[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11791-S11792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          AMENDING THE ACT TO INCORPORATE THE AMERICAN LEGION

  Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. 1377 introduced earlier today by 
Senators Hatch and Leahy.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows.

       A bill (S. 1377) to amend the act incorporating the 
     American Legion to make a technical correction.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I rise today to comment on a bill which 
will amend the act of incorporation of the American Legion. I have 
introduced this bill with my colleague from Utah, Senator Hatch, the 
chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
  Last year, Congress expanded the dates of the Vietnam war for 
purposes of veterans benefits by shifting the official start of the war 
from December 22, 1961, to February 28, 1961. The bill before the 
Senate makes a similar change in the Legion's charter. When we pass 
this into law the Legion will be able to extend membership to those men 
and women who served honorably on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces 
during the early years of the Vietnam war. I am hopeful that we can 
pass it by unanimous consent today, and have it signed into law by the 
President before we adjourn for the year.
  Mr. President, this modest change will mean a lot to the veterans 
from that period who wanted the opportunity to join the American Legion 
but never could. They have waited for more than 35 years to have the 
privilege of becoming Legionnaires. We should not make them wait one 
day longer.
  I yield the floor.

[[Page S11792]]

  Mr. NICKLES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be considered read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1377) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1377

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     section 5 of the Act entitled ``An Act to Incorporate the 
     American Legion'', approved September 16, 1919 (41 Stat. 285; 
     36 U.S.C. 45) is amended by striking ``December 22, 1961'' 
     and inserting ``February 28, 1961''.

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