[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2663-H2667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PLAQUE TO HONOR VIETNAM VETERANS WHO DIED AS A RESULT OF SERVICE IN THE 
                              VIETNAM WAR

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3293) to amend the law that authorized the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial to authorize the placement within the site of the memorial of 
a plaque to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after their service 
in the Vietnam war, but as a direct result of that service, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3293

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

     SECTION 1. ADDITION OF COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE, VIETNAM VETERANS 
                   MEMORIAL.

       Public Law 96-297 (94 Stat. 827; 16 U.S.C. 431 note), which 
     authorized the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the District of 
     Columbia, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

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

       ``(a) Plaque Authorized.--Notwithstanding section 3(c) of 
     the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1003(c)), the American 
     Battle Monuments Commission is authorized to place within the 
     Vietnam Veterans Memorial a suitable plaque containing an 
     inscription intended to honor those Vietnam veterans who died 
     after their service in the Vietnam war, but as a direct 
     result of that service, and whose names are not otherwise 
     eligible for placement on the 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 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., and the Vietnam 
     Women's Memorial, Inc.
       ``(e) Funds for Plaque.--
       ``(1) Prohibition on use of federal funds.--Federal funds 
     may not be used to design, procure, or install the plaque. 
     However, the preceding sentence does not apply to the payment 
     of the salaries, expenses, and other benefits otherwise 
     authorized by law for members of the American Battle 
     Monuments Commission or other personnel (including detailees) 
     of the American Battle Monuments Commission who carry out 
     this section.
       ``(2) Private fundraising authority.--The American Battle 
     Monuments Commission shall solicit and accept private 
     contributions for the design, procurement, and installation 
     of the plaque. The American Battle Monuments Commission shall 
     establish an account into which the contributions will be 
     deposited and shall maintain documentation of the 
     contributions. Contributions in excess of the amounts 
     necessary for the design, procurement, and installation of 
     the plaque shall be deposited in the United States Treasury.
       ``(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.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Gallegly) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes and 15 seconds.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the leadership for scheduling this 
bill between Memorial Day and the 25th anniversary of the end of the 
Vietnam War. This timing reminds us that there are many who fought in 
Vietnam and died because of their service there, but whose sacrifices 
have still gone unrecognized.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3293 will remedy this situation. It will 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 Wall. The wall is opened to some veterans who died 
after the conflict, but the criteria for eligibility does not include 
all veterans whose post-war deaths were a direct result of the war, 
including those who died from such factors as Agent Orange and post 
traumatic stress syndrome.
  Families of these veterans deserve a place to mourn the loss of loved 
ones who served honorably and who died years later as a result of that 
service.
  Mr. Speaker, we had a hearing on this bill in the subcommittee on 
March 22. The often emotional testimony by Ed Croucher, the Director of 
Vietnam Veterans of America, Captain Mike Fluke, board member of In 
Memory, and Lieutenant Colonel Jim Zumwalt demonstrated the strong 
feelings of veterans and their families on this issue.
  Among the groups who have endorsed the plaque are the Vietnam 
Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Vietnam Women's 
Memorial, Inc., Rolling Thunder, the Korean War Veterans Association, 
the National Congress of American Indians, the National Conference of 
Vietnam Veteran Ministers, In Memory Inc., the American Gold Star 
Mothers, the Agent Orange Widows Awareness Coalition, and the Society 
of 173rd Airborne Brigade. In addition, the bill has 290 bipartisan 
cosponsors.
  H.R. 3293 is simple and straightforward, Mr. Speaker. This bill will 
honor the sacrifices of these veterans by creating a small plaque that 
will be placed in a suitable location within the 13-acre Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial. On the plaque will be a short, fitting inscription 
that honors these fallen heroes.
  The plaque will not be placed on the ``Wall'' or directly in front of 
the ``Wall.'' This will ensure the plaque

