[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 149 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12703-S12707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              VETERANS DAY

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, this Friday, November 11, is celebrated in 
this country as Veterans Day. It is always held on the 11th of November 
in memory of the end of World War I. In that ``War to End All Wars'' 
what wishful, optimistic thinking. All guns were laid down on the 
eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, at 11 o'clock 
a.m. on November 11, 1918. On that fateful hour, I am sure that many 
prayers of thanksgiving flew heavenward as Doughboys and their families 
rejoiced at their survival in spite of the most bitter and horrible 
fighting the world had yet experienced.
  World War I saw the introduction of new and more deadly forms of 
warfare, as technology and chemistry were brought to bear on the 
battlefield. Horses were replaced by the first crude tanks and self-
propelled guns. Monoplanes and biplanes brought warfare to the skies 
overhead for the first time.
  Chemical weapons, terrible and deadly, clouded the trenches. Diseases 
stalked the fields as well, from trenchfoot to the deadly Spanish flu 
that killed combatants and civilians alike. It was a dreadful time, one 
that would surely erase the desire to battle, if only that desire could 
be wiped from the human genome.
  In 2005, in wake of World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam 
conflict, the cold war and repeated conflicts in the Balkans, in Iraq, 
and in Afghanistan, World War I seems almost quaint. There was no 
threat of nuclear war bringing vast destruction to our homeland. There 
was no threat of terrorist attacks against innocent civilians. There 
was some respect for noncombatants, and there were no kidnappings or 
concentration camps.
  Today's battlefield is amorphous. It touches humanitarian volunteers 
and journalists. It strikes at soldiers in their weary bivoacs, and it 
threatens to reach again into our everyday lives and travels. Our 
battle-stained soldiers get no rest.
  This Veterans Day, we are at war on three fronts. First, let us never 
forget that we have troops in Afghanistan, still struggling to defeat 
the remnants of those who attacked us on September 11, 2001. They do 
not receive as much press coverage as the conflict in Iraq, but their 
fight is taking place in the heartland of the Taliban, the refuge of 
last resort for the mastermind of the 9/11 attack, Osama bin Laden. Our 
prayers go out to those brave men and women who labor in the deserts 
and the high, cold mountains of that embattled land. Your efforts and 
your sacrifices are not forgotten.
  Second, we also have troops in Iraq, in a battle of our choosing. It 
is a battle that is consuming a high and bloody price on each difficult 
day. Our anxious prayers are with those men and women too, who must 
face each day not knowing what is around each comer or along each 
dangerous roadway. They may be sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that 
whatever we do

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here to question or investigate the circumstances that led to their 
deployment to Iraq, they have our unwavering respect and support in 
addition to our prayers. Those of their comrades who have paid a dear 
price and who lie wounded in hospitals have our thanks and sincere 
wishes for a speedy recovery. To the families who have lost a loved one 
in battle in service to our Nation, we owe a great debt.
  They have no Veterans Day prayer of thanksgiving, only the honored 
memory of their loved one.
  Our third war is taking place at home, as the Nation struggles to put 
in place protections to deter, prevent, or respond to a terror attack 
within our borders. The military, the Department of Homeland Security, 
and State and local first responders all must define and organize 
themselves to meet these new threats. We are all familiar with the 
early responses, from machine-gun wielding National Guardsmen 
patrolling our airports to fighter jets circling overhead on combat air 
patrol. We now dutifully take our shoes off for inspection before 
boarding a plane, and we park farther from public buildings. We are 
reviewing what role the military should play in responding to terror 
attacks or natural disasters. We are debating what legal protections 
and due process are due to those who are accused of involvement in 
suspected terror plots. We are weighing what loss of privacy with 
regard to our electronic transactions, even our library book 
withdrawals and Web searches, is commensurate with the threat to our 
safety. These new threats have made significant changes in our way of 
life, to be sure. Thankfully, we have not been tested again so far.
  The changes in our daily routines are minute, however, in comparison 
to the challenges facing our men and women in uniform. Their foes wear 
no uniforms, no recognizable insignia. They travel in crowds, in taxis 
and buses, in private cars and cement trucks loaded with explosives. 
They target diplomats, journalists, and those laboring to improve local 
living conditions as well as those in uniform. They target their own 
countrymen serving to keep the peace on their neighborhood streets. 
They come from other nations, driven by a fanaticism most of us cannot 
fathom, let alone comprehend. Our men and women in uniform are fighting 
the hardest kind of war against a chameleon foe hidden in plain sight 
among the passing crowd. They have made repeated trips to the 
battlefield as our overstretched forces must deply and redeploy. My 
heart goes out to them and my prayers are with them.
  American men and women in the military services customarily state 
that they are proud to serve, proud to answer the Nation's call. Know 
that this Senator, too is proud--proud and thankful for the bravery and 
skill of our Nation's soldiers, sailors, and airmen. And I am proud of 
the families who support our troops with their love, their care 
packages, their prayers, and their loving welcomes home.
  On Veterans Day, the Nation pays its respects to the men and women 
who have served and are now serving our Nation in uniform, and who have 
faced or are facing our foes in battle. Give them your thanks, and give 
them their due. They are true patriots. They have faced great dangers 
for each and every one of us.
  Mr. President, I close with a poem by Edgar Guest:

