[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7478-H7480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ENCOURAGING ALL OFFICES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO HIRE 
                           DISABLED VETERANS

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1016) encouraging all offices of the House of 
Representatives to hire disabled veterans.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 1016

       Whereas the men and women of our armed forces play a 
     central role in preserving our Nation's freedom;
       Whereas disabled veterans have sacrificed greatly for their 
     country;
       Whereas one way for our Nation to repay its debt to those 
     disabled veterans is to help disabled veterans return to 
     their previous lifestyle;
       Whereas Congress relies on knowledgeable staff to help 
     formulate policy;
       Whereas disabled veterans provide unique perspectives on a 
     range of issues, especially regarding national security;
       Whereas Members who are veterans or reservists have played 
     a leading role throughout the history of Congress; and

[[Page H7479]]

       Whereas Congress wishes to give disabled veterans the 
     opportunity to work in their government as a benefit to those 
     disabled veterans as well the members of Congress on whose 
     staffs they will serve: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives encourages the 
     Members, committees, and all other offices of the House to 
     hire disabled veterans, and to use the resources that the 
     Committee on House Administration will direct the Chief 
     Administrative Officer to provide to find qualified disabled 
     veterans to fill positions in these offices.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rohrabacher) for introducing this fine resolution.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 1016, which encourages all offices of 
the House of Representatives to hire disabled veterans, and I ask all 
my colleagues to support this important bill.
  Throughout history, our Nation has depended on the brave men and 
women of the military to secure our freedom, frequently at their own 
peril. Millions of those who fight valiantly for our country will 
return with injuries that threatened their livelihood and that of their 
families.
  After completing their service to our country, our Nation's disabled 
veterans often return to face another challenge: diminished prospects 
for employment due to the injuries they suffered in battle.
  By recruiting these exceptional individuals for employment in the 
House, we are both rewarding these heroes for their sacrifices they 
have made for their country and securing experienced, dedicated 
employees to work in House offices. By providing a congressional career 
path to disabled veterans, we are offering these courageous individuals 
an opportunity to serve the public in a new capacity.
  I ask the Members to honor our Nation's veterans both by supporting 
this important resolution and by hiring disabled veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the chairman in support of this 
resolution introduced this week by the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rohrabacher), encouraging all Members, committees, and offices of the 
House to hire disabled veterans. This Congress absolutely should give 
preference to disabled veterans as long as there are disabled veterans.
  First, this resolution reminds all Members and other House employees 
that this Congress has a moral and ethical obligation to support 
American disabled veterans. Unfortunately, we know too well that the 
ranks of America's disabled veterans are growing every day. One way for 
the House to fulfill its obligation is to help disabled veterans return 
to their pre-war lifestyles. Their former jobs may be gone or their 
disabilities may preclude them from performing that function again.
  I am sure there are many disabled veterans whose knowledge, skills, 
and abilities could help Members better serve their constituencies. 
This would allow disabled veterans to continue their service to their 
country as civilians, while providing for themselves and their 
families. This could take place anywhere in the country since a large 
percentage of congressional staff positions are located in districts 
throughout America. There are also opportunities here on Capitol Hill 
as well.
  Second, the resolution states that the Committee on House 
Administration will facilitate employment opportunities for disabled 
veterans by directing the House Chief Administration Officer to provide 
resources to guide qualified disabled veterans to potential positions. 
A suitable Web site, for example, could enable disabled veterans to 
employment opportunities in the House.
  Whatever the committee may decide, I am pleased that this resolution 
apprises all Members of the need of our disabled veterans and the rest 
of the community to take action. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to 
support this resolution. The ranks of American disabled veterans are 
growing every day, and the end of the current conflict is not in sight. 
The House should do everything possible to help our disabled veterans 
to rebuild their lives.
  If qualified disabled veterans are interested in working here, we 
should encourage Members, our committees, and our support offices to 
embrace these brave men and women who have served in Iraq and elsewhere 
around the world and who have sacrificed their futures for our country. 
I urge an ``aye'' vote
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I yield 4 
minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), who is in 
every way a true patriot and also the author of this wonderful 
resolution.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my resolution, H. 
Res. 1016. I would like to thank Mr. Ehlers for his help in support of 
this bill, as well as Mr. Brady and Members on both sides of the aisle. 
It has taken considerable time and effort to get this bill to the 
floor, and I appreciate their help in bringing this matter tonight and 
making sure we get this done before the end of the session.
  Mr. Speaker, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is being fought by 
American military personnel; and, as we know, many of them have been 
killed or wounded. In fact, there have been 21,263 wounded American 
military personnel during this conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq. That 
includes 468 amputees.
  To better illustrate that point, imagine every Member of this House 
plus 33 others have been wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan and that the 
wounds were serious enough to require amputation, and sometimes that 
meant amputating more than one limb. It is hard to comprehend the level 
of sacrifice and the recovery from such a loss.
  These brave warriors and their families must learn an entirely new 
way of life. Sometimes readjusting, finding one's place is as traumatic 
and as hurtful as the wound itself. Many of them worry about how they 
will work and what kind of life they can provide for themselves and for 
their families.
  My resolution, H. Res. 1016, will enable us, Members of the United 
States Congress, to help disabled veterans directly. We should serve as 
an example to other government agencies and to private-sector 
employers. We need to send an unmistakable message that every disabled 
veteran should have the opportunity to work at a decent-paying job and 
that they can this way adjust and bring themselves back into this 
community as they heal and come home.
  This resolution coordinates the House Administration Committee and 
the CAO to find qualified disabled veterans to fill open positions in 
our House offices.
  Congress has two important obligations when sending America's 
defenders into harm's way.

