[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E893-E894]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              KEEPING THE PROMISE TO OUR DISABLED VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 2003

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I rise to call the attention 
of the House to three bills that I have introduced to address concerns 
of our nation's disabled veterans. Each of the bills was introduced in 
response to requests from veterans all across the nation.
  H.R. 1919 will authorize transportation on military aircraft on a 
space-available basis for veterans with a service-connected disability 
rated at 50% or more. Currently, members and retirees of the uniformed 
services and the reserves may travel free on Department of Defense 
(DoD) aircraft when space is available. This benefit is allowed when it 
does not interfere with military missions and is a recognition of 
military careers filled with rigorous duty.
  But present policies do not extend this benefit to our disabled 
veterans. What more rigorous duty can be imagined than to become 
disabled in the service of our country? Why has the DoD chosen not to 
recognize the brave men and women who sacrificed their health and well-
being while serving in uniform? This DoD policy is wrong, and H.R. 1919 
would correct it.
  This bill would cost the federal government nothing, and adding 
disabled veterans would not interfere with benefits for active-duty 
personnel. Current military is always given priority, and H.R. 1919 
would do nothing to change that. What my bill would do is to allow 
seats that would otherwise go unused to be occupied by men and women 
who have been disabled in their service to their nation.
  Two other bills, H.R. 1917 and H.R. 1918, would also allow veterans 
with service-connected disabilities to use military facilities.
  The DoD provides Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs to 
bring some of the benefits of civilian life to military communities. 
These programs are the cornerstone of

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community quality of life, providing for fitness, recreation, 
libraries, sports and athletic programs. DoD considers MWR programs as 
critical to mission readiness and productivity--these programs 
contribute to physical fitness and recruitment and retention of 
personnel.
  In addition, civilian employees and their families are allowed access 
as a perk of their employee benefit package. Other groups, such as the 
Scouts of America, can also utilize the lands by getting special 
permission. In contrast, most of the over 2 million disabled veterans 
(rated 0% to 90% disabled) are currently deemed not disabled enough to 
be considered a patron of MWR. My bill, H.R. 1917, would fix that!
  A third bill, H.R. 1918, would extend commissary and exchange store 
privileges to service-disabled veterans with a rating of 30% or more 
and their families. Congress must do all we reasonably can for the men 
and women in uniform who have become disabled in service to our nation. 
Our disabled veterans are important members of a greater military 
family, and they should be treated as such with every available 
opportunity.
  I believe that changing these policies--use of military recreational 
lands, transportation on military aircraft, and commissary privileges-
are the right steps to take for our disabled veterans! They have 
sacrificed their health and well-being for their country, and I believe 
that they have earned the right to these privileges. Please join with 
me by co-sponsoring these three bills and working for their passage.

                          ____________________