[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY BURIAL ELIGIBILITY ACT

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                           HON. TERRY EVERETT

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 25, 1999

  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs 
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I strongly support H.R. 
70, a bill to codify burial eligibility requirements for Arlington 
National Cemetery. This bill would also put an end to the abuses my 
subcommittee found with politically connected burial waivers for 
individuals who have been getting into Arlington and taking the places 
earned by America's war heroes.
  Full Committee Chairman Bob Stump moved a similar bill last year and 
it was not acted upon by the Senate. I commend our Chairman for his 
persistence and for his devotion to our Nation's veterans in moving H.R 
70 as one of his top priorities for the 106th Congress.
  Veterans' service organization and military associations have 
overwhelmingly supported this legislation and especially its 
prohibition against waivers. They better than anyone know that politics 
should play no part in who rests in the hallowed ground of Arlington.
  Mr. Speaker, apparently I differ with one of my colleagues on whether 
abuses occurred with Arlington burial waivers. At the January 28, 1999, 
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on Arlington burial 
waivers, which I chaired, I stated that, ``in my opinion, in some cases 
there undoubtedly has been favoritism, overwhelming pressure, political 
influence, string pulling, and arm twisting, as well as public 
relations consideration, even if no one will openly admit it.'' My view 
has not changed, and I believe these things were abuses. Call them what 
you may, they occurred and they should be stopped.
  And, let there be no mistake about the matter of Larry Lawrence: he 
bought his way into Arlington with campaign contributions. His campaign 
contributions bought him an ambassadorship. His bought ambassadorship 
and his proven, not alleged, lies got him into Arlington. Even on his 
record, he was so miserably unqualified to be an ambassador that the 
Foreign Service Association took the unusual step of opposing his 
nomination. Money got him in, not his service to his country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to hold the line against waivers, 
just as our brave men and women in uniform have held the line in battle 
against the enemies of freedom.

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