                              {time}  2230

  The first is to ensure that those soldiers have the necessary 
training, equipment and resources to get the job done and come home 
safely.
  The second is to ensure that when these heroes come home, especially 
if they have been severely wounded, that their wounds are cared for and 
once they are healed, there are adequate avenues available to ensure 
them a decent life, especially the personal and professional 
satisfaction of a real job.
  I would challenge my colleagues to achieve the following goal: by the 
end of the next year, every congressional office should employ at least 
one disabled veteran. Not only would these veterans benefit from these 
jobs, but we would benefit greatly from the unique perspective that 
these heroes would bring to our offices.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Clifford Heinz for bringing to my 
attention disturbing news stories regarding returning veterans. I also 
thank the majority whip, Mr. Blunt, for his hard work in helping to 
move this resolution to the floor for the vote.
  We must ensure that the returning veterans from this war are treated 
with the dignity and honor, that it is the dignity and honor that they 
have earned and deserve. This resolution is an important first step in 
what I know will be a continued effort by this Congress to say thank 
you to the disabled

[[Page H7480]]

veterans who have paid a price beyond the call of duty and never fully 
repaid.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution and to 
take seriously the challenge of personally hiring a disabled veteran 
for their office. I ask them to support H. Res. 1016.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to 
Mr. Fattah from the great State of Pennsylvania for such time as he may 
consume.
  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania, and 
also the chairman of my former committee, the House Administration 
Committee, for their fine work in bringing this resolution to the 
floor.
  On Sunday I spoke at the VFW post in my district, the Charles Young 
Post, as they celebrated 76 years of providing a service to veterans, 
returning veterans from a host of wars and conflicts, in Philadelphia.
  I have been over to Walter Reed visiting with soldiers who have been 
wounded in the Iraqi war, and it is true that they are receiving great 
medical care, but they do need employment. And I thank the gentleman 
who is the prime sponsor of this who I have also served with for many 
years, for fighting for this to come to the floor because it is 
something that is tangible that we can do.
  I just wanted to rise in support of it. House Administration is a 
committee where these issues are dealt with, and I think the committee 
should be commended for bringing this to the floor. And I hope all 
Members heed what I think is a reasonable challenge, that each of us 
should reach out to returning veterans.
  Many have disabilities that are visible, and others have other 
challenges. We do know, as has been stated by a former President, 
Ronald Reagan, that one of the best things that could ever happen in 
terms of addressing some of the social challenges that people face is a 
good job. So providing a good job for veterans who return, many of whom 
are disabled, I think is a rightful thing for this House to consider, 
in all of its various offices both here on the Hill and at home in our 
district offices.
  I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I thank the 
chairman for the great guidance he has given to my former committee.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rohrabacher for 
the resolution and the chairman of our committee. It is a pleasure 
working with you.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I once again reiterate the requests that various individuals have 
made here, that every Member of this Congress take this resolution 
seriously, that they vote for it; and, furthermore, that they act on it 
and hire a disabled veteran to work in their offices.
  I thank the gentleman from California for bringing this to our 
attention. I urge support by every Member of the House for this 
resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. 
Res. 1016 to encourage all offices of the House of Representatives to 
hire disabled veterans.
  The men and women of our Armed Forces play a central role in 
preserving our Nation's freedom. In this role, these men and women gain 
very valuable skills, and knowledge which is crucial to the successful 
operations and functions of our military. The vast array of valuable 
skills that disabled veterans possess include those in intelligence, 
medicine, law and beyond. Such knowledge is not to be undervalued.
  There are over 3 million living disabled veterans in this country, a 
number which unfortunately continues to rise as we remain engaged in 
the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Let us respect and honor the 
invaluable service of all past and future disabled veterans by ensuring 
that they may continue to use their unique talents, knowledge and 
skills.
  Congress relies on knowledgeable staff to help formulate policy. 
Disabled veterans provide unique perspectives on a range of issues, 
especially regarding national security.
  Disabled veterans have sacrificed greatly for this country. It is 
indeed no sacrifice at all for us to take advantage of the unique 
education and experience that our veterans will bring as 
administrative, legislative and support staff to the House offices.
  This Nation can repay its debt to those disabled veterans by helping 
disabled veterans continue to support the many important functions of 
our government, as well as continue to serve their country. Such a 
partnership is a win-win situation, and yet I am inclined to think that 
it is we who will benefit most from the contributions.
  Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that when our veterans become disabled as 
a result of their military service, their service and skills do not dry 
up like a raisin in the sun but continue to bear fruit that can serve 
this great Nation well. By employing disabled veterans, we show that we 
have confidence in and value their skills.
  We all know that it is exceedingly difficult to gain employment as a 
disabled individual, let alone as a veteran adjusting to civilian life. 
This is simply one step we can make as a legislative body to ease the 
transition and assist a population in need.
  I am virtually certain that we all value the time and service of all 
of our veterans who have faithfully served to protect the interests of 
this great Nation and its citizens. We certainly would like to express 
that sentiment here today by passage of H.R. 1016 to encourage all 
offices of the House of Representatives to hire disabled veterans.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1016.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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