[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 44 (Monday, March 22, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2182-H2183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  RECOGNIZING THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLINDED VETERANS ASSOCIATION

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 80