[[Page H2664]]

does not impact the integrity and solemn nature of the Vietnam 
Memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3293 was passed by voice vote in both the 
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands and the full Committee 
on Resources. No amendments were offered by anyone who may have opposed 
the bill. However, in response to some concerns raised by H.R. 3293, we 
have modified it in two ways.
  First, the bill now clarifies the mechanism in which the ABMC can 
receive funds. Second, the bill now adds the Vietnam Women's Memorial, 
Inc., as a consultant to the design and placement of the plaque.
  Mr. Speaker, it is vital to us as a Nation to have hallowed ground to 
honor these men and women, and I would ask that the Members would 
support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3293 is the most recent in a series of legislative 
proposals to add memorials to the National Mall. This particular 
measure would authorize a plaque to be placed within sight of the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial intended to honor soldiers who died as a 
result of their service in Vietnam, but who were ineligible for 
inclusion in the Wall because their deaths occurred after the war 
ended.
  While I am a cosponsor of H.R. 3293, it has been my hope all along 
that one particular aspect of this legislation might be improved upon. 
The legislation identifies a governmental agency, the American Battle 
Monuments Commission, as the organization which will oversee the 
placement of the plaque. Selection of the Battle Monuments Commission 
for this task is inappropriate for several important reasons.
  First, this project is inconsistent with the Battle Monument 
Commission's mission. The Battle Monument Commission is an independent, 
executive branch agency which operates 24 cemeteries and 27 monuments, 
the vast majority of which are located on foreign soil. The ABMC has 
had no involvement in the creation and administration of the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial, as most of its responsibilities lie overseas. The 
major exception of this overseas focus, responsibility for the proposed 
World War II Memorial, is likely to occupy most of their domestic 
efforts.

                              {time}  1130

  What is more, the ABMC does not want the job. In testimony before the 
National Capitol Monument Commission, the Battle Monuments Commission 
stated that the responsibility for the design, procurement and 
installation of the plaque should rest with either the proponent or the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.
  In addition, the Commission has had no mechanism to pay for this 
proposed plaque. The legislation specifies that no Federal funds are to 
be used to design, procure, and install the plaque. Since the Battle 
Monuments Commission is a federally-funded agency, the bill had to be 
amended to exempt salaries, expenses and other benefits for ABMC 
personnel. Now the bill is being amended further to create a fund-
raising program for the monument. While we realize that we are talking 
about a fairly small amount of money, it is troubling to think that any 
amount of time or attention might be diverted from the ABMC's efforts 
on behalf of the World War II Memorial.
  All of these complications could have been avoided by replacing the 
Battle Monument Commission with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund as 
the organization responsible for placing this plaque at the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial. This organization conceived the idea for the 
Memorial, raised more than $8 million needed for its construction, 
conducted the design contest, oversaw the construction, organized the 
dedicated ceremonies and continues to raise funds for educational 
programs and maintenance. No memorial in Washington is more closely 
associated with one organization. We continue to believe that they 
should be involved.
  As it stands, we support the intent of H.R. 3293, but continue to 
