[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 24, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5975-H5977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AMERICAN GI FORUM ON 
                          ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1291) expressing gratitude for the contributions of 
the American GI Forum on its 60th anniversary.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1291

       Whereas millions of veterans returning home from World War 
     II looked to the guarantee of educational, medical, housing, 
     and other basic benefits provided by the GI bill;
       Whereas these benefits were denied in large part to 
     Americans of Mexican descent and other Hispanics throughout 
     the United States;
       Whereas the American GI Forum was founded in 1948 by Army 
     Major Hector P. Garcia, a physician from Corpus Christi, 
     Texas, in response to such inequities;
       Whereas the Forum's motto is ``Education Is Our Freedom and 
     Freedom Should Be Everybody's Business'';
       Whereas in 1998 the Forum was granted a Federal charter 
     pursuant to an Act of Congress (Public Law 105-231);
       Whereas one of the purposes expressed in the Forum's 
     charter is ``fostering and enlarging equal educational 
     opportunities, equal economic opportunities, equal justice 
     under the law, and equal political opportunities for all 
     United States citizens, regardless of race, color, religion, 
     sex, or national origin'';
       Whereas the Forum's Veterans Outreach Program is based in 
     San Antonio, Texas, and provides training, employment, and 
     counseling for veterans in the Southwestern United States; 
     and
       Whereas the American GI Forum continues to be a beacon of 
     hope and an avenue for involvement for returning veterans and 
     ordinary citizens aspiring to improve conditions within their 
     own communities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the need for equal access to veterans' 
     benefits for all who have honorably served;
       (2) supports the goals, ideals, and deeds of the American 
     GI Forum and its members;
       (3) commends the work of the American GI Forum on its 60th 
     anniversary; and
       (4) encourages others to join with the American GI Forum to 
     ensure that veterans are never again denied the benefits they 
     rightfully deserve.