     The things that make a soldier great and send him out to die,
     To face the flaming cannon's mouth nor ever question why,
     Are lilacs by a little porch, the row of tulips red,
     The peonies and pansies, too, the old petunia bed,
     The grass plot where his children play, the roses on the 
           wall:
     'Tis these that make a soldier great.
     He's fighting for them all.

     'Tis not the pomp and pride of kings that make a soldier 
           brave;
     'Tis not allegiance to the flag that over him may wave;
     For soldiers never fight so well on land or on the foam;
     As when behind the cause they see the little place called 
           home.
     Endanger but that humble street whereon his children run, You 
           make a soldier of the man who never bore a gun.

     What is it through the battle smoke the valiant soldier sees?
     The little garden far away, the budding apple trees,
     The little patch of ground back there, the children at their 
           play,
     Perhaps a tiny mound behind the simple church of gray.
     The golden thread of courage isn't linked to castle dome;
     But to the spot, where'er it be--the humblest spot called 
           home.

     And now the lilacs bud again and all is lovely there,
     And homesick soldiers far away know spring is in the air;
     The tulips come to bloom again, the grass once more is green,
     And every man can see the spot where all his joys have been.
     He sees his children smile at him, he hears the bugle call,
     And only death can stop him now--he's fighting for them all.

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, we observe Veterans Day on an 
anniversary of a day when war ended and our Nation was again at peace. 
November 11, 1918, Armistice Day, has been a day we use to remember our 
debt to all who have worn the uniform of the United States.
  Our veterans have borne the costs of America's wars and have 
sacrificed so that not only our Nation but also our world can be free 
from terror. Today, every veteran can be certain, the Nation you serve 
and the people you defend are grateful.
  Today more than 25 million Americans are either veterans or retired 
military. This number includes men and women from World War I, World 
War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Every 
Veteran has their own story of how they entered military service. Many 
enlisted on December 8, 1941, or at the beginning of other conflicts. 
Some began their military careers at a service academy or with a letter 
from the U.S. government. Yet when their service is complete, veterans 
of every era, every background, every branch, have certain shared 
commitments and experiences that form bonds that will last a lifetime.
  America's war veterans have fought for the security of this Nation 
and for the safety and peace of the world. They have humbled tyrants 
and defended the innocent and oppressed. The men and women of our Armed 
Forces have engaged the enemy on many fronts and confronted grave 
dangers to defend the safety of the American people. They serve and 
fight today, and their great achievements are added to American 
history. Americans are forever grateful for their honor, their courage, 
and their sacrifice.
  Today and every day, the prayers of the American people are with 
those who wear our country's uniform. They follow a great tradition 
handed down to them by America's veterans. Our veterans from every era 
are the finest of citizens. We owe them the life we know today. They 
command the respect of the people, and they have our lasting gratitude.
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, tomorrow the Nation will pause to honor 
those brave Americans who have so selflessly served our country in the 
Armed Forces. For more than 200 years, men and women have proudly worn 
the uniform of the United States. In peacetime and in wartime, these 
selfless individuals have served and sacrificed on our behalf, many of 
them far away from their homes and from their families. Too may of them 
have made the ultimate sacrifice, and too many others bear the 
permanent scars of war, both seen and unseen. We owe them--and their 
families--our deepest, heartfelt gratitude.
  As we prepare to mark Veterans Day in the United States with 
appropriate ceremonies and recognitions such as those that will take 
place in big cities and small towns across my home State of Wisconsin, 
men and women from my State and across our country will be continuing 
to serve with honor and distinction on our behalf in Iraq, Afghanistan, 
and elsewhere. Their dedication to this great country--and that of 
those who served before them--should inspire us all.
  These quiet heroes can be found in all of our communities--in our 
families, within our circles of friends and acquaintances, in our 
schools, at our places of worship, at the local barber shop or salon, 
and at various neighborhood gathering places. Many of our veterans, 
while intensely patriotic and proud of their service--to our country, 
decline to talk in detail about their own acts of courage. Such 
humility is a testament to the selfless nature of these individuals. It 
is also a reminder