feel that it has an obvious flaw. Fortunately, an obvious solution 
exists, and we hope that working with the bill's sponsor, our 
colleagues in the other body, the administration, this change will be 
adopted.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3293, a 
bill to honor our Nation's Vietnam veterans. In my home State of 
Nevada, we have over 65,000 Vietnam veterans. In my district alone, 
there are 41,000.
  These courageous men and women sacrificed their lives to defend our 
country during a time that their efforts were not always appreciated by 
their fellow countrymen. They deserved our praise and admiration then, 
and they deserve our praise and admiration now.
  Today, the Vietnam Memorial Wall stands as a vivid reminder of those 
who gave their lives to fight in the Vietnam War. I recently had the 
opportunity to take my 14-year-old son to see the Vietnam Memorial. It 
was a moving experience for us both. However, there are many veterans 
whose lives were also cut tragically short by the war in Vietnam who 
are not listed on the wall.
  My colleague has introduced legislation which will honor this special 
group of Vietnam veterans. These fallen heroes deserve recognition for 
their sacrifice, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. 
Join with me and my colleague who introduced it, and I thank him very 
much for doing so.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from San Diego, California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
George Miller) for yielding me the time, and the gentlemen from 
California (Mr. Gallegly) for bringing this bill to the floor.
  I, too, rise in support of H.R. 3293, which creates a plaque to honor 
Vietnam veterans who died as a result of the Vietnam War, but who are 
just not eligible under the rules to have their names placed directly 
on the Vietnam War Memorial.
  Like my own bill, H. Con. Res. 134, this will honor the many 
individuals who served in the armed forces in Vietnam and who later 
died as a result of illnesses and conditions associated with service in 
that war. Many Vietnam veterans, for example, have died from exposure 
to Agent Orange or from posttraumatic stress syndrome.
  A small plaque will be placed on the 13-acre parcel that surrounds 
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, but not on the Wall or in front of the 
Wall. In this way, the plaque will not interfere with the integrity of 
the Memorial, but will add a place for families to mourn and remember 
their loved ones who served honorably and who died years after the war 
because of their service.
  This bill has been endorsed by many veterans groups, including but 
not limited to the Vietnam Veterans of America, the VFW, AMVETS, 
Vietnam Women's Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Association, American 
Gold Star Mothers, and the Agent Orange Widows Awareness Coalition.
  I join the 290 cosponsors of this bill from a bipartisan call for 
passage of this bill, and I thank, again, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Gallegly) for his leadership.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McKeon), a member of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3293, 
and I want to commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) for 
his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. This important 
legislation recognizes a group of veterans that are all too often 
forgotten, but are nonetheless heroes. The American Vietnam veteran 
faced adversity that few can ever imagine in order to keep this Nation 
free.
  Unfortunately, these veterans are the victims of a technicality that 
keeps them from being honored with their fallen soldiers. The Vietnam 
Wall, while open to some veterans who died following the war, is not 
open to veterans who passed away due to complications from Agent Orange 
or posttraumatic stress syndrome. These veterans died as a result of 
their service for this Nation. The least that our

