HR 4647: Captain Paul W. Bud Bucha VA Medical Center Act of 2025

HR 4647 in plain English: This bill would officially rename the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center located in West Haven, Connecticut, to the Captain Paul W. "Bud" Bucha VA Medical Center, honoring that individual.

Stated purpose

This bill renames the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in West Haven, Connecticut, after Captain Paul W. 'Bud' Bucha, a Medal of Honor recipient and veterans' advocate, to honor his military service and lifelong dedication to veterans.

Key points

• Renames the VA medical center in West Haven, Connecticut, after Captain Paul W. "Bud" Bucha.

Arguments supporters make

• Captain Bucha was a Medal of Honor recipient who showed extraordinary bravery and leadership in combat, making him a fitting honoree for a veterans' facility.
• Bucha personally received care at this very medical center and spent years advocating for veterans' mental health, creating a meaningful and personal connection to the facility being named after him.
• Naming the center after someone who openly sought help for post-traumatic stress and worked to reduce its stigma could encourage other veterans to seek the mental health care they need.

Arguments opponents make

• Renaming federal facilities involves administrative costs — updating signage, stationery, and official records — that critics may see as an unnecessary use of government resources.
• Some may argue that Congress's limited floor time and attention would be better spent on legislation that directly improves veterans' healthcare services rather than symbolic renaming bills.
• With many deserving veterans and advocates to honor, critics could question why one individual is selected over others, and whether a consistent, transparent standard guides such naming decisions.

Tradeoffs

Symbolic recognition of a veteran's legacy comes at a small but real administrative cost to update the facility's name across official systems; the honor is meaningful but does not change the services or funding available at the medical center.

Current status in Congress: In committee.