[[Page S12705]]

of the sometimes painful burden that too many of our veterans carry as 
a result of their service--a burden that may include memories of 
wartime experiences that are too personal to share even with the 
closest of family members and friends.
  These men and women show their pride in and dedication to their 
country in ways large and small, but do not call attention to their own 
heroism. Many of them continue to serve their fellow Americans and 
their fellow veterans though active membership in veterans service 
organization and other community groups. Others talk to school and 
youth groups about the importance of service, and many work tirelessly 
to keep alive the memories of those who did not return home.
  Thousands of veterans around the country will gather proudly tomorrow 
for events marking Veterans Day. November 11 is a date with special 
significance in our history. On that day in 1918--at the eleventh hour 
of the eleventh day of the eleventh month--World War I ended. In 1926, 
a joint resolution of Congress called on the President to issue a 
proclamation to encourage all Americans to mark this day by displaying 
the United States flag and by observing it with appropriate ceremonies.
  In 1938, Armistice Day was designated as a legal holiday ``to be 
dedicated to the cause of world peace'' by an act of Congress. This 
annual recognition of the contributions and sacrifices of our Nation's 
World War I veterans was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 so that we might 
also recognize the service and sacrifice of those who had fought in 
World War II and the veterans of all of America's other wars.
  We owe these brave men and women our gratitude, and we also owe them 
our best efforts to ensure they know about and receive the Federal 
benefits and services that they have earned through their service to 
our country. I have long been concerned that too many veterans and 
military personnel are unaware of benefits and programs that are 
available to them through the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
Defense and a number of other Federal agencies. I will continue my work 
to ensure that all veterans know about the benefits for which they may 
be eligible. I will also continue to support efforts to fully fund VA 
health care programs so that all veterans who wish to take advantage of 
their health care benefits are able to do so. No veteran should have to 
wait months to see a doctor or should be told that he or she is barred 
from enrolling in the VA health care system because of a lack of 
funding.
  In addition, I am committed to ensuring that our current military 
personnel receive adequate health care and transition services, 
including mental health services, as they return from deployments 
abroad and when they return to civilian life. I am pleased that earlier 
this week the Senate passed an amendment that I offered to the fiscal 
year 2006 Defense authorization bill which is based on legislation I 
introduced in June, the Veterans Enhanced Transition Services Act, VETS 
Act. This amendment represents another step toward enhancing and 
strengthening transition services that are provided to our military 
personnel by making a number of improvements to the existing transition 
and post-deployment/pre-discharge health assessment programs.
  My amendment will ensure that members of the National Guard and 
Reserve who have been on active duty continuously for at least 180 days 
are able to participate in transition programs and requires that 
additional information be included in these transition programs, such 
as details about employment and reemployment rights and a description 
of the health care and other benefits to which personnel may be 
entitled through the VA. The amendment also requires that demobilizing 
military personnel have access to follow-up care for physical or 
psychological conditions incurred as a result of their service. In 
addition, the amendment requires that assistance be provided to 
eligible military personnel to enroll in the VA health care system.
  Mr. President, as we reflect upon the solemn meaning of this day, let 
us keep all of our veterans and their families in our thoughts. These 
