[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO EXTEND ELIGIBILITY FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS PENSION BENEFITS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NICK J. RAHALL, II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2005

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing two bills that pay 
tribute to those service personnel who have nobly served our Nation in 
times of conflict. In both cases, the legislation extends pension 
benefits to those veterans who served in harm's way, though not in a 
time of declared war.
  Under current law, you may only draw a full pension if you served in 
combat during a declared period of war. This distinction served its 
purpose well during many of America's 20th Century engagements, as our 
involvement in those wars was clearly defined. World Wars I and II and 
the Vietnam War are prime examples.
  However, American service personnel have served--and faced heavy 
fighting--in conflicts that have not been declared ``war'' by our 
government. Case in point is Korea. Our Armed Forces lost 33,741 dead 
in that conflict, even though President Truman called our participation 
a ``police action'' and never asked Congress for a formal declaration 
of war.
  The point of the matter is that while war is not always clearly 
defined, the sacrifice of our service personnel is.
  With the support of the American Legion and noted West Virginia 
veteran John Peters, I introduce these bills to correct what many 
believe is an inequity in determining veterans' pension benefits. The 
first bill would provide the basic guarantee of a pension to those who 
served in Korea, Lebanon, Granada and Panama. In each case, American 
service personnel were faced with significant danger and, again in each 
case, American lives were lost. With this in mind, I believe it is 
imperative that our government provide veterans of those conflicts with 
appropriate pension benefits.
  The second bill I am introducing would extend pension benefits to 
those servicemen and women whose actions earned them the Expeditionary 
Medal. For those who are unfamiliar with what an Expeditionary Medal 
is, or the actions for which it is awarded, the Joint Chiefs of Staff 
must determine that the service personnel is engaged where hostile 
action by foreign armed forces is imminent. Again, I believe those who 
have put their lives on the line in defense of our country, especially 
when recognized by the Joint Chiefs, deserve the benefits a military 
pension provides.
  The United States has sent service personnel to all corners of the 
globe to defend our freedoms and way of life. In all cases, our troops 
have served nobly and honorably. In several cases, war has been 
declared officially--and those who participated in those actions 
certainly deserve to receive a military pension for their sacrifice. 
However, American personnel have also served in conflicts not 
officially declared war, and have been faced with incredible dangers. 
To these veterans I say you deserve the same pension benefits afforded 
your brothers and sisters in arms who participated in declared wars. I 
urge Congress to pass these critical bills.

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