CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PUERTO RICO RESIDENT COMMISSIONER
LUIS G. FORTUÑO

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Resident Commissioner, Luis Fortuño, expects the U.S. House of Representatives to approve H.R. 2249 today. Last December, Fortuño introduced the bill, which will name the Department of Veterans’ Affairs outpatient clinic in Ponce after Captain Eurípides Rubio. Born in Ponce, Captain Rubio was one of four Puerto Rican residents to win the Medal of Honor, the highest award for battlefield valor. The actions that earned Captain Rubio’s award also resulted in his death in Vietnam. He was 28.

 “Born in the City of Lions, Captain Rubio had the qualities of a lion, showing bravery, strength and loyalty,” the Resident Commissioner said, as he thanked Congress for helping to preserve the memory of an extraordinary Puerto Rican and American hero.

 Fortuño said that Captain Rubio, who served in the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, died when he left a relatively safe position to save the lives of his comrades. After suffering several wounds, Captain Rubio ran to relocate a smoke grenade that was intended to identify the enemy’s position and that had fallen too close to U.S. troops. Thanks to Captain Rubio’s efforts, American planes were able to identify and destroy the enemy.              

 “There are several ways that Congress can honor its national heroes. One of those is to publicly recognize our servicemen and servicewomen’s remarkable instances of bravery on the battlefield,” Fortuño said.

 Fortuño also recognized the veteran organizations that lent their support to the bill, including the American Legion, the Association of Reserve Officers, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Vietnam Veterans of America.
 

To To read Congressman Fortuño's statement for the record regarding his bill to name the VA Clinic after Eurípides Rubio, please click here.

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