men and women are examples of the best that our country has to offer, 
and they deserve our support--both during times of conflict and after 
the battles have ended and these valiant men and women have come home 
to their families and their communities. As we reflect upon the service 
of these courageous individuals on this Veterans Day, we should also 
redouble our commitment to continue to honor and support America's 
brave veterans, military personnel, and their families on this day and 
throughout the year.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
veterans of our armed services. As combat operations continue in Iraq 
and Afghanistan, Veterans Day provides an important opportunity to 
honor those men and women who have made such great sacrifices for our 
Nation, both young and old.
  Veterans Day is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the 
extraordinary contributions of all those who have served our country in 
uniform.
  Veterans Day originated on November 11, 1918, as Armistice Day, 
commemorating the end of World War I. Although Veterans Day originally 
marked the end of a conflict, it now is an important reminder that our 
responsibility to veterans extends far beyond the close of hostilities.
  First, I believe it is important that we pause and pay tribute to the 
approximately 160,000 troops still fighting in the regions of Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Sadly, more than 2,000 soldiers have paid the ultimate sacrifice. 
Numerous others have experienced serious injury and harm.
  With thousands and thousands of veterans coming home from this war, 
we must prepare for their return and ensure that they receive the care 
and benefits they deserve.
  Today, there are 24.5 million living veterans in the United States. 
And I am proud that California is home to the most veterans in the 
country--over 2.3 million.
  As California's senior Senator, I am honored to serve as the ranking 
member of the Military Construction and Veteran Affairs Appropriations 
Subcommittee.
  In July of this year, the Senate approved a spending package that 
provides over $70.7 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
over $1 billion more than the administration's request.
  The appropriated funds contain $23.3 billion for medical services, 
including nearly $2 billion in emergency funding to address the fiscal 
year 2006 shortfall.
  The Senate and House are currently in conference to reconcile 
differences between the two Chambers' respective bills. It is my hope 
that we will finish conference on a final version of the Military 
Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill and send it to 
the President for his signature over the next several days.
  In addition to medical services and research, the Senate bill also 
allocates $104 million for extended care facilities for our veterans. 
With 9.5 million Veterans over the age of 65, the need for properly 
funded long-term care is more important than ever.
  To date, a quarter of a million veterans of Operation Enduring 
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have been discharged from Active 
Duty.
  Of these, 49,000 have sought care from the Veterans Administration. 
As a nation we must fully meet our responsibilities to the veterans of 
this country.
  Advances in medicine have thankfully spared many veterans of Iraq and 
Afghanistan from death, but roadside explosives and other weapons have 
left many of our troops maimed and disabled. To better serve wounded 
veterans, the Senate recently allocated $412 million for medical and 
prosthetics research.
  There should not be any doubt that these brave men and women have 
given their all to protect freedom and our way of life.
  It is estimated that 500,000 veterans spent all or part of this past 
year homeless. But tragically, the VA only has the capabilities to 
assist one-fifth of all homeless veterans.
  We must continue to push for the development of an effective and 
expansive therapeutic housing program to help these thousands of 
veterans.
  The new funding will bring us closer to guaranteeing the health, 
safety, and comfort of all veterans. The San Diego VA Medical Center 
alone will be able

