[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 49 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   VETERANS MEMORIAL ENHANCEMENT ACT

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                         HON. CHRISTOPHER JOHN

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mr. JOHN. Mr. Speaker, a few months ago, a Vietnam Veterans memorial 
in my district was vandalized, and the cost to repair the memorial is 
estimated to be $4,000. When I learned of the damage done, I contacted 
the Department of Veterans Affairs and a number of other federal 
agencies, and I came to realize there was no federal assistance 
available for these organizations. While federal veterans memorials are 
taken care through the National Park Service, local monuments and 
memorials which are scattered across the nation receive no such 
assistance. A joint venture with the federal government and veterans is 
the perfect answer to this unfortunate problem. It requires private 
organizations to take the initiative as well as provide their own 
funding to complete the refurbishing.
  The bill I am proud to introduce today will do just that. The 
Veterans Memorial Enhancement Act is a simple and straightforward bill 
which establishes a grant program for Veterans Service Organizations 
who need financial assistance in refurbishing or repairing aged or 
harmed veterans memorials. The grant would provide federal funding for 
up to fifty percent of the total project cost, thus encouraging local 
veterans and providing them with the resources necessary to ensure that 
veterans memorials are treated with the respect they deserve. Even in 
this time of peace, it is important that we remember and recognize the 
sacrifices our veterans have made, and I urge my colleagues to join me 
in cosponsoring the Veterans Memorial Enhancement Act.

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