lasting community memory of Congressman Johnson, provided he is a well-regarded figure in the area. The renaming could foster a sense of connection or pride in local history, but it might also spark debate if his legacy is controversial or not universally recognized.

Impact on Stakeholders

Positive Impacts:

  • For individuals and communities who greatly valued Congressman Johnson’s work, the renaming could be seen as a fitting recognition of his contributions and an acknowledgment of his service.

  • The VA clinic staff and service users might experience heightened attention or appreciation from external stakeholders, potentially improving morale or service usage due to the increased visibility.

Negative Impacts:

  • Other stakeholders might view the decision as an unwarranted display of favoritism if notably deserving individuals are omitted without explanation.

  • The lack of transparency about renaming costs may concern taxpayers or fiscal watchdogs, especially if significant public funds are needed to implement the name change.

Overall, while the bill mainly confines itself to a ceremonial change, its broader implications hinge on the public’s perception of fairness, transparency, and the appropriate use of resources.

Issues

  • The decision to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Plano, Texas, after U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson may be seen as favoritism unless justified by his significant contributions, as indicated in Section 2.

  • The legislation lacks transparency regarding the cost or administrative process involved in changing the name of the clinic, including updates to documents, signs, or materials, which may have financial implications, as mentioned in Section 2.

  • The criteria or rationale for choosing U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson as the namesake for the clinic are not specified in the bill, potentially leading to questions about the decision-making process and the precedent it sets, as outlined in Section 2.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section provides the short title of the Act, which is named the “U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic Act”.

2. Name of Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic, Plano, Texas Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The Department of Veterans Affairs clinic in Plano, Texas, will be renamed the "U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson Memorial VA Clinic," and all official documents will reflect this new name.