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to provide care for 2,000 additional patients.
  It is also our responsibility to ensure that prescription drugs are 
affordable. We must also ensure that health care is accessible and that 
veterans' hospitals are provided with the proper tools and support they 
need.
  This is why I have consistently voted for increased funding for VA 
health care. Just this year I supported an amendment to the Defense 
Appropriations Act, which extends military health care benefits beyond 
retirement.
  Noble sacrifices of past generations deserve to be remembered and 
cherished. Congress has consistently supported the construction of new 
cemeteries where the memories of our esteemed veterans can be honored 
and their legacies celebrated.
  As a nation I believe we should also resist attempts to sell out land 
and facilities earmarked for veterans to commercial interests.
  In west Los Angeles, pressure is increasing on the VA to develop some 
of the last open space left in the Los Angeles Basin. Land donated to 
honor the service of veterans should be kept in the hands of veterans. 
We cannot allow our responsibility to former servicemembers to be 
subordinated to economic interests.
  To truly honor veterans, our country needs to preserve the memory of 
their courage. I worked with my colleagues from Iowa and California to 
make the battleship USS Iowa a permanent floating museum. The legendary 
ship's service in World War II and the Korean war will serve as a 
proper tribute to the veterans who served aboard this great fighting 
ship.
  I look forward to continuing to work in service of our Nation's 
veterans. I hope you all will think of these courageous patriots beyond 
this special day and honor our veterans and the sacrifices they made in 
order for us to remain a free, self-governing people. To our veterans, 
I extend a heartfelt thank you for your service to our country. May God 
bless each of you and your families.
  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor our Nation's 
veterans. Nowhere is dedication to duty and love of country more 
evident than among those who have voluntarily chosen to serve our 
country. Today, America honors the sons and daughters who have helped 
preserve our freedom and left a lasting legacy of selfless service.
  Since 1954, we have designated November 11 as Veterans Day to 
remember the brave men and women who have served in our Armed Forces 
and defended our Nation. We also give our heartfelt gratitude to 
today's active service members and members of the National Guard and 
Reserve who are serving our country as we help to maintain peace and 
support democracy throughout the world.
  I am especially proud to recognize Oregon's soldiers serving in our 
Armed Forces, as they represent our State with honor and distinction 
across the country and throughout the world. Whether protecting Iraqi 
citizens in their historic effort to form a free and democratic state 
or helping evacuate victims of Hurricane Katrina in the gulf coast 
region, their continued commitment to our Nation inspires us all.
  Throughout our proud history, the United States has courageously met 
the challenges posed by enemies of freedom. In the last 100 years, we 
have lost some 700,000 men and women in defense of our country. As we 
recall their noble sacrifices, it is also important to honor the 
relatives and loved ones who help shoulder the burden of service.
  America now faces new challenges from enemies that did not exist when 
our Nation's veterans fought in previous wars. Those who fought tyranny 
and paid the ultimate price did so for an honorable and enduring cause. 
Generations of free and democratic people around the world join us in 
thanking the brave Americans who helped them achieve and protect their 
liberty.
  Today, we honor the legacy of the fallen and the courage of our 
veterans and salute the values that have made the United States the 
greatest Nation in the world. I have the highest respect for those who 
serve, and I appreciate and honor all of the men and women who continue 
to defend freedom at home and abroad. These American heroes and their 
families are at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers on this 
special day.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, this weekend we will all return home to 
our States and march in parades and participate in memorial events. 
Personally, I am always humbled to meet with men and women who heard 
duty calling and answered without hesitation. When duty called for 
brave Americans to stand against the spread of tyranny and oppression--
whatever its many forms--they answered. They were willing to go 
anywhere--from the shores of Normandy to the islands of the Pacific to 
the jungles of Southeast Asia, to Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf--
they put their lives on the line for our safety and freedom. And in 
exchange for that, our Nation owes them sincere gratitude and a promise 
of support when they return.
  During World War II, my father was a soldier and my mother worked in 
the War Department. During that time, my uncle Leandro was killed in 
Europe. My parents knew firsthand about the ultimate sacrifice to 
protect America. They taught me the fundamental values I hold dear--
love of family, community, country and God.
  My dad taught me something else. Four years ago, my father died at 
the age of 85. Even though his mind was wracked with Alzheimer's, my 
father's last wish was to be buried in his World War II uniform. My dad 
knew that there is no greater honor, in life or in death, than to love 
our country.
  When I got to the Senate, I asked to serve on the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs. I wanted to fight for heroes like my father, uncle, 
brothers, and nephews. In fact, my brother John, himself a veteran and 
Congressman from Colorado's third district, will speak at Veterans Day 
events across his district tomorrow. Like millions of other veterans, 
whose actions matched their ideals, it is time the Nation acted to keep 
the promises it made to veterans.
  Veterans Day is an opportunity for all of us to come together to hold 
parades and give speeches. Veterans all will hear from a number of 
politicians tomorrow.
  It reminds me of something a young Ben Franklin wrote to his mother 
and father in 1738:

       the scripture assures me that at the last day we shall not 
     be examined by what we thought, but by what we did . . . that 
     we did good to our fellow creatures.

