[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 822 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 822

     Honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator Max Cleland.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 23, 2021

Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. David 
 Scott of Georgia, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mrs. McBath, Ms. Bourdeaux, 
Mr. Clyde, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Allen, Mr. Loudermilk, Mr. Austin 
Scott of Georgia, and Mr. Ferguson) submitted the following resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator Max Cleland.

Whereas Joseph Maxwell Cleland was born August 24, 1942, in Atlanta, Georgia, 
        the child of Juanita Kesler Cleland and Joseph Hughie Cleland, a World 
        War II veteran, and grew up in Lithonia, Georgia;
Whereas Joseph Maxwell Cleland graduated from Stetson University in Florida in 
        1964, and received his Master's Degree in history from Emory University 
        in Atlanta, Georgia;
Whereas, following his graduation from Stetson University, Joseph Maxwell 
        Cleland received a Second Lieutenant's Commission in the Army through 
        its Reserve Officers' Training Corps program;
Whereas Joseph Maxwell Cleland volunteered for duty in the Vietnam War in 1967, 
        serving with the 1st Cavalry Division;
Whereas, on April 8, 1968, during combat at the mountain base at Khe Sanh, 
        Joseph Maxwell Cleland was gravely injured by the blast of a grenade, 
        eventually losing both his legs and right arm;
Whereas Joseph Maxwell Cleland was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious 
        service and the Silver Star for gallantry in action;
Whereas, in 1970, Joseph Maxwell Cleland was elected to the Georgia Senate as 
        the youngest member and the only Vietnam veteran, where he served until 
        1975;
Whereas, as a Georgia State Senator, Joseph Maxwell Cleland authored and 
        advanced legislation to ensure access to public facilities in Georgia 
        for elderly and handicapped individuals;
Whereas, in 1976, Joseph Maxwell Cleland began serving as a staffer on the 
        Committee on Veterans Affairs of the Senate;
Whereas, in 1977, Joseph Maxwell Cleland was appointed by President Jimmy Carter 
        to lead the Veterans Administration;
Whereas he was the youngest Administrator of the Veterans Administration ever 
        and the first Vietnam veteran to head the agency;
Whereas he served as a champion for veterans and led the Veterans Administration 
        to recognize, and begin to treat, post-traumatic stress disorder in 
        veterans suffering the invisible wounds of war;
Whereas Joseph Maxwell Cleland was elected in 1982 as Georgia's Secretary of 
        State, the youngest individual to hold the office, and served in that 
        position for 14 years;
Whereas, in 1996, Joseph Maxwell Cleland was elected to the United States Senate 
        representing Georgia;
Whereas, as a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Joseph Maxwell Cleland 
        advocated for Georgia's military bases, servicemembers, and veterans, 
        including by championing key personnel issues, playing a critical role 
        in the effort to allow servicemembers to pass their GI Bill education 
        benefits to their children, and establishing a new veterans cemetery in 
        Canton, Georgia;
Whereas, in 2002, Joseph Maxwell Cleland was appointed to the 9/11 Commission;
Whereas, in 2003, Joseph Maxwell Cleland was appointed by President George W. 
        Bush to the Board of Directors for the Export-Import Bank of the United 
        States, where he served until 2007;
Whereas, in 2009, Joseph Maxwell Cleland was appointed by President Barack Obama 
        as Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission overseeing 
        United States military cemeteries and monuments overseas, where he 
        served until 2017;
Whereas Joseph Maxwell Cleland authored 3 books: Strong at the Broken Places, 
        Going for the Max: 12 Principles for Living Life to the Fullest, and 
        Heart of a Patriot;
Whereas Joseph Maxwell Cleland received numerous honors and awards over the 
        course of his long and distinguished career;
Whereas Joseph Maxwell Cleland was a patriot, veteran, and lifelong civil 
        servant who proudly served Georgia, the United States, and all veterans 
        and servicemembers of the United States; and
Whereas, on November 9, 2021, at the age of 79, Joseph Maxwell Cleland died, 
        leaving behind a legacy of service, sacrifice, and joy: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the House of Representatives--
                    (A) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret 
                the announcement of the death of Joseph Maxwell 
                Cleland;
                    (B) honors the life and legacy of the late Senator 
                Joseph Maxwell Cleland for his--
                            (i) courage and sacrifice in combat in the 
                        Vietnam War;
                            (ii) unwavering dedication to Georgia as a 
                        State Senator, Secretary of State, and Senator; 
                        and
                            (iii) honorable service to the United 
                        States and veterans of the United States 
                        through his lifetime of public service and 
                        tenure as Administrator of the Veterans 
                        Administration;
                    (C) proclaims that Joseph Maxwell Cleland--
                            (i) represented the best of Georgia's 
                        commitment to the United States; and
                            (ii) served continually for more than 50 
                        years with an unwavering commitment to public 
                        service; and
                    (D) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the 
                House of Representatives--
                            (i) communicate this resolution to the 
                        Senate; and
                            (ii) transmit an enrolled copy of this 
                        resolution to the family of Joseph Maxwell 
                        Cleland; and
            (2) when the House adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a 
        further mark of respect to the memory of Joseph Maxwell 
        Cleland.
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