[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON:
  S. 633. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins 
in commemoration of veterans who became disabled for life while serving 
in the Armed Forces of the United States; to the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs.

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the American 
Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act of 2005.
  This bill will authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a 
commemorative coin (500,000) honoring the millions of veterans of the 
United States Armed Forces who were disabled while serving our country. 
Revenues from the surcharge on the coin would go to the Disabled 
Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to help cover the costs of building 
the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, DC. The 
mint date is scheduled for January 1, 2010.
  In its own distinctive way, the American Veterans Disabled for Life 
Memorial will also allow the American people to show their appreciation 
to those who died defending freedom by honoring the disabled veterans 
who still live among us. It is not only appropriate, but necessary, to 
recognize the special sacrifices that disabled veterans have made to 
this country. It has been said that ``poor is the Nation which has no 
heroes. Poorer still is the Nation which has them, but forgets.'' The 
creation of this memorial will ensure that we, as a Nation, do not 
forget those who have been forever changed in service to our country.
  The three-acre site for the Memorial is located on Washington Avenue 
at 2nd Street, SW., across from the U.S. Botanic Gardens, and in full 
view of the U.S. Capitol building. Federal legislation for the 
Memorial, Public Law 106-348, was signed into law by President Bill 
Clinton on October 24, 2000. Sponsors included Senator John McCain, 
Senator Max Cleland, Congressman Sam Johnson, and Congressman Jack 
Murtha. The National Capital Planning Commission unanimously approved 
the Capitol Hill location on October 10, 2001.
  We have an obligation to assure that the men and women who each day 
endure the costs of freedom are never forgotten. The American Veterans 
Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act of 2005 will honor these 
veterans and help fund the American Veterans Disabled for Life 
Memorial.
  The Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation was co-founded in 1996 
by the Lois Pope Life Foundation and the Disabled American Veterans. 
Lois Pope, one of America's leading philanthropists, is the founder and 
President of the Lois Pope Leaders in Furthering Education Foundation. 
In addition to supporting veterans programs, this organization provides 
awards for medical research, scholarships, and summer camp programs. 
Formed in 1920, the Disabled American Veterans is a nonprofit 
organization representing America's disabled veterans, their families, 
and survivors.
  The drive to build the Memorial, which is scheduled for completion 
within the next several years, is well under way, but has a long way to 
go. Prominent national figures including Retired Army General H. Norman 
Schwarzkopf, Poet Laureate Dr. Maya Angelou, and New York Giants star 
defensive end Michael Strahan are lending their support to this effort. 
I ask my colleagues in the Senate to join me in supporting America's 
disabled veterans with this important legislation.
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