[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3138-S3139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HARKIN:
  S. 687. A bill to direct the Secretary of Defense to eliminate the 
backlog in satisfying requests of former members of the Armed Forces 
for the issuance or replacement of military medals and decorations; to 
the Committee on Armed Services.


    Eliminating the Backlog of Veterans Requests for Military Medals

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I would like to take some time to address 
an unfulfilled obligation we have to our nation's veterans. The problem 
is a substantial backlog of requests by veterans for replacement and 
issuance of military medals. Today, I have introduced a bill, the 
``Veterans Expedited Military Medals Act of 1999,'' that would require 
the Department of Defense to end this backlog.
  I first became aware of this issue a few years ago after dozens of 
Iowa veterans began contacting my State offices requesting assistance 
in obtaining medals and other military decorations they earned while 
serving the country. These veterans had tried in vain--usually for 
months, sometimes for years--to navigate the vast Pentagon bureaucracy 
to receive their military decorations. The wait for medals routinely 
exceeded more than a year, even after intervention by my staff. I 
believe this is unacceptable. Our nation must continue its commitment 
to recognize the sacrifices made by our veterans in a timely manner. 
Addressing this simple concern will fulfill an important and solemn 
promise to those who served to preserve democracy both here and abroad.
  Let me briefly share the story of Mr. Dale Homes, a Korean War 
veteran. Mr. Holmes fired a mortar on the front lines of the Korean 
War. Stacy Groff, the daughter of Mr. Holmes, tried unsuccessfully for 
three years through the normal Department of Defense channels to get 
the medals her father deserved. Ms. Goff turned to me after her letter 
writing produced no results. My office began an inquiry in January of 
1997 and we were not able to resolve the issue favorably until 
September 1997.
  Ms. Groff made a statement about the delays her father experienced 
that sum up my sentiments perfectly: ``I don't think it's fair. . .My 
dad deserves --everybody deserves--better treatment than that.'' Ms. 
Groff could not be more correct. Our veterans deserve better than that 
from the country they served so courageously.
  Another example that came through my district offices is Mr. James 
Lunde, a Vietnam-era veteran. His brother in law contacted my Des 
Moines office last year for help in obtaining a Purple Heart and other 
medals Mr. Lunde earned. These medals have been held up since 1975. 
Unfortunately, there is still no determination as to when Mr. Lunde's 
medals will be sent.
  The numbers are disheartening and can sound almost unbelievable. For 
example, a small Army Reserve staff at the St. Louis Office faces a 
backlog of tens of thousands of requests for medals. So why the lengthy 
delays?
  The primary reason DOD officials cite for these unconscionable delays 
is personnel and other resource shortages resulting from budget cuts 
and hiring freezes. For example, the Navy Liaison Office has gone from 
5 or more personnel to 3 within the last 3 years. Prior to this, the 
turnaround time was 4-5 months. Budget shortages have delayed the 
agencies ability to replace employees who have left, and in cases where 
they can be replaced, the ``learning curve'' in training new employees 
leads to further delays.
  Last year, during the debate over the Defense Appropriations bill, I 
offered an amendment to move the Department of Defense to end the 
backlog of unfulfilled military medal requests. The amendment was 
accepted by unanimous consent. Unfortunately, the Pentagon has not 
moved to fix the problem. In fact, according to a recent communication 
from the Army, the problem has only worsened. The Army currently cites 
a backlog of 98,000 requests for medals.

[[Page S3139]]

  So today, I am introducing a bill to fix the problem once and for 
all. My bill directs the Secretary of Defense to allocate resources 
necessary to eliminate the backlog of requests for military medals. 
Specifically, the Secretary of Defense shall make available to the Army 
Reserve Personnel Command, the Bureau of Naval Personnel, the Air Force 
Personnel Center, the National Archives and Records Administration, and 
any other relevant office or command, the resources necessary to solve 
the problem. These resources could be in the form of increased 
personnel, equipment or whatever these offices need for this problem. 
In addition, this reallocation of resources is only to be made in a way 
that ``does not detract from the performance of other personnel service 
and personnel support activities within the DOD.'' Representative Lane 
Evans of Illinois has introduced similar legislation in the House of 
Representatives.
  Veterans organizations have long recognized the huge backlog of medal 
requests. The Veterans of Foreign Wars supports my legislation. I ask 
that a copy of the letter of support be included in the record.
  Our veterans are not asking for much. Their brave actions in time of 
war deserve our highest respect, recognition, and admiration. My 
amendment will help expedite the recognition they so richly deserve. 
Our veterans deserve nothing less.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and 
a letter in support be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 687

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Expedited Military 
     Medals Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF BACKLOG IN REQUESTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF 
                   MILITARY MEDALS AND OTHER DECORATIONS.

       (a) Sufficient Resourcing Required.--The Secretary of 
     Defense shall make available funds and other resources at the 
     levels that are necessary for ensuring the elimination of the 
     backlog of the unsatisfied requests made to the Department of 
     Defense for the issuance or replacement of military 
     decorations for former members of the Armed Forces. The 
     organizations to which the necessary funds and other 
     resources are to be made available for that purpose are as 
     follows:
       (1) The Army Reserve Personnel Command.
       (2) The Bureau of Naval Personnel.
       (3) The Air Force Personnel Center.
       (4) The National Archives and Records Administration
       (b) Condition.--The Secretary shall allocate funds and 
     other resources under subsection (a) in a manner that does 
     not detract from the performance of other personnel service 
     and personnel support activities within the Department of 
     Defense.
       (c) Replacement Decoration Defined.--For the purposes of 
     this section, the term ``decoration'' means a medal or other 
     decoration that a former member of the Armed Forces was 
     awarded by the United States for military service of the 
     United States.

     SEC. 3. REPORT.

       Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the status of the backlog described in section 
     2(a). The report shall include a plan for eliminating the 
     backlog.
                                  ____

                                          Veterans of Foreign Wars


                                         of the United States,

                                Washington, DC, February 11, 1999.
     Hon. Tom Harkin,
     U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Harkin: On behalf of the 2.1 million members 
     of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), I 
     thank you for introducing a bill to eliminate the backlog in 
     requests for the replacement of military medals and other 
     decorations. This bill would address an unfilled obligation 
     we have to our nation's veterans. The VFW realizes that the 
     substantial backlog of requests by veterans for medals needs 
     to be rectified in an auspicious manner.
       If passed, the Secretary of Defense will make available to 
     the Army Reserve Personnel Command, the Bureau of Naval 
     Personnel, the Air Force Personnel Center, the National 
     Archives and Records Administration, and any other relevant 
     office or command, the resources necessary to resolve the 
     problem. The VFW believes that addressing this concern will 
     fulfill an important and solemn promise to those who risked 
     their lives serving their country.
       The VFW thanks you for making veterans a number one 
     priority. They deserve the best from the country they served 
     so courageously.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Dennis Cullinan,
                           Director, National Legislative Service.
                                 ______