                              {time}  1930

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1291, which comes to us 
courtesy of Mr. Rodriguez from Texas. I just want to point out that 
what we are doing here is expressing the gratitude for the 
contributions of the American GI Forum as it celebrates its 60th 
anniversary. We all know that the GI Bill of 1944 made an immense 
impact on the lives of returning veterans by guaranteeing educational, 
medical, housing, and other basic benefits.
  Though this legislation was groundbreaking, it takes much more than 
words on paper to ensure that institutional goals are implemented. One 
man who understood this was Army Major Hector Garcia, who realized that 
the disparate treatment and denial of benefits to many Hispanic 
veterans must be ended. To carry out this purpose, he inspired to rally 
around him a group of fellow veterans who formed the American GI Forum.
  Their motto is, ``Education is our Freedom and Freedom Should be 
Everybody's Business.'' The ideals which they stand for, equal 
education opportunities, equal economic opportunities, equal justice 
under the law, and equal political opportunities are ingrained in the 
fabric of American values. Since its inception, branches around the 
country have reached milestones in veterans' issues, in education, and 
civil rights.
  Knowing the effects of unequal treatment, Army Major Garcia devoted 
himself to standing up for the isolated Hispanic members of our veteran 
community. We are happy to honor the organization he founded. We look 
forward to working with them for the common good and welfare of 
veterans for many years to come.
  The broad-ranging and comprehensive initiatives which the GI Forum 
has undertaken over the last 60 years include the cofounding of SER-
Jobs for Progress, Incorporated, a top-10 national Hispanic nonprofit 
organization, and the National Veterans Outreach Program, which is 
designed to assist military veterans in securing affordable housing and 
provides counseling and employment assistance services.
  It is not the years though, however, that the GI Forum has existed, 
but how much it has accomplished that indicates their impact and why we 
are honoring them today. Leaders of the forum, from Army Major Garcia, 
on to the current president, Antonio Gil Morales, have an irrepressible 
spirit and a dynamic energy, using their benefit for the benefit of 
others.
  Today, the GI Forum continues to challenge disparate policies on 
behalf of Hispanic veterans by challenging barriers and enhancing 
understanding. For their support of all veterans, specifically Hispanic 
veterans, and their leadership in being a beacon of hope and an avenue 
of involvement for returning veterans and ordinary citizens aspiring to 
improve conditions within their communities, we take the occasion of 
the 60th anniversary of their founding to recognize the GI Forum with 
this resolution as evidence of the high esteem in which it's held by 
all its members.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1291 recognizes the 
contributions of the American GI Forum on its 60th anniversary. Mr. 
Speaker, the work of the founder of the American GI Forum, Dr. Hector 
Garcia, is one that shows the determination of the American spirit.
  Serving during World War II as an infantryman, as a combat engineer, 
and a medical doctor, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with six 
battle stars and achieved the rank of major. Upon his return from the 
war, he worked to encourage other Mexican Americans to educate 
themselves in the Democratic principles, and founded the American GI 
Forum in 1948 to fight for equal treatment for Mexican American 
veterans, including proper medical treatment and educational benefits.
  In reviewing the current legislative priorities for the American GI 
Forum, it is evident their efforts have continued to instill in the 
Hispanic/Latino community the desire to achieve through liberty.
  Mr. Speaker, there is one clarification that I think should be made 
regarding the resolution whereas clauses, and I will take these up in a 
moment here with the author of the bill. In particular, the whereas 
clause reads, ``Whereas, millions of veterans returning home from World 
War II look to the guarantee of educational, medical, housing, and 
other basic benefits by the GI Bill,'' and, ``Whereas, these benefits 
were denied in large part to Americans of Mexican descent and other 
Hispanics throughout the United States.''
  By having these two statements like this in the whereas clause, this 
statement implies systematic denial of benefits as a matter of policy 
by the VA. Individual accounts of bigotry most likely did in fact 
occur, but I have great concerns with regard to the drafting of the 
bill. I was very disappointed that the chairman would not work with the 
minority on the drafting of this bill.
  Those of us who wear and have worn the uniform, we embrace the ideals 
that veterans benefits are to be extended without regard to race, 
color, or creed. As I said, I will have some questions of Mr. Rodriguez 
regarding the clarification of his intent on the whereas clauses.
  Mr. Speaker, the work of the veterans service organizations like the

[[Page H5976]]

