[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 114 (Monday, July 27, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H8844-H8846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SUPPORTING VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS DAY

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 483) supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of 
Foreign Wars Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 483

       Whereas veterans of the Spanish-American War and Philippine 
     Insurrection, the Nation's first major foreign conflicts, 
     faced hardships to include a complete lack of medical care 
     and pensions upon discharge from the service;
       Whereas, on September 29, 1899, the American Veterans of 
     Foreign Service and in December 1899, the National Society of 
     the Army of the Philippines, were established to advocate for 
     the rights and benefits then denied to veterans of the 
     Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection;
       Whereas, in subsequent years, membership in these and other 
     veterans organizations continued to grow;
       Whereas these veterans organizations, recognizing their 
     common goals and the importance of unity, merged to form the 
     present-day Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States in 
     1914;
       Whereas membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
     continued to grow and reached nearly 200,000 in 1936 when the 
     organization received its Congressional Charter;
       Whereas the 2.3 million members of the Veterans of Foreign 
     Wars and Ladies Auxiliary remain committed to the 
     organization's mission of ``ensuring rights, remembering 
     sacrifices, promoting patriotism, performing community 
     services, and advocating for a strong national defense'';
       Whereas the organization continues this honorable mission 
     by effectively advocating for our Nation's veterans, to 
     include helping establish the present-day Department of 
     Veterans Affairs, creating the Montgomery G.I. Bill, 
     developing the national cemetery system, and assisting combat 
     wounded veterans receive compensation for their injuries; and
       Whereas the members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
     celebrate the organization's establishment and achievements 
     on September 29th while carrying on the vital mission of 
     their predecessors: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) and the gentlelady from Minnesota (Mrs. Bachmann) 
each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.

[[Page H8845]]

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise today in support of 
House Resolution 483, a bill supporting the goals and ideals of 
Veterans of Foreign Wars Day. Every day more and more brave Americans 
join the ranks of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and they deserve every 
ounce of praise we can possibly provide.
  I would like to thank my colleague, the Honorable John Kline from 
Minnesota, for introducing this important resolution. I would also like 
to thank Chairman Towns and my colleagues on the Committee on Oversight 
and Government Reform for bringing this bill to the floor.
  Just before the turn of the 20th century, the United States was 
called upon to defend the hemisphere in the Spanish-American War. 
American troops fought valiantly and emerged victorious in this, our 
first modern foreign conflict. On September 20, 1899, the American 
Veterans of Foreign Service was established to guarantee that troops 
receive the benefits to which they were entitled.
  The following decades demanded millions of young Americans, men and 
women, heed their Nation's call for service. War against fascism and 
tyranny in Europe, first in 1917, and again in 1941, proved that 
American soldiers are the greatest protectors of freedom in the world. 
When they returned home, the troops were greeted by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars.
  The organization was and continues to be a vital advocate for 
veterans' well-being. It helped establish, among other things, the GI 
Bill, which provided college education for all veterans and fueled the 
greatest economic boom our Nation had ever seen.
  In 2008, the VFW was instrumental in passing a 21st century GI Bill 
to continue to provide educational assistance to servicemen and -women 
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Today, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its auxiliaries represent 2.2 
million veterans. With 8,100 locations worldwide, help is never far 
away from those who deserve it most.
  The Veterans of Foreign Wars' mission is to ``Honor the dead by 
helping the living.'' For 110 years they have done just that. For this, 
I send my personal gratitude.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the invaluable work of 
the VFW and support House Resolution 483.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Kline), who will control the time.
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 483, and I want to thank my friend, the gentleman from 
Missouri, for his very kind remarks.
  I'm a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a proud one at 
that, and a member of Post 210 in my hometown of Lakeville. The VFW is 
not just a gang of old guys sitting around. These are real patriots, 
real Americans who have sacrificed for our country.
  The VFW traces its roots all the way back to 1899 when veterans of 
the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection founded local 
organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Before 
that time, as has been mentioned, many of our veterans would return 
home wounded or sick and there was no medical care or veterans pension 
for them. They were left to care for themselves.
  The founders of the VFW sought to remedy that and provide support and 
encouragement to all of our veterans who had served in foreign wars. 
Their mission statement, ``To honor the dead by helping the living.'' 
Over time, their mission expanded to ``ensuring rights, remembering 
sacrifices, promoting patriotism, performing community services, and 
advocating for a strong national defense.''
  Mr. Speaker, some of these veterans go down to the cemetery, the 
national cemetery, Snelling, in Minnesota every day to perform services 
to honor those who have passed, to fire the salute, to fold the flag, 
and they do it sometimes when the temperature is way below zero. And 
some of these veterans now are in their late seventies and eighties, 
but there's a dedication here that I think we should all be aware of.
  The VFW has a rich history of advocacy, playing an instrumental role 
in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating the GI Bill, 
developing the National Cemetery System, and fighting to ensure combat-
wounded veterans from all wars receive proper compensation.
  In addition, the VFW has been a powerful force behind the creation of 
the Vietnam, the Korean War, World War II, and Women in Military 
Service Memorials; and aren't they fantastic. There's nothing that 
lifts your spirits like taking a group of veterans down to the World 
War II Memorial and seeing the joy in their faces as they get that 
fantastic experience.

                              {time}  1715

  Today, the VFW has grown to more than 2.3 million members worldwide, 
and it continues to advocate for all of our veterans of foreign wars.
  I applaud the members of the VFW for their continued commitment to 
one another and to this great Nation. I am humbled by their work on 
behalf of our veterans, and I am honored to speak on behalf of this 
resolution.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 483.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any other speakers, and I will 
continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I also have no more speakers. 
So, again, I want to thank my colleague from Missouri and urge my 
colleagues to support this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank my friend from 
Minnesota (Mr. Kline) for offering this resolution for such a worthy 
organization. Again, I urge support for House Resolution 483.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud 
cosponsor of H. Res. 483, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals 
of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.
  The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) traces its origin back to 1899 
when veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine 
Insurrection founded local organizations to secure benefits for their 
service. Fifteen years later an umbrella organization was created named 
the VFW of the United States, and by 1936 it had a membership of 
200,000 veterans and was chartered by Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, the VFW's motto is ``honor the dead by helping the 
living.'' These brave veterans, who have served their nation in wars on 
foreign soil, are now constantly improving America at home by their 
service to the community and all living veterans. The VFW has been 
instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, the enactment 
of two GI bills, and building support for expanded educational benefits 
for active-duty service members, as well as our Guard and Reserve 
forces. They have done a remarkable job improving medical centers for 
all of our returning service men and women. Further, the VFW 
participates in more than 13 million service hours throughout different 
communities across the nation and donates $2.5 million in college 
scholarships to high school students every year.
  Mr. Speaker, the brave men and women who sacrificed in the past for 
our present freedoms deserve our fullest support. Those who have served 
our nation represent the best our country has to offer, and we must 
honor them.
  Accordingly, I would also like to say a special thank you to the 
veterans in my district, the 11th of Georgia. Post 4911 of Rome, Post 
5376 of Calhoun, Post 6688 of Summerville, Post 5408 of Acworth, Post 
7402 of Buchanan, Post 5262 of Kennesaw, Post 2681 of Marietta, and 
Post 7404 of Carrollton have all admirably served our community and our 
nation, and they deserve our utmost appreciation for their lifetime of 
dedication to the Armed Services and our veterans.
  It is appropriate that we recognize the dedication and honor of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars today in this chamber, and I urge all of my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. CLAY. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 483.
  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. KLINE of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  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.

[[Page H8846]]

  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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