[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 22, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E874-E875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' MAJOR MEDICAL FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 20, 2002

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
4514, the Veterans' Major Medical Facility Construction Act, H.R. 4015, 
the Jobs for Veterans Act, and H.R. 4085, the Veterans Compensation 
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.
  Next week, millions of Americans will take off and gather together 
with family and friends to pay tribute to the men and women of our 
armed forces and their loved ones who sacrificed so much to defend our 
precious liberties. Well over 1 million men and women have given their 
lives in service to our country. These people answered their country's 
call to serve--in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the First 
and Second World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Operation 
Enduring Freedom, and in many small, but important military actions 
around the globe. For

[[Page E875]]

their sacrifice, they deserve our most profound respect and gratitude.
  It is the willingness of citizens then and now taking individual 
responsibility in our Nation's defense that is the ultimate guarantee 
of our security and freedom. The terrorists who perpetrated the attacks 
of September 11 underestimated us. Since September 11, the Nation has 
not fallen apart, it has pulled together, confident in our traditions 
of freedom, tolerance, and democracy.
  Today, our armed forces are in the field defending our liberties 
against the terrorist threat. We have the finest fighting force in the 
world, and they are doing a tremendous job. At home our first 
responders--firefighters, emergency medical and ambulance services, law 
enforcement, and National Guard--are being called upon for more 
homeland security. I am confident that we will prevail and become even 
stronger as a Nation.
  This Memorial Day, as we celebrate those who gave their lives, we 
should also pause to consider the veterans among us who have 
contributed so much and who are such an important part of our 
communities. As one who had a brother killed in the line of duty in 
Asia and as a former Air Force officer myself, I understand the 
sacrifices that our service men and women and their families make.
  The bills we are voting on today are designed to increase employment 
opportunities for veterans, improve VA facilities, and provide needed 
cost-of-living increases for disability compensation. There is more 
that we need to do to improve the way the VA does business. We need to 
ensure that veterans' disability claims are processed quickly and 
accurately, that health care delivery is improved by coordinating the 
medical care systems of VA and the Department of Defense, and that 
resources are focused on treating disabled and low-income veterans. 
Under the leadership of President Bush and VA Secretary Principi, I 
believe we are going to make significant improvements in the delivery 
of veterans benefits.
  Over the years, our military veterans have kept faith with their 
country in times of need. With these bills, we will be helping to keep 
faith with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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