[[Page H2665]]

Nation can do is honor them near their fellow servicemen and women.
  This important legislation would allow us to do so without 
diminishing, in any way, the service of these men and women who died in 
the field of battle in Vietnam. Instead, this measure would provide a 
plaque for those fallen heroes to be placed in the vicinity of the 
current Vietnam Memorial.
  So I ask my colleagues to join me and the many veteran service 
organizations in supporting H.R. 3293.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to 
the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall).
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
California for yielding me the time. I also want to thank the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Gallegly) for his leadership on this, the 
gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), and also the gentleman from 
California (Mr. George Miller), our very able ranking member.
  This bill honors those who have died after their service in the 
Vietnam War but as a direct result of that service.
  I would like to share one example of a Vietnam war veteran who many 
of my colleagues may have heard of and who exemplifies why we are 
acting today. His name is Lewis B. Puller, Jr. who took his own life as 
a result of posttraumatic stress disorder. Lew, as he was called, was a 
seriously wounded Vietnam War Veteran, Pulitzer Prize winning author of 
``Fortunate Son'', and son of the most decorated U.S. Marine in 
history, ``Chesty'' Puller.
  Although Lew's book was an inspiration to many, he ultimately took 
his own life because of his inability to deal with his wounds, his 
dependence on drugs and alcohol, and because of posttraumatic stress 
disorder.
  While Lew Puller's case has been a higher profile than others have, 
there have been thousands of Vietnam War veterans who have suffered the 
same casualty.
  This bill sends a clear message that our Nation has not, nor will it 
ever, forget the Vietnam veterans who have fallen as a result of these 
unfortunate and often invisible traumas.
  I urge my colleagues to support this very worthy bill.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Quinn), who serves on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Gallegly) for yielding me this time.
  I also want to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Filner), my ranking member on our Subcommittee on 
Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  As I rise in support of H.R. 3293, as we have said, a bill that will 
create a place honoring those Vietnam veterans who died as a result of 
the war but, through some technicality, are ineligible to be placed on 
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here in Washington, D.C.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a very straightforward bill. In no way will it 
affect the current Memorial, which has become a place for Americans to 
solemnly remember those veterans who gave their lives in Vietnam. It 
requires a small plaque to be honored and placed somewhere on the 13 
acres.
  I want to add my support to the bill and urge all our colleagues to 
do the same.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3293, authorizing the 
placement of a plaque to memorialize those who died as a direct result 
from service in the Vietnam War, but who perished after war's end.
  Thousands of individuals put their life on the line to protect the 
freedoms that we hold dear and to save a Nation desperately trying to 
hold on to those freedoms.
  We have recognized the sacrifice of those who died on the 
battlefield, but we have yet to realize those who perished afterwards.
  This bill would honor those who died after the war as a direct result 
of serving in the war by placing a small plaque somewhere near the 
Vietnam Memorial. The plaque, funded by private donations, would 
recognize the entire group of courageous individuals for their service 
to our country.
  After 25 years since the fall of Saigon, is it not time that we 
finally recognize everyone who has made the ultimate sacrifice by 
serving our country in Southeast Asia?
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Collins).
  Mr. COLLINS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, the casualty list states that over 58,000 Americans lost 
their lives in the conflict we know as the Vietnam War. The lists 
contain the names of another 300,000 Americans sailors, soldiers, and 
airmen who were wounded. Half of these wounds were very serious. Many 
of our soldiers recovered fully while others were permanently wounded.
  But there is a third class of wounded soldiers whose wounds did not 
kill immediately but ultimately caused death. In some cases, 
posttraumatic stress syndrome or exposure to Agent Orange may have led 
to the death years, perhaps decades, after the wound was first 
suffered.
  Despite the delay, the veteran's death is linked with his or her 
service to this Nation by participating in the Vietnam War.
  H.R. 3293 seeks to honor these veterans with a plaque located within 
the 13 acres set aside for the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial. The 
plaque will be located near the Wall to preserve the memory of those 
veterans whose service on behalf of their fellow citizens, in the end, 
cost them their lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
  (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3293, 
the establishment of a Vietnam Veterans Plaque at the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial. I support this measure because we have a responsibility to 
honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
  We can never forget the travesties of war. We can never get our 
fighting forces who marched on battlefields, roamed the oceans, and 
flew the skies. We can never forget the family shattered by the loss of 
fallen children. My own family, my sister's brother-in-law, John H. 
Walker's name, appears on that Wall along with the names of many of my 
childhood friends. With the Vietnam Veterans Plaque, we will never 
forget the names of those who lost their lives in service of their 
Nation.
  The effects of Vietnam live with many Americans today. We must 
include the heroes whose post-war deaths were a direct result of 
conditions such as Agent Orange. We must forever etch in the annals of 
time the names of those fallen heroes so that future generations may 
see the names and celebrate their fellow countrymen who believed in 
duty, honor, and service. What a small token to be established relative 
to the loss due to war.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise and be a cosponsor of H.R. 3293 and 
urge the passage of the Vietnam Veterans Plaque.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo).
  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, we have been there either in person or 
witnessed it on television, people silently and slowly walking by the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial in contemplation of the sacrifices made for 
this Nation, some tracing on paper names embedded in stone, some 
leaving flowers or little gifts at the foot of that Wall.
  But there is something missing, men and women whose deaths are 
related to the war and caused by the war who died after that conflict 
and whose names are not otherwise eligible to be inscribed on the wall.
  Today we fill in that which is missing. Today, by passing H.R. 3293, 
as to which I am a cosponsor, we authorize a plaque, demonstrating the 
love of this Nation for the men and women who gave the supreme 
sacrifice and whose names are not on the Wall.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to 
the

[[Page H2666]]

gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).

