[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CARING FOR VETERANS IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2008

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, since 1993 HVAF (Helping 
Homeless Veterans and Families) of Indiana, Inc. has been committed to 
assisting our Nation's veterans overcome the challenges of 
homelessness. I rise today to honor this remarkable organization, and 
it's most recent initiative, Operation Heartland, which has dedicated 
itself to taking care of the needs of our heroes.
  HVAF has successfully organized projects such as small-scale 
supportive housing units for homeless vets and the Veteran's Service 
Center where homeless veterans can obtain food, clothing, hygiene 
products, IndyGo bus tickets, and use shower facilities; but Operation 
Heartland is perhaps HVAF's most ambitious project to date. The goal of 
Operation Heartland is to raise funds to furnish a 40 unit apartment 
building as the Donald W. Moreau, Sr. Veterans House. Hopefully by 
August of this year the Moreau House will be up and running and able to 
accommodate 40 homeless veterans, many of whom have substance abuse or 
mental health issues. While staying at the Moreau house, homeless 
veterans will have the opportunity to receive counseling and other 
rehabilitative services from HVAF staff, in hopes of returning to 
society as productive citizens.
  In a vote of confidence that HVAF would be successful, Oprah 
Winfrey's Big Give program recently gave $5,000 to help Operation 
Heartland get off the ground. Since then, the outpouring of support for 
Operation Heartland generated by Hoosiers has been substantial. Many of 
the donors who have already committed to the program include the 
Indianapolis Colts, FedEx Corporation, and Cathedral High School. One 
individual donor personally committed to provide over 15 percent of 
Operation Heartland's entire goal, and a local mom, who couldn't 
provide funding, committed her quilting group to provide quilts for the 
Moreau House.
  Caring for our veterans--the men and women who have provided such an 
incredible service to our country--is one of the most important things 
we can do. Operation Heartland will help to get our veterans off the 
streets and into safe homes and satisfying jobs. Our homeless veterans, 
who have served our country with the utmost courage, honor and dignity, 
especially deserve the kind of second chance that Operation Heartland 
and similar initiatives can provide. Madam Speaker, organizations like 
HVAF of Indiana are working hard to repay the debt we all owe to all 
the men and women who ever served in our Armed Forces. They deserve our 
support, our respect and our profound thanks; and I ask all of my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing the exemplary efforts of HVAF of 
Indiana.

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