[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 124 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             L. MENDEL RIVERS AWARD FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 2002

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, the Non Commissioned Officers Association 
of the United States of America (NCOA) will present its L. Mendel 
Rivers Award for Legislative Action to our colleague Christopher H. 
Smith of New Jersey today. The NCOA instituted this annual award to be 
presented to the legislator who, in their opinion, is most worthy of 
recognition for personal effort in furthering the ideals of democracy, 
freedom, and patriotism on behalf of our beloved Nation.
  Chris' legislative efforts and achievements on behalf of all who 
serve or have served in the Armed Forces truly reflect the noble ideals 
and values of legislative service envisioned by the creation of the 
award in the honored name of L. Mendel Rivers, a distinguished former 
colleague of this House.
  In selecting Chris to receive this coveted award, NCOA has declared 
to its worldwide membership his extraordinary legislative achievement. 
His leadership role as Chairman of the Committee of Veterans’ 
Affairs enabled him to champion legislation that has benefitted the men 
and women who serve or have served in the Uniformed Services of the 
United States and whose service and sacrifice have preserved the 
democracy and freedoms enjoyed by all Americans. His legislative 
leadership in 2001 resulted in new laws providing expanded services and 
benefits to America's 25 million military veterans. H.R. 1291 (now 
Public Law 107–103), the Veterans Education and Benefits 
Expansion Act of 2001, increases educational, housing, burial and 
disability benefits by $3.1 billion. This legislation also boosted the 
Montgomery GI Bill college education benefit amount by a record 46 
percent within 3 years, increasing the lifetime college benefit for 
qualified veterans from $24,192 to $35,460. He is also being recognized 
for his advocacy to end homelessness among veterans. He has instituted 
creative programs designed to prevent homelessness by identifying at-
risk veterans and has helped institute new nationwide programs to break 
the cycle of homelessness among veterans.
  The Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) is a federally 
chartered, non-profit, fraternal association founded in 1960. NCOA 
received its federal charter from Congress in 1988. Its purpose is to 
uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States; support a 
strong national defense with a focus on military personnel issues; 
promote health, prosperity and scholarship among its members and their 
families through legislative and benevolent programs; improve benefits 
for servicemembers, veterans, their family members and survivors; and 
assist servicemembers, veterans, their family members and survivors in 
filing benefit claims.

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