Garamendi, Thompson Reintroduce Bill to Rename Mare Island VA Clinic in Honor of Lifelong Vallejo Resident Delphine Metcalf-Foster

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Representative John Garamendi (CA-08) and Representative Mike Thompson (CA-04) introduced legislation to rename the Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic at Mare Island in Vallejo the "Delphine Metcalf-Foster VA Clinic."

Ms. Metcalf-Foster is a lifelong resident of Vallejo and the daughter of Joseph Robert Taylor. Mr. Taylor was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and a 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldier.

Ms. Metcalf-Foster is a U.S. Army Reserve Veteran of Operation Desert Storm, retiring as a First Sergeant (E-8) in 1996. She is also a Bronze Star Medal recipient and a retired Quality Assurance Work Leader from the Alameda Naval Air Station. Following her retirement, she embarked on a life mission to assist all veterans. Ms. Metcalf-Foster has volunteered for the VA Northern California Health Care System for over 25 years and continues to volunteer at the Mare Island clinic once a week.

"I am thrilled to join with Congressman Mike Thompson in recognizing Delphine Metcalf-Foster's incredible volunteerism and lifelong commitment to service," Congressman Garamendi said. "After a 21-year Army career, Ms. Metcalf-Foster began passionately volunteering at the local, state, and national levels to improve the lives of countless veterans. Ms. Metcalf-Foster epitomizes the leadership, compassion, and care all veterans deserve. I look forward to this bill becoming law, finally recognizing Ms. Metcalf-Foster for her decades service and tireless work on behalf of our veterans and the Vallejo community," Garamendi concluded.

"Delphine Metcalf-Foster has dedicated her life in service to our country, our community, and her fellow veterans," said Thompson. "Proud to introduce this bill with Rep. Garamendi to honor Ms. Metcalf-Foster for all that she has done to better our community and uplift our veterans. She is the epitome of selflessness, and this is well-deserved recognition. I look forward to working to pass this legislation in the House and for President Biden to sign it into law, making this a reality," said Congressman Thompson.

"I am honored by the reintroduction of this legislation," Delphine Metcalf-Foster said. "I dedicate this honor to all veterans, including my father—Joseph Robert Taylor. He paved the way for me to have a life dedicated to public service. If this legislation becomes law, and the Mare Island VA Clinic carries my name, it will carry his too."

Ms. Metcalf-Foster was the Commander of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Ozie Boler Chapter 21 in Vallejo, DAV Department of California in 2004-05, and DAV National Commander in 2017-18. She is also a life-member of The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 2018, she was recognized as one of the "Mighty 25: Influencers Supporting the Military Community." In 2019, she was selected as the Grand Marshall for the 166th Vallejo 4th of July Parade.

Ms. Metcalf-Foster is a trailblazing veteran that continues to passionately and selflessly volunteer at the local and national levels to improve outreach to and services for all veterans.

While Ms. Metcalf-Foster continues to volunteer countless hours at local VA facilities, her leadership is constantly sought from local to national levels. She has served as a member of the Solano-Napa Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, the VA Northern California Health Care System Veteran and Family Advisory Committee, VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, and the VA Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses. She has also testified before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs, advocating to improve outreach to and services for women and all veterans.

Ms. Metcalf-Foster's family history of military services continues today, as her granddaughter is an Iraq-Afghanistan War Veteran, and her great granddaughter currently serves in the U.S. Army.

The full text of the legislation is available here.