[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1291 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1291

Expressing gratitude for the contributions of the American GI Forum on 
                         its 60th anniversary.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 20, 2008

   Mr. Rodriguez (for himself and Mr. Ortiz) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing gratitude for the contributions of the American GI Forum on 
                         its 60th anniversary.

Whereas millions of veterans returning home from World War II looked to the 
        guarantee of educational, medical, housing, and other basic benefits 
        provided by the GI bill;
Whereas these benefits were denied in large part to Americans of Mexican descent 
        and other Hispanics throughout the United States;
Whereas the American GI Forum was founded in 1948 by Army Major Hector P. 
        Garcia, a physician from Corpus Christi, Texas, in response to such 
        inequities;
Whereas the Forum's motto is ``Education Is Our Freedom and Freedom Should Be 
        Everybody's Business'';
Whereas in 1998 the Forum was granted a Federal charter pursuant to an Act of 
        Congress (Public Law 105-231);
Whereas one of the purposes expressed in the Forum's charter is ``fostering and 
        enlarging equal educational opportunities, equal economic opportunities, 
        equal justice under the law, and equal political opportunities for all 
        United States citizens, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or 
        national origin'';
Whereas the Forum's Veterans Outreach Program is based in San Antonio, Texas, 
        and provides training, employment, and counseling for veterans in the 
        Southwestern United States; and
Whereas the American GI Forum continues to be a beacon of hope and an avenue for 
        involvement for returning veterans and ordinary citizens aspiring to 
        improve conditions within their own communities: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the need for equal access to veterans' 
        benefits for all who have honorably served;
            (2) supports the goals, ideals, and deeds of the American 
        GI Forum and its members;
            (3) commends the work of the American GI Forum on its 60th 
        anniversary; and
            (4) encourages others to join with the American GI Forum to 
        ensure that veterans are never again denied the benefits they 
        rightfully deserve.
                                 <all>