[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 149 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMARKS REGARDING VETERANS DAY

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                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2005

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is because of the great 
sacrifices of the men and women in our armed forces that we are able to 
live in freedom. We are committed and indebted to America's veterans 
who have risked their lives to protect liberty and defend freedom both 
here in the United States and abroad. Today, I take the opportunity to 
recognize the sacrifices our veterans have made serving our country and 
I extend to them my deep felt admiration.
  On this Veterans Day, we must not just recognize the war heroes among 
us with our words, rather we must recognize them with our deeds. 
Members of our armed forces serve our Nation with distinction and we 
must honor them with more than just our gratitude. We must honor them 
by providing them with the most basic benefits, access to health care, 
education, job training, and full receipt of the disability 
compensation to which they are entitled. Tragically, we are failing our 
Nation's veterans.
  It is our duty to provide men and women returning from service with 
the resources to seamlessly resume their lives as civilians. This means 
providing them with exceptional educational opportunities, job training 
and health care.
  We must abolish the Disabled Veterans Tax, a tax that forces disabled 
military retirees to give up one dollar of their pension for every 
dollar of disability pay they receive. Abolishing this tax is critical 
to the nearly 400,000 military retirees who continue to pay it. We 
should work together in the U.S. House of Representatives to increase 
the benefits veterans receive and to make them mandatory.
  Our soldiers and veterans have made the ultimate sacrifice by placing 
themselves in harm's way to protect democracy in our country and around 
the world. I am grateful to these brave men and women for the 
sacrifices they have made, the patriotism they have demonstrated, and 
the courage and love they have displayed for our country. Let us all 
take a moment to reflect and to thank our Nation's soldiers who have 
served and those who are still serving to protect liberty and justice 
for us all.

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