                              {time}  1145

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3293, the 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Authorization, and I congratulate the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly), the sponsor of this important 
legislation to commemorate those brave men and women who fought in 
Vietnam.
  I signed onto this legislation because I believe the time has come to 
commemorate those brave veterans of the Vietnam War who gave up their 
lives for their country but have yet to receive any public tribute. But 
this legislation should only be a starting point here in Congress. We 
should all work together to advance the priorities of all of our 
Nation's veterans', including providing a fair distribution of health 
care resources to veterans regardless of where they reside in our 
Nation.
  We should make the term ``homeless veteran'' an oxymoron. We must 
keep letting our Nation's veterans know that the people who fought to 
allow us to come to this floor every day and debate issues both large 
and small that we do and did value their services. Our veterans have 
provided so much while requesting so little.
  In my opinion, this memorial should be constructed in the honor of 
these brave men and women, and I am pleased the House of 
Representatives is debating this legislation today. Again, I would like 
to thank my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly), 
for bringing this legislation to the floor. This is a good bill. It is 
long overdue. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation 
today.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
this time.
  Andy Rooney, a number of years ago, wrote a book about war, and he 
revealed in that book a little known phenomenon that is very rarely, if 
ever, discussed about war. That phenomenon is in essence this: The 
combat soldier in combat is dependent and dependable. He is loved and 
he loves others. He deals with those who are dying. He deals with those 
who are sick. He deals with those who are afraid. He deals with those 
who cannot rise up to the difficult challenge, emotional challenge, of 
viewing the slaughter on a daily basis.
  Many of those men who were afraid, or who may not have been wounded 
in the body, their spirit was wounded. Their mind was wounded. Some of 
them picked up disease. Those young men deserve some recognition along 
this magnificent wall that represents that conflict so that their 
families may come and have some resolution.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to 
the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey).
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Gallegly) for this very important legislation. This is an important 
gesture on the part of the United States Congress because I think it is 
going to go a long way towards closing one of the festering wounds from 
our national history.
  I worked very closely with a family, the Fitzgibbon family, over a 2-
year period, to deal with an inequity that had affected their family. 
Sergeant Richard Fitzgibbon died in Vietnam in 1956. But because the 
United States Government did not in fact admit that we controlled the 
war in Vietnam after the French pulled out earlier that year, no one 
who had died in Vietnam from 1956 through 1961 was eligible for 
inscription on the Vietnam Wall. He was the first casualty of the war 
in Vietnam, and yet he received no recognition and his family received 
no recognition.
  In fact, so strongly did his family believe that he had died in the 
war in Vietnam that his own son went to Vietnam, and his son was killed 
in 1965, Richard, Junior, the only father and son in the Vietnam War. 
But the son was allowed to have his name inscribed on the Wall, but the 
father not. And it took a long battle to finally change the rules and 
regulations of the Defense Department 2 years ago to have the father 
join the son.
  The son obviously believed he was on the same mission, the mission to 
bring freedom to the people in Vietnam, a mission that had been engaged 
in by the United States Government. So that inequity has been dealt 
with.
  What the gentleman from California is doing here today is trying to 
deal with another inequity. It is one that will ensure that those 
Vietnam veterans who died after service in the Vietnam War, but as a 
direct result of such service, and whose names are not otherwise 
eligible for placement on the memorial wall, will continue the healing 
of their pain as well.
  I think that this is a very important gesture to every single family 
in America who has suffered this most horrible of all fates that can 
befall a family, and I think that this is one of the most fitting 
things that we can do as a Nation in order to continue to heal the 
wounds of every family that made the sacrifice. I congratulate the 
gentleman and I hope it passes unanimously here today.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Scarborough).
  Mr. SCARBOROUGH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California 
for yielding me this time, and I too would like to join other Members 
who thanked him for stepping forward and bringing forth this very 
important resolution.
  I could not help but hear the previous gentleman from Massachusetts. 
A couple of words he said really rang true in my mind, where he talked 
about these gentlemen, these men and women that went over to Vietnam 
because they believed they were fighting for freedom. They fought, 
unfortunately, under a cloud throughout most of the 1960s and the early 
1970s, with people protesting on college campuses and protesting in the 
streets. But they really went over there and so many of them really did 
believe they were fighting for freedom.
  Thirty years later, looking back after all the divisiveness of the 
Vietnam War and all the debates about whether it was a noble cause or 
not, all we have to do is look at the repression that people in Vietnam 
still live under to recognize that they were fighting a noble cause.
  I think this is an absolutely fantastic thing to do for those men and 
women that were willing to go over there and risk their lives to fight 
for freedom.
  One other final closing thought, though unrelated to this matter. I 
think we should go the next step forward this year and we should give 
those men and women that were willing to give their all in World War II 
and in the Korean War the health care that they were promised. We made 
them a promise and we have broken that promise. And just as the 
resolution of the gentleman from California helps to recognize the 
service of those Vietnam veterans today, we need to go another step 
forward. I thank the gentleman for this fantastic resolution.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on our side?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). The gentleman from 
California (Mr. Gallegly) has 7\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to recognize the years of hard 
work and dedication by Vietnam veterans and their families in turning 
this idea of building a simple plaque to honor those who died after 
their service due to war-related causes into a reality.
  I would like to particularly recognize and mention the efforts of 
Ruth Coder Fitzgerald, who began working on this memorial within weeks 
of the death of her brother John in 1992. John Coder died from non-
Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer linked to exposure to Agent Orange in 
Vietnam. It is Ms. Fitzgerald's dedication to our Vietnam veterans and 
their families that is the reason we are here today in the House of 
Representatives considering this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, a creation of this plaque will not in any way diminish 
the impact of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial area. On the contrary, it 
will fill a void by honoring those whose names were not found on the 
Wall. As Ed Croucher of the Vietnam Veterans of America testified 
before the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands of the 
Committee on Resources: ``It meets a clear need. It is a

