Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 37 (Monday, March 5, 2007)

[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 37 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2129-H2131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

EXTENDING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE AMERICAN VETERANS DISABLED FOR LIFE
MEMORIAL

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 995) to amend Public Law 106-348 to extend the authorization
for establishing a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs
to honor veterans who became disabled while serving in the Armed Forces
of the United States.

[[Page H2130]]

The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 995

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ESTABLISHING DISABLED
VETERANS MEMORIAL.

Public Law 106-348 is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking ``The establishment'' and inserting
``Except as provided in subsection (e), the establishment'';
and
(B) by striking ``the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C.
1001 et seq.)'' and inserting ``chapter 89 of title 40,
United States Code'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``section 8(b) of the Commemorative Works
Act (40 U.S.C. 1008(b))'' and inserting ``section 8906 of
title 40, United States Code'';
(B) by striking ``or upon expiration of the authority for
the memorial under section 10(b) of such Act (40 U.S.C.
1010(b)),''; and
(C) by striking ``section 8(b)(1) of such Act (40 U.S.C.
1008(b)(1)'' and inserting ``8906(b)(2) or (3) of such
title''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Termination of Authority.--Notwithstanding section
8903(e) of title 40, United States Code, the authority to
establish a memorial under this section shall expire on
October 24, 2015.''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.

General Leave

Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The 106th Congress authorized the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial
Foundation to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor
disabled veterans. The law specified that the memorial is to be
established pursuant to the Commemorative Works Act. A memorial site
located near the Rayburn House Office Building was identified, but the
project is yet to advance due to security and traffic concerns raised
by the Architect of the Capitol and the U.S. Capitol Police.
The foundation is in the process of negotiating a solution to that
problem. However, the Commemorative Works Act specifies that the
legislative authority for any memorial expires 7 years after the date
of enactment, October of this year for this proposal. H.R. 995,
sponsored by our colleague from Illinois, Representative Phil Hare,
amends the original authorization to extend authority to establish the
memorial to October 24, 2015.

{time} 1430

This extension will allow additional time to ensure an appropriate
commemoration to our Nation's disabled veterans to whom we owe a
tremendous obligation.
While Representative Hare is a new Member of this House, he is well
acquainted with the sacrifices made by our Nation's veterans, both from
his service in the Army Reserves and his more than 20 years as district
director for our former colleague and advocate for veterans, Mr. Lane
Evans. We congratulate Representative Hare for his work on behalf of
this important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I might add that, given the ongoing and recent scandal
regarding the care and support of our current disabled veterans, this
legislation, H.R. 995, is timely and appropriate to honor and remind us
of the sacrifice of all veterans and those that are disabled as a
consequence of their service to this country. This is an obligation
that is owed to them. This memorial would be a fitting reminder that we
have an ongoing obligation and responsibility to their care and
comfort.
Mr. Speaker, we strongly support H.R. 995 and urge its adoption by
the House today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 995 and
yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 995 has been adequately explained by the majority
and we support the extension to establish a memorial honoring our
disabled veterans.
I note that the original law authorizing this memorial was authorized
by our own war hero, Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas. Last year,
Congressman Sue Kelly of New York introduced this extension bill, and I
am happy to see that Congressman Hare is carrying on her legacy. I urge
the adoption of the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare), the sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the
very kind words.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 995, a bill to extend
the authorization for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.
I introduced H.R. 995 along with my colleague Congressman Mark Kirk to
provide the time necessary to raise the private funds and navigate the
approval process in order to bring this memorial to life in Washington,
D.C. Without this bill, the charter for the memorial will expire in
October of this year.
I would like to thank Chairman Rahall for quickly moving this
legislation through the Resources Committee; and Lois Pope, the Chair
of the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation, who has worked
tirelessly to establish this memorial since 1996. I also appreciate the
efforts of Congressman Kirk and Congressman Dennis Moore to ensure the
memorial is funded and dedicated by 2010, and all the other Members who
have made this legislation a priority in the 110th Congress.
There are more than 3 million disabled veterans living today and
millions of veterans from past and future conflicts who will be honored
by this long overdue memorial.
It is my hope as a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs that
this memorial will only be the beginning of our recognition of the
incredible sacrifices of our veterans. This memorial cannot repay the
sacrifice of our disabled veterans, but it will serve as a reminder of
the debt that we owe to each and every one of them.
Transcending conflicts, service branches and generations, the
American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will express America's
lasting gratitude to the men and women whose lives were forever changed
in service to our country.
Due to its proximity to the Capitol, the memorial will remain in the
sight of America's lawmakers, serving as a constant reminder of the
human cost of conflict and the sacrifices of our disabled veterans. The
memorial will be a setting for school groups to learn about disabled
veterans, the cost of freedom and the challenges faced by those with
disabilities. Most importantly, it will be a place for disabled
veterans to come and know they are recognized by a grateful Nation.
I am proud to be a freshman legislator in the 110th Congress because
we are changing this country's priorities. In our recently passed
continuing resolution, we increased veterans health care by over $3.6
billion, and we are taking swift action to hold those who are
responsible for the inexcusable conditions at Walter Reed accountable.
Congress has a responsibility to plan for the long-term well-being
and health of our troops, and I am committed to taking care of our
veterans when they are in conflict and when they return home. This bill
is a critical first step in honoring the sacrifices our military men
and women have made and continue to make for our country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 995 and join me and
the other 28 cosponsors to ensure this memorial is built and dedicated
as soon as possible.
Mr. KIRK. Madame Speaker, on February 12, I joined my colleague from
Illinois, Mr. Hare, in introducing H.R. 995 to extend the authorization
of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial through 2015. This
legislation will give the American Veterans Disabled for Life
Foundation more time to raise the money needed to build this memorial
just south of the Rayburn Building. I believe the time has come to
recognize the sacrifices made by America's more than three million
disabled veterans by building a memorial for them in here in
Washington, D.C.

[[Page H2131]]

Last December President Bush signed into law a bill to transferring
control of the land for the memorial from the District of Columbia to
the National Park Service. Now the American Veterans Disabled for Life
Memorial Foundation needs to raise approximately $65 million to cover
the cost of construction. By passing H.R. 995 today, we will give the
foundation time to raise this money.
Earlier this year I joined my colleague from Kansas, Mr. Moore, in
introducing legislation to authorize the minting of commemorative coins
to help raise money for this cause. As we extend the authorization for
the memorial today, I want to encourage my colleagues to join us in
cosponsoring H.R. 634 to issue these coins. No federal funds will be
used to build the disabled veterans memorial, but it is appropriate for
Congress to do all it can to support and encourage its construction.
With more than three million disabled veterans in the United States
today, it is fitting that a memorial to their sacrifice be erected in
Washington, D.C. It is my hope that passing Mr. Hare's legislation will
bring us closer to making the American Veterans Disabled for Life
Memorial a reality.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 995.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.

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