  John Kennedy put it another way:

       As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the 
     highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by 
     them.

  Veterans Day is an important day, and veterans deserve every single 
word of praise that politicians utter. But our veterans deserve more 
than good speeches. They need the Government to keep the promises it 
made to them. We need to keep our promises to our soldiers at all 
stages of their lives, from when they first serve, to when they return 
home, to when they pass away.
  Our military faces very different and daunting challenges as we begin 
the 21st century. We are fighting an enemy with a singular obsession--
nothing less than the destruction of our way of life. We must provide 
our military with the resources to fight the war on terror and keep us 
safe. And just as we must protect our soldiers in battle, we must serve 
them when they return home.
  Many of our veterans have seen and experienced things that will 
torment them for all of their days. Many return to us damaged 
physically and emotionally. Many will rise from the worst of it and 
work to help others to do the same.
  Colorado has 433,000 veterans who have fought for our freedom, and 
our state has more than 13,000 soldiers deployed in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. We need to show these heroes that we will support them 
when they come home.
  Earlier this year, I was alarmed when I learned the VA had a $1.3 
billion budget shortfall and was delaying construction and rearranging 
funds to hide the gap. I was proud to work with my colleagues on the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee to pass $3.5 billion in additional funds to 
cover the shortfall this year and next.
  This is an important first step, but we need to make sure that 
veterans never have to worry about losing their health care again. 
First, we need to make sure that the VA's budget process works. I have 
worked with my colleagues to successfully launch a Government 
Accountability Office investigation into what went wrong at the

[[Page S12707]]

VA. I also authored legislation that passed the Senate to make sure 
that we are not surprised by this kind of news in the future.
  Second, we need to ensure that the VA's budget is not dependent on 
the political whims inside Washington. I believe we need to make VA 
funding mandatory so that VA never has to ration care and veterans 
never have to worry about losing their coverage.
  Colorado's veterans deserve a new state-of-the-art veterans hospital 
at Fitzsimons. When negotiations between the VA, the Fitzsimons 
Redevelopment Authority, and the University of Colorado broke down, I 
was proud to step in and help restart negotiations. This remains one of 
my top priorities in the Senate, and I am optimistic about the 
hospital's prospects. Colorado's veterans will get a new VA medical 
center at Fitzsimons.
  But veterans in the metro area are not the only ones who need better 
care. In many rural parts of Colorado, veterans are being forced to 
drive hundreds of miles to get basic health care at overutilized 
facilities. This distance can lead to delayed care. And in the case of 
our aging veterans, the trip can be damaging to their health. That is 
just unacceptable.
  Across Colorado, many brave and dedicated State officials and 
veterans groups are providing transportation services to rural 
veterans. Such volunteer programs currently exist in Alamosa, Denver, 
La Plata, Moffat, Prowers, and Weld counties. These are successful, but 
financial uncertainties put them in jeopardy.
  I am proud to have introduced the VetsRide Act to help programs like 
these survive. The bill provides small grants to groups that provide 
transportation or otherwise assist veterans in rural areas. This bill 
has earned the support of 17 Senate cosponsors including 8 Republicans. 
I hope to get this legislation approved so that we can continue these 
transportation programs that are a lifeline to our rural veterans.
  In August, I hosted a field hearing on rural veterans issues in Grand 
Junction. Based on that hearing, I introduced legislation to require 
the VA to reevaluate outdated policies that disadvantage rural areas in 
the placement of new VA clinics. In September the Senate passed that 
legislation, which hopefully will help clear the way for the veterans 
of northwestern Colorado to get a clinic that they deserve.
  In addition, I have introduced critical legislation to improve care 
for veterans living in rural areas, blinded veterans, and our elderly 
veterans. These are three areas where the VA is not doing enough, and a 
relatively small investment can make a major difference in our heroes' 
quality of life.
  As we celebrate this Veterans Day, I am reminded of a sad fact. By 
2015, the veteran population in Colorado is expected to fall by 49,500. 
Most of those will be World War II and Korean War veterans who will 
take their rightful places of honor next to the heroes buried in the 
four veterans cemeteries spread across Colorado.
  I believe we need to honor the men and women who sacrificed so much 
for our freedom by giving them a burial option close to their homes. 
Yet one of the Nation's largest veterans communities, Colorado Springs, 
does not have a veterans cemetery. There are more than 105,000 veterans 
in the Pikes Peak Region. Despite this, the nearest veterans cemetery 
is at Fort Logan, a 70-mile trip from Springs through heavy Denver 
traffic. I have cosponsored legislation that would fix this inequity 
and hope it will be passed by the Congress.
  I have also cosponsored legislation this week to close a terrible 
loophole in the law that allows capital offenders to be buried at 
national cemeteries. Our veterans deserve the dignity of not being 
buried next to murderers and monsters.
  Since the American Revolution, nearly 1.2 million American soldiers 
have died defending this country. Their valor is an example to us. It 
requires us, the living, to ensure that the country they fought for 
continues to be worthy of their sacrifice.
  Colorado and the Nation will not forget what our veterans have done 
and continue to do for us. We owe veterans our gratitude and our 
lifelong support.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 305) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 305

