February 11, 2026
Ms. Ernst introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
To designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Des Moines, Iowa, as the Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic
and to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department in Marshalltown, Iowa, as the Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic
.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Iowa National Guard Heroes Commemoration Act
.
Sec. 2. Designation of Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic
(a) Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Staff Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar was born in DeKalb, Illinois, on October 17, 2000, and raised in Des Moines, Iowa.
(2)
Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar graduated from Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, in 2019.
(3)
On February 21, 2019, Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar enlisted in the United States Army.
(4)
Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar was the first in his family to serve in the Armed Forces.
(5)
Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar deployed to Kosovo in November 2020, supporting United States and allied operations, and deployed to Syria in July 2025 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
(6)
Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar served as a Cavalry Scout with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard.
(7)
On December 13, 2025, Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar was killed in action in Palmyra, Syria, while supporting United States counterterrorism operations.
(8)
Staff Sergeant Torres-Tovar was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal with Combat Device for heroic service during combat operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
(b) Designation
The clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 1211 East Army Post Road, Des Moines, Iowa, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic
or the Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic
.
(c) References
Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the clinic referred to in subsection (b) shall be considered to be a reference to the Staff Sergeant Edgar Torres-Tovar VA Clinic.
Sec. 3. Designation of Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic
(a) Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Nate
Howard was born on August 14, 1996, in Marshalltown, Iowa.
(2)
Staff Sergeant Howard graduated from Marshalltown High School in 2014.
(3)
At the age of 17, while a high school senior, Staff Sergeant Howard enlisted in the Iowa National Guard on November 27, 2013, completing basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Georgia.
(4)
Staff Sergeant Howard deployed to Kosovo from November 2020 to July 2021 in support of United States and allied operations, served on the Texas border from April 2024 to May 2024, and deployed to Syria in July 2025 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
(5)
Staff Sergeant Howard served as a Cavalry Scout with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard.
(6)
On December 13, 2025, Staff Sergeant Howard was killed in action in Palmyra, Syria, while supporting United States counterterrorism operations.
(7)
Staff Sergeant Howard was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal with Combat Device for heroic service in combat.
(b) Designation
The outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 201 East Merle Hibbs Boulevard, Marshalltown, Iowa, shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and designated as the Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic
or the Nate Howard VA Clinic
.
(c) References
Any reference in any law, regulation, map, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the clinic referred to in subsection (b) shall be considered to be a reference to the Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard VA Clinic.