House passes bill to rename San Jose VA clinic for Pat Tillman
The U.S. House of Representatives on July 15, 2026, passed bipartisan legislation to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in San Jose as the Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic, honoring the Army Ranger and former NFL player known as Pat Tillman more than two decades after his death in Afghanistan.
Key Takeaways
- The House passed a bipartisan bill to rename the San Jose VA outpatient clinic the Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic.
- Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) authored the measure; Rep. Ken Calvert (CA-41) co-led it, with every California House member as a cosponsor.
- Pat Tillman, a South San Jose native, left the Arizona Cardinals after Sept. 11, 2001, to serve as an Army Ranger and was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004.
- Sen. Adam Schiff has introduced companion legislation in the Senate; the House bill still needs Senate action to become law.
According to Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s office, the House overwhelmingly approved the renaming measure he introduced with Calvert. Panetta said the effort is about carrying on Tillman’s legacy of patriotism and passion, and about the progress the nation must still make.
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What did the House bill do for Pat Tillman?
The legislation directs that the VA outpatient clinic in San Jose be known as the Corporal Patrick D. Tillman VA Clinic. Lawmakers framed the rename as a lasting public honor for a local native whose service and sacrifice still resonate more than 20 years later.
Panetta told colleagues that Tillman “did nothing half-baked,” brought a full heart to academics, athletics, and military service, and represented “the very best of our country.” He also said the friendly-fire circumstances of Tillman’s death are a reminder that the Army, Congress, and the country must keep working to serve those who serve.
Who was Pat Tillman, and why does the rename matter?
Tillman was an All-American at Arizona State University in 1997 and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 1998, starting 10 games as a rookie. After the September 11 attacks, he turned down a multimillion-dollar NFL path and enlisted with his brother, Kevin. Both completed basic training in 2002 and later became Army Rangers.
He served in the 75th Ranger Regiment and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004, and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. Military.com notes the Army initially described an enemy ambush before investigators concluded he was killed by friendly fire, prompting wider Defense Department and congressional scrutiny.
Calvert said Tillman answered the call after September 11 by trading an Arizona Cardinals uniform for an Army Ranger uniform, and that his sacrifice embodies the patriotism that inspires many to serve.
What happens next for the Pat Tillman clinic bill?
Companion legislation has already been introduced in the Senate by Adam Schiff. Panetta said he will keep working with California senators and members of both parties to advance the bill and cement Tillman’s legacy at the South San Jose VA clinic.
Until the Senate acts and a final measure is enacted, the House vote stands as a strong bipartisan signal—but not yet a completed renaming under law.