       Whereas tens of millions of Americans have served in the 
     Armed Forces of the United States during the past century;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of Americans have given their 
     lives while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States 
     during the past century;
       Whereas the contributions and sacrifices of the men and 
     women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United 
     States have been vital in maintaining our freedom and way of 
     life;
       Whereas the more than 700,000 brave Americans who have 
     sacrificed their lives while serving in the Armed Forces of 
     the United States have ensured that the Nation, which is 
     founded on the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy, 
     shall endure;
       Whereas Armistice Day was first proclaimed by President 
     Woodrow Wilson in 1919 to commemorate the November 11, 1918, 
     armistice between the Allies and the Central Powers that 
     ended the fighting of World War I;
       Whereas on June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower 
     signed into law the Act proclaiming November 11 as Veterans 
     Day (Public Law 83-380);
       Whereas on October 8, 1954, in anticipation of the first 
     nationwide observance of Veterans Day, President Dwight D. 
     Eisenhower issued a Presidential proclamation regarding 
     Veterans Day, which states, ``[o]n that day let us solemnly 
     remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, 
     on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve 
     our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to 
     the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts 
     shall not have been in vain'';
       Whereas veterans play important roles in communities 
     throughout the United States;
       Whereas it is important to preserve the memory of the 
     veterans of the Nation and to teach every generation about 
     the sacrifices that all veterans have made in securing and 
     preserving the freedom that all Americans enjoy today;
       Whereas the United States is in a time of conflict that 
     highlights the incommensurable sacrifices the brave men and 
     women of our Armed Forces have made and continue to make for 
     our Nation and its principles of freedom, justice, and 
     democracy;
       Whereas as of October 2005, there were 433,398 new veterans 
     from the present conflict who bravely defended America;
       Whereas November 11 is a day of solemn reflection on, and 
     commemoration of, the contributions of those who have served 
     and defended the Nation, especially those who gave the 
     ultimate sacrifice to secure the freedoms enjoyed by all 
     citizens; and
       Whereas it is proper that the Senate observe the day with 
     appropriate tributes, commemorations, and reflection even 
     when it conducts the Nation's business: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate--
       (1) that those that have died in war serving the Nation, 
     and the veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, 
     living and dead, are to be honored for their contributions 
     and sacrifices to preserve the Nation and the principles of 
     freedom, justice, and democracy that all Americans hold dear;
       (2) that Veterans Day 2005 should be commemorated with 
     appropriate tributes to all veterans of the Armed Forces of 
     the United States for their contributions and sacrifices, and 
     most especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice; and
       (3) that all Americans are encouraged to join the Senate in 
     honoring and paying tribute to veterans of the Armed Forces 
     of the United States on Veterans Day and throughout the year.

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