[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      GIVING CREDIT FOR THE MISSING SERVICE PERSONNEL ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 1996

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, February 10, in signing the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996, the President 
signed into law the Missing Service Personnel Act of 1995, which had 
been incorporated into the authorization bill. The passage of the 
provisions of the Missing Service Personnel Act is a significant 
milestone for veterans and for the families of our MIA's, and I rise 
today to give credit to some of the people, including some of my fellow 
Vermonters, who worked hard for the passage of these provisions.
  Their dedication, commitment, and persistence in the face of 
overwhelming odds has finally brought to fruition a matter that has 
been their primary concern for over 13 years. And I am very proud that 
my fellow Vermonters have played such a significant role in this 
effort.
  I cosponsored the Missing Service Personnel Act of 1995 after being 
convinced by Patricia Sheerin, Don Amorosi, Sean McGuirl, Walt Handy, 
and Al Diacetis of the desperate need for this law. The act is the 
culmination of years of effort on the part of my fellow Vermonters--Tom 
Cook, Bob Jones, and Brian Lindner, the president, vice president, and 
chief of research, respectively, of the Northeast POW/MIA Network; and 
Jim Howley--and the veterans organizations who have supported it, 
including Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans. Most 
notable were the contributions of the family members of the missing and 
prisoners: Tom Cook, Sharon Roraback, and Sarah Pendris.
  Were it not for a special conference held in 1993 by the Northeast 
POW/MIA Network, we would not today have a law to protect missing 
service persons, to protect their families from exploitation, and to 
grant basic human rights to the missing as well as their families. 
Under the guidance of a former POW, Lt. Col. Orson Swindle, 
participants in that conference were able to clarify the goals of the 
proposed Missing Service Personnel Act as originally authored by John 
Holland. Mr. Swindle pointed a new direction: That while we cannot 
solve all the problems of the past, we can protect missing service 
persons in the future, based on what we have learned from past 
mistakes.
  Through her courage and intuition, Vermonter Patricia Sheerin, policy 
analyst for the Northeast POW/MIA Network, convinced the National 
Vietnam Veterans Coalition to support the legislation and work for its 
passage. She also formed a plan and policy uniting veterans 
organizations and veterans advocates with the sole purpose of 
correcting and updating the outdated Missing Service Persons Act of 
1942.
  Crucial to passage of this new law was the support of citizens who 
were informed about its benefits. Joe and Paula Donaldson of Fair 
Haven, VT, deserve credit for organizing a weekly vigil as part of this 
educational effort. Nationwide distribution of information on the 
progress of the legislation, a responsibility of Bob Necci, helped pave 
the way to passage of this important act. Education is often the key to 
success, and such was the case with the Missing Service Personnel Act 
of 1995.
  I commend the supporters of this bill for their loyalty and devotion 
to the men and women who wear the uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces. 
These Vietnam veterans and family members of those missing and captured 
in Vietnam have left a legacy of justice and fair treatment for future 
soldiers who become missing while fighting to defend our country and 
our freedom.

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