[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 162 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14612-S14613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:
  S. 1921. A bill to authorize the placement within the site of the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial of a plaque to honor Vietnam veterans who 
died after their service in the Vietnam war, but as a direct result of 
that service; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


              THE VIETNAM VETERANS RECOGNITION ACT OF 1999

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation which 
would create a plaque honoring those Vietnam veterans who died as a 
result of the war but who are not eligible to have their names placed 
on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The ``Vietnam Veterans Recognition 
Act of 1999'' would authorize the placement of a plaque within the 
sight of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor those Vietnam veterans 
who died after their service in the Vietnam War, but as a direct result 
of that service. This bill is similar to H.R. 3293, which was 
introduced by my colleague in the House of Representatives, Congressman 
Gallegly.
  Deadly war wounds do not always kill right away. Sometimes these 
fatal

[[Page S14613]]

war wounds may linger on for many years after the fighting is done. 
Sometimes these wounds are clearly evident from the time they are 
inflicted, sometimes they are not. The terrible toll that Agent Orange 
has taken on our Vietnam veterans stands as one stark example. What we 
do know is that all too often these war wounds eventually take the 
lives of many of our brave Vietnam veterans.
  Even though these veterans may not have been killed in action while 
they served in the tropical jungles of Vietnam, in the end they too 
made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Like their brothers and 
sisters who died on the field of battle, they too deserve to be duly 
recognized and honored.
  Mr. President, duly honoring the men and women who made the ultimate 
sacrifice for our country should always be a priority. Unfortunately, 
the service and sacrifices made by some Vietnam veterans is still not 
being fully recognized since their names are not included on the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
  This bill recognizes the sacrifices made by these Vietnam veterans by 
authorizing a plaque that will be engraved with an appropriate 
inscription honoring these fallen veterans.
  Since no federal funds will be used for the plaque, it will be up to 
our nation's leading veteran's organizations and individual Americans 
to demonstrate their commitment to honoring these fallen veterans 
through charitable giving to help make it a reality. The American 
Battle Monument Commission will lead the effort in collecting the 
private funds necessary.
  It is vital for us to have a place to honor all the men and women who 
have served and died for their country. It is also important for the 
families of these fallen heroes to have a place in our nation's capital 
where their loved one's sacrifice is honored and recognized for future 
generations.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill. I 
ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1921

       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 ``Vietnam Veterans Recognition 
     Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. ADDITION OF A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE ON THE SITE OF THE 
                   VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL.

       Public Law 96-297 (16 U.S.C. 431 note), which authorized 
     the establishment of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 5. PLAQUE TO HONOR OTHER VIETNAM VETERANS WHO DIED AS 
                   A RESULT OF SERVICE IN THE VIETNAM WAR.

       ``(a) Plaque Authorized.--The American Battle Monuments 
     Commission is authorized to place within the Vietnam Veterans 
     Memorial a suitable plaque containing an inscription intended 
     to honor Vietnam veterans--
       ``(1) who died after their service in the Vietnam war, but 
     as a direct result of that service; and
       ``(2) whose names are not otherwise eligible for placement 
     on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall.
       ``(b) Specifications.--The plaque shall be at least 6 
     square feet in size and not larger than 18 square feet in 
     size, and of whatever shape as the American American Battle 
     Monuments Commission determines to be appropriate for the 
     site. The plaque shall bear an inscription prepared by the 
     American Battle Monuments Commission.
       ``(c) Relation to Commemorative Works Act.--Except as 
     provided in subsection (a), the Commemorative Works Act (40 
     U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) shall apply to the design and placement 
     of the plaque within the site of the Vietnam Veterans 
     Memorial.
       ``(d) Consultation.--In designing the plaque, preparing the 
     inscription, and selecting the specific location for the 
     plaque within the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the American 
     Battle Monuments Commission shall consult with the architects 
     of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc.
       ``(e) Funds for Plaque.--Federal funds may not be used to 
     design, procure, or install the plaque.
       ``(f) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Defined.--In this section, 
     the term `Vietnam Veterans Memorial' means the structures and 
     adjacent areas extending to and bounded by the south curb of 
     Constitution Avenue on the north, the east curb of Henry 
     Bacon Drive on the west, the north side of the north 
     Reflecting Pool walkway on the south and a line drawn 
     perpendicular to Constitution Avenue 200 feet from the east 
     tip of the memorial wall on the east (this is also a line 
     extended from the east side of the western concrete border of 
     the steps to the west of the center steps to the Federal 
     Reserve Building extending to the Reflecting pool walkway). 
     This is the same definition used by the National Park Service 
     as of the date of the enactment of this section, as contained 
     in section 7.96(g)(1)(x) of title 36, Code of Federal 
     Regulations.''.
                                 ______