[[Page H2667]]

very significant and appropriate project. It adds to the collective 
history of the Vietnam War.''
  Mr. Speaker, the building of this small but powerful plaque is the 
right thing to do to honor those who died for our country because of 
their service to Vietnam, and I ask for the support of the Members of 
the House in passing this legislation.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 3293, the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial Authorization.
  I congratulate Congressman Elton Gallegly, the sponsor of this 
important legislation to commemorate those brave men and women who 
fought in Vietnam.
  I signed on to this legislation because I believe the time has come 
to commemorate those brave veterans of the Vietnam War who gave up 
their lives for their country but have yet to receive any public 
tribute.
  But this legislation should only be a starting point in this 
Congress.
  We should all work together to advance the priorities of all our 
nation's veterans, including providing a fair distribution of health 
care resources to veterans regardless of where they reside in our 
nation.
  We should make the term ``homeless veteran'' an oxymoron.
  And we must keep letting our nation's veterans know--the people who 
fought to allow us to come to the floor every day and debate issues 
both large and small--that we do value their service.
  Our veterans have provided so much while requesting so little.
  In my opinion, a memorial should be constructed in honor of these 
brave men and women.
  I am pleased the House of Representatives is debating this 
legislation today and would again like to thank my friend and colleague 
Representative Elton Gallegly for bringing this legislation to the 
floor today.
  This is a good bill.
  It is long overdue and I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
legislation today.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 3293, I am in strong 
support of its passage today.
  This legislation, introduced by Representative Gallegly of 
California, authorizes placement of a plaque near the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial to honor those Vietnam veterans who died as a direct result of 
their service after leaving Vietnam, including those who died of post 
traumatic stress disorder and of the effects of Agent Orange.
  The men and women who serve our country to defend freedom deserve to 
be treated with nothing less than the highest level of dignity and 
respect. All of those who died following their service in the Vietnam 
War--including those who died of post traumatic stress disorder and of 
the effects of Agent Orange--should be honored alongside those who died 
in combat.
  In the years since Vietnam, we've learned a great deal about the 
lingering effects of modern combat. Unfortunately, too many of those we 
thought were survivors had already been afflicted with conditions or 
exposed to chemical agents that would tragically cut short their lives.
  Passage of H.R. 3293 will go a long way toward honoring the men and 
women who lost their lives as a direct result of service to our great 
nation, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support 
this important piece of legislation.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong support of this bill.
  With over 60,000 military retirees and veterans in my district 
including thousands of Vietnam veterans, I am proud to be a co-sponsor 
of this bill and support its passage today on the House floor.
  The 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War is a time for all 
Americans to reflect on the incredible sacrifices made by our men and 
women in preserving liberty in Southeast Asia.
  All of our Vietnam veterans are heroes for their incredible courage 
and bravery.
  They fought for freedom in a far away land, inserting themselves in 
the name of liberty in a conflict which had already raged for decades. 
They withstood the ravages of jungle warfare, and endured the onslaught 
of extremely deadly and indiscriminate weaponry.
  Furthermore, those who returned back home faced a nation which was 
divided over our involvement in Vietnam, and for too many, the injuries 
they sustained and the sacrifices they made were taken for granted.
  While we have an extremely meaningful and powerful memorial to our 
nation's veterans who perished in Vietnam here in Washington, D.C. with 
the Vietnam Wall, there has been a significant absence of a symbol of 
recognition of those Vietnam veterans who died after the war as a 
direct result of their service.
  These men and women deserve to be recognized for their service, and I 
am proud that this bill authorizes the placement of a plaque within the 
site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall to honor those veterans who 
died after their service in the Vietnam War as a direct result of that 
service.
  These American soldiers left their families, friends, and lives to 
defend another people in another land and their service should never be 
forgotten.
  As someone who serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I 
salute all of our Vietnam Veterans and am proud to co-sponsor this 
legislation.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong support of H.R. 3293, a bill 
to make an important modification to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I 
urge my colleagues to support this worthy measure.
  H.R. 3293 amends the law that established the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial by authorizing the placement within the grounds of the 
memorial of a plaque honoring those Vietnam veterans who died after the 
war from a direct result of injuries sustained in the conflict. These 
veterans were not eligible for placement on the memorial wall at the 
time of its construction.
  This legislation directs the American Battle Monuments Commission to 
consult with the Veterans of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in 
deciding where to locate the plaque and further requires that the 
design, acquiring and placement of the plaque will be completed with 
private funds.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3293 makes a worthy addition to one of the most 
visited monuments in our Nation's Capital. It is also a fitting tribute 
to those veterans who served in Vietnam, but due to the timing of their 
deaths, were not eligible for inclusion in the original memorial.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to give their support to this 
worthwhile piece of legislation.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong support of H.R. 3293, 
which authorizes the placement within the site of the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial of a plaque to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after 
their service in the Vietnam War, but as a direct result of that 
service. Establishing a plaque to recognize the efforts of this group 
of Vietnam veterans is a fitting tribute to the men and women who have 
sacrificed for their country.
  Each year, the Department of Defense adds some names to the Vietnam 
Veterans Memorial. However, the Department does not recognize many 
conditions as being service-related, such as Agent Orange exposure and 
post traumatic stress syndrome. The plaque authorized by H.R. 3293 
would honor those whose deaths are not otherwise recognized by the 
monument.
  This year marks the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. A 
plaque honoring those who continued to suffer and die years after the 
war ended--and their families--is a proper way to mark this 
anniversary.
  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 3293 and I urge my 
colleagues to support this important legislation.
  Mr. GARY MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the 
families of California's 41st district which continue to grieve over 
the loss of a loved one who died as a result of serving our Nation in 
Vietnam.
  While the Vietnam Memorial is a commanding monument which demands its 
observers' attention in a compelling and somber way, it does not 
recognize the ultimate sacrifice made by many of our soldiers. Although 
numerous men and women returned home, for some, the battle did not end. 
Many lives were destroyed by cancer as a result of exposure to Agent 
Orange. For others, the battles raged on nightly in the form of 
terrible, extremely stressful dreams that were inescapable.
  These service men and women should be remembered alongside their 
colleagues on the mall. With Memorial Day quickly approaching, I urge 
you to support this measure. While it is simple in nature--just a 
plaque--it speaks volumes about our respect for these soldiers.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3293, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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