[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 41 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3159-S3160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 207--RELATIVE TO THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA

  Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself, Mr. Specter, Mr. Akaka, and Mr. Leahy) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committe 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 207

       Whereas the year 1998 marks the 20th anniversary of the 
     founding of the Vietnam Veterans of America;
       Whereas the history of the Vietnam Veterans of America 
     organization is a story of America's gradual recognition of 
     the tremendous sacrifices of its Vietnam-era veterans and 
     their families;
       Whereas the Vietnam Veterans of America is dedicated to 
     serving its membership through advocacy for its membership;
       Whereas the Vietnam Veterans of America provides public and 
     member awareness of critical issues affecting Vietnam-era 
     veterans and their families;
       Whereas the local grassroots efforts of Vietnam Veterans of 
     America chapters like Chapter One in Rutland, Vermont, which 
     was founded 18 years ago in April 1980, have greatly 
     contributed to the quality of lives of veterans in our 
     Nation's communities;
       Whereas the Vietnam Veterans of America promotes its 
     principles through volunteerism, professional advocacy, and 
     claims work; and
       Whereas the future of the Vietnam Veterans of America 
     relies not only on its past accomplishments, but on future 
     accomplishments of its membership that will ensure the 
     Vietnam Veterans of America remains a leader among veterans 
     advocacy organizations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commemorates the 20th anniversary of the founding of 
     the Vietnam Veterans of America and commends it for its 
     advancement of veterans rights which set the standard for 
     other veterans organizations around the country;
       (2) asks all Americans to join in the celebration of the 
     20th birthday of the Vietnam Veterans of America and 20 years 
     of advocacy for Vietnam veterans; and
       (3) encourages the Vietnam Veterans of America to continue 
     into the next millennium to represent and promote the goals 
     of its organization in the veterans community and on Capitol 
     Hill, and to continue organizing to keep its national 
     membership of 51,000 members and 500 chapters strong.

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today with great pride and 
enthusiasm to submit a Senate Resolution Commemorating the 20th 
Anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Veterans of America. This 
resolution has the cosponsorship of Senator Specter, Senator Akaka and 
Senator Leahy. The resolution also points out that April marks the 18th 
Anniversary of the founding of Vietnam Veterans of America's first 
local chapter in my home town of Rutland, Vermont.
  Mr. President, the VVA is a Congressionally chartered national 
veterans service organization exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era 
veterans and their families. In the late 1970s, America had come 
through its longest and most divisive war. Many of the millions of 
veterans who served during that period felt that their concerns were 
not being addressed by the veterans community and by the federal 
government.
  In January, 1978, Bobby Muller and a small band of Vietnam veterans 
came to Washington, D.C. to create an advocacy organization to push for 
federal action to address the needs of this unique veteran population. 
The VVA, initially known as the Vietnam Veterans Coalition and then the 
Council of Vietnam Veterans, went to work focusing first on the 
dissemination of government information and coordination of relations 
between the federal government and the veteran.
  In time it became clear that, like many other organizations, this one 
could not survive simply by making a good case for its initiatives--it 
needed to build a strong membership base in order to wield political 
power. By the summer of 1979, the new Vietnam Veterans of America began 
to focus on building its membership.
  The growth of the organization was slow initially, but a breakthrough 
came following resolution of the American Hostage Crisis in Iran in 
January, 1981. It became clear to many Americans that if the hostages 
deserved a jubilant homecoming, so did the veterans of Vietnam. Vietnam 
veterans began to clamor for action in the form of programs that would 
place the last generation of wartime veterans on the same footing as 
veterans from previous wars.
  The strength of the organization grew with the increase in 
membership. The public also became more willing to

[[Page S3160]]

deal with the neglected veterans issues unique to the Vietnam war. This 
culminated in the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 
November, 1982. The activities around the Memorial rekindled a sense of 
camaraderie among the veterans and the feeling of a shared experience 
too significant to ignore.
  Since then, the VVA has made great strides in the kinds of services 
it provides to its membership, including the founding of the Vietnam 
Veterans of America Legal Services that provides assistance to veterans 
seeking benefits and services from the government. VVA has also 
published critical information around benefits for Post-Traumatic 
Stress Disorder and Agent Orange illnesses.
  I can personally vouch for the incredible efforts of people like 
Albert and Mary Trombley, Jake Jacobsen, Dennis Ross, Clark Howland, 
and of course the late Mike Dodge and Don Bodette to establish and 
foster the growth of grassroots organizations like Chapter 1 in 
Rutland, Vermont. This individual leadership has ensured a steady 
growth in VVA's size, stature, and prestige.
  The legislative accomplishments of the VVA through its high-profile 
presence on Capitol Hill have been impressive. Organizations like 
Vietnam-era Veterans in Congress, which now boasts 70 members, have 
served the overall membership well by supporting the pragmatic agenda 
of the VVA and sticking to its founding principle that ``Never again 
will one generation of veterans abandon another.''
  Today, the VVA has a national membership of 51,000 with more than 500 
chapters. VVA state councils in 43 states coordinate the activities and 
programs of its national organization, ensuring that grassroots input 
to Congress continues to ensure that the federal government meets its 
obligations to its Vietnam veterans.
  Mr. President, this Resolution expresses the Senate's gratitude to 
the organization for its advocacy for its members and wishes it 
continued success in the years to come.
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a special 
     committee of the Senate to be known as the Special Committee 
     on the Year 2000 Technology Problem (hereafter in this 
     resolution referred to as the ``special committee'').
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the special committee is--
       (1) to study the impact of the year 2000 technology problem 
     on the Executive and Judicial Branches of the Federal 
     Government, State governments, and private sector operations 
     in the United States and abroad;
       (2) to make such findings of fact as are warranted and 
     appropriate; and
       (3) to make such recommendations, including recommendations 
     for new legislation and amendments to existing laws and any 
     administrative or other actions, as the special committee may 
     determine to be necessary or desirable.

     No proposed legislation shall be referred to the special 
     committee, and the committee shall not have power to report 
     by bill, or otherwise have legislative jurisdiction.
       (c) Treatment as Standing Committee.--For purposes of 
     paragraphs 1, 2, 7(a)(1)-(2), and 10(a) of rule XXVI and rule 
     XXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and section 202 
     (i) and (j) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, 
     the special committee shall be treated as a standing 
     committee of the Senate.

     SEC. 2. MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) Membership.--
       (1) In general.--The special committee shall consist of 7 
     members of the Senate--
       (A) 4 of whom shall be appointed by the President pro 
     tempore of the Senate from the majority party of the Senate 
     upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate; 
     and
       (B) 3 of whom shall be appointed by the President pro 
     tempore of the Senate from the minority party of the Senate 
     upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate.

     The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the 
     Appropriations Committee shall be appointed ex-offico 
     members.
       (2) Vacancies.--Vacancies in the membership of the special 
     committee shall not affect the authority of the remaining 
     members to execute the functions of the special committee and 
     shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments 
     to it are made.
       (3) Service.--For the purpose of paragraph 4 of rule XXV of 
     the Standing Rules of the Senate, service of a Senator as a 
     member, chairman, or vice chairman of the special committee 
     shall not be taken into account.
       (b) Chairman.--The chairman of the special committee shall 
     be selected by the Majority Leader of the Senate and the vice 
     chairman of the special committee shall be selected by the 
     Minority Leader of the Senate. The vice chairman shall 
     discharge such responsibilities as the special committee or 
     the chairman may assign.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORITY OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

       (a) In General.--For the purposes of this resolution, the 
     special committee is authorized, in its discretion--
       (1) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of the 
     Senate;
       (2) to employ personnel;
       (3) to hold hearings;
       (4) to sit and act at any time or place during the 
     sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate;
       (5) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of 
     witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, 
     papers, and documents;
       (6) to take depositions and other testimony;
       (7) to procure the services of individual consultations or 
     organizations thereof, in accordance with the provisions of 
     section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946; 
     and
       (8) with the prior consent of the Government department or 
     agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration, to use on a nonreimbursable basis the 
     services of personnel of any such department or agency.
       (b) Oaths for Witnesses.--The chairman of the special 
     committee or any member thereof may administer oaths to 
     witnesses.
       (c) Subpoenas.--Subpoenas authorized by the special 
     committee may be issued over the signature of the chairman 
     after consultation with the vice chairman, or any member of 
     the special committee designated by the chairman after 
     consultation with the vice chairman, and may be served by any 
     person designated by the chairman or the member signing the 
     subpoena.
       (d) Other Committee Staff.--The special committee may use, 
     with the prior consent of the chairman of any other Senate 
     committee or the chairman of any subcommittee of any 
     committee of the Senate and on a nonreimbuseable basis, the 
     facilities or services of any members of the staff of such 
     other Senate committee whenever the special committee or its 
     chairman, following consultation with the vice chairman, 
     considers that such action is necessary or appropriate to 
     enable the special committee to make the investigation and 
     study provided for in this resolution.
       (e) Use of Office Space.--The staff of the special 
     committee may be located in the personal office of a Member 
     of the special committee.

     SEC. 4. REPORT AND TERMINATION.

       The special committee shall report its findings, together 
     with such recommendations as it deems advisable, to the 
     Senate at the earliest practicable date.

     SEC. 5. FUNDING.

       (a) In General.--From the date this resolution is agreed to 
     through February 29, 2000, the expenses of the special 
     committee incurred under this resolution shall not exceed 
     $575,000 for the period beginning on the date of adoption of 
     this resolution through February 28, 1999, and $575,000 for 
     the period of March 1, 1999 through February 29, 2000, of 
     which amount not to exceed $200,000 shall be available for 
     each period for the procurement of the services of individual 
     consultants, or organizations thereof, as authorized by 
     section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.
       (b) Payment of Benefits.--The retirement and health 
     benefits of employees of the special committee shall be paid 
     out of the contingent fund of the Senate.

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