American GI Forum advocates for veterans and assists those of us in 
Congress and particularly on the committee of Veterans' Affairs to 
formulate policy that will help guide our country in respect to 
veterans' affairs. I commend the American GI Forum's work these past 60 
years.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Before I recognize the author of the bill, I just want to 
say that the very definition of institutional racism is the fact that 
people in the institution don't even recognize its being practiced.
  Mr. Rodriguez, you have served us for 10 years. You have been a 
leader in getting this Congress and this Nation to follow the ideals 
that we talk about with Mr. Garcia. We thank you for this resolution.
  I recognize the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) for such time as 
he may consume.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and ranking member.
  Let me take this opportunity, first of all, to congratulate the GI 
Forum on their extraordinary work. These are veterans that came after 
World War II and continue to give in their communities.
  I speak today on behalf of a bill that I introduced, House Resolution 
1291, expressing the gratitude for the contributions of the American GI 
Forum on its 60th anniversary. Some 60 years ago, Dr. Hector P. Garcia, 
a U.S. Army major and veteran of World War II, established the American 
GI Forum in Corpus Christi, Texas, to address the concerns of the 
Mexican American veterans who were segregated from other veteran 
groups.
  Dr. Garcia initially formed the group to request services for the 
World War II veterans of Mexican descent who were denied medical 
services by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The forum 
soon spread into nonveteran issues, such as voting rights issues, jury 
selection issues, and educational desegregation issues, advocating for 
civil rights of all Mexican Americans.
  The GI Forum's first campaign was on behalf of Felix Longoria, a 
Mexican American private who had been killed in the Philippines in the 
line of duty. Upon the return of his body to Texas, he was denied 
burial services in Texas, and Dr. Garcia and the GI Forum were 
organized around this issue, requesting the involvement of then-Senator 
Lyndon Baines Johnson, who secured Longoria's burial at the Arlington 
National Cemetery. This was a soldier whose body had been returned to 
Texas and was denied burial in a particular cemetery in south Texas.
  The case brought the American GI Forum to the national attention and 
the charters were obtained throughout the country. A large number of GI 
Forum organizations were organized during that period, and continue to 
this day.
  Ten years later, in 1998, Congress officially recognized the GI Forum 
with a charter. Its motto is ``Education is our Freedom and Freedom 
Should be Everybody's Business.'' The forum currently operates chapters 
throughout the United States, with a focus on veterans' issues, 
education, and civil rights. Its two largest national programs are the 
San Antonio-based Veterans Outreach Programs and the Dallas-based 
Service, Employment, Redevelopment-Jobs for progress.
  I want to urge Members of Congress to join me in voting for the 
resolution and expressing the gratitude for the contributions of the GI 
Forum.
  Let me just also indicate that the resolution that we drafted, at the 
end says, ``Whereas, the GI Forum continues to be a beacon of hope.'' 
These individuals continue to work with our veterans. They have a 
beautiful homeless project that reaches out to our veterans out there, 
and it's veterans working with veterans.
  So it says, ``Now, therefore be it resolved that the House of 
Representatives recognizes the need for equal access to veterans 
benefits for all who have honored their service to, support the goals 
and ideals and deeds of the American GI Forum and its members, and 
commends the work of the American GI Forum on its 60th anniversary, and 
encourages others to join with the American GI Forum to ensure that 
veterans are never again denied the benefits that they rightfully 
deserve.''
  So I will ask for your support.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I have some questions on my time. I would 
like to inquire of the gentleman regarding his intent on the drafting 
of the resolution. In particular, the first and second clauses of the 
resolution. The first clause, ``Whereas, millions of veterans returning 
home from World War II looked to the guarantee of educational, medical, 
housing, and other basic benefits provided by the GI Bill''; and, 
``Whereas, these benefits were denied.''
  As it's drafted, it basically says here are the benefits they looked 
forward to. And then we say, ``these benefits were denied'' and then 
``in large part, to Americans of Mexican descent.''
  So in the whereas clause we are saying that here are benefits that 
millions of veterans coming back from World War II looked forward to, 
then in the drafting it says, oh, by the way, ``Whereas, these benefits 
were denied, in large part to Americans of Mexican descent and other 
Hispanics throughout the United States.''
  Now there are other individuals, other forms of odious discrimination 
of various kinds encountered by veterans, whether they be African 
American, whether they are women, individuals are Puerto Rican. There 
could have been many other forms of discrimination and bigotry in which 
people were subjected to in our country, not only back then but even 
probably of today.
  What I was hoping we could do is that we are actually voting on a 
resolution on the floor, that this drafting is kind of awkward. I was 
hoping that we could try to correct that.
  What I wanted to do is yield to the gentleman so he can tell us about 
his intent with regard to the legislation.
  I yield to the gentleman.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Thank you. The intent, if you look at the final, ``Be 
it resolved that the House of Representatives recognizes the needs of 
equal access to veterans benefits for all who have honorably served and 
continues to support the goals and ideals.''
  Now the whereases that are there, those are the founding principles 
as to why that group got together right after the war. We all know that 
there was discrimination. We know that people were denied. There were 
the Mexican schools and the all-white schools. There were places where 
you couldn't go eat in Texas either if you were a Mexican. So that 
existed.
  So the language is there as a result of the foundation of this group 
that organized. When that body came back, as a soldier, he was denied 
burial. We have Mexican burial sites and white burial sites. 
Unfortunately, we still have them, in some cases. But the reality was 
that that is the reality of then. So the whereases talk about the time 
then where the discrimination existed.
  Yes, there were other groups that were discriminated and other people 
that were denied. But this is not about African Americans, this is not 
about women. It's about the veterans that served at that point in time 
that came back and experienced that discrimination. That is why the 
organization was organized.
  By the way, the group now does a beautiful job, and if anyone 
espouses and loves this country more, it is those veterans that are 
part of the GI Forum, and they are the ones that have a beautiful 
program for job training, they have some programs that deal with the 
homeless, and a variety of other types of programs.

                              {time}  1945

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, the chairman and I both 
have been to Harlingen, we have been in Deep South, Texas. We 
understand your challenges. We have also met with many of your comrades 
down there, who have tremendous enthusiasm for our country.
  I appreciate your explanation with regard to the ``whereas'' clauses, 
that these were the foundation of the GI Forum. I just wanted to make 
sure that we did not have the implication as a policy record of 
discrimination by the VA. That in fact there were forms of 
discrimination by individuals, but our country, who was then run by 
Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, never 
would have in fact embraced any form of this policy.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Remember, we also had discrimination by the military 
itself. It was there. We can't deny that. It did discriminate, and in 
some cases it was pretty blatant. It was there.

[[Page H5977]]

  Mr. BUYER. Okay. I appreciate the gentleman clarifying the intent 
with regard to the ``whereas'' clauses.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to adopt the resolution before the 
House, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I would yield such time as she may consume 
to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the chairman of 
the full committee, Mr. Filner, for constantly coming down on the side 
of veterans, and my good friend and colleague, Congressman Rodriguez, 
who eloquently articulated the importance of the GI Forum on its 60th 
anniversary. Let me thank the ranking member for participating in this 
debate, and commend my colleagues to this important resolution.
  I would just speak briefly of the GI Forum, that I saw just recently 
in a Judiciary Committee hearing, looking at the treatment of some of 
our soldiers who are not yet citizens, and how the burden falls on 
their shoulders, even though they are on the front lines of fighting 
for our freedom. So we do know there are inequities. But we appreciate 
the GI Forum for its leadership over the years, and clearly its 
founding member, who worked so hard and certainly is someone renowned 
and respected in Texas.
  So let me briefly congratulate the GI Forum in its 60th year, and 
commend my colleagues to reading about Army Major Hector P. Garcia, who 
we honored just a few weeks ago by naming the Voting Rights Act of 1965 
and then recently reauthorized after Mr. Garcia.
  One item that comes to mind is that he moved the GI Forum, after 
being recognized by Lyndon Baines Johnson, Ronald Reagan as President, 
and former President Clinton, for his service, he began to move the GI 
Forum towards civil rights. He questioned some of the inequities, and 
used this organization with its mighty might of returning veterans to 
speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. They did 
fight for education and civil rights and good health care.
  One of the stories that he is well-known for is the story recounted 
by my good friend from Texas of the soldier who came home from World 
War II and was not able to be buried in a South Texas funeral home. He 
thought that to be an unfortunate set of circumstances, and he called 
then President of the United States and moved this soldier from South 
Texas to be ultimately buried in the Arlington Cemetery.
  So that is the standard of the GI Forum. It is a helping hand for 
veterans. It is a respected, renowned, national organization, full of 
patriots who understand as they fought for freedom on the battlefields 
across the world that they would also fight for freedom here in the 
United States.
  Let me applaud the Veterans Committee and my good friend Congressman 
Rodriguez for this very astute legislation, recognition of a valid 
civil rights organization, the GI Forum, and ask my colleagues to vote 
for this.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, in closing, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
used to say we have come a long way with regard to civil rights, but we 
have a long way to go. I would just ask my ranking member from Indiana 
not to think that any institution in this country, even at a time when 
we are nominating the first African American of a major political party 
for President, that discrimination and racism has been cleansed from 
the American body politic. It exists, it is real, and we have to commit 
ourselves to continually fighting against it.
  That is why this resolution is so important. It reminds us of those 
who took on the struggle when it was so blatant and so urgent. But that 
struggle is not over, and we have to recommit ourselves to ending 
racism and discrimination in any form.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on House Resolution 1291.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1291.
  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. FILNER. 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 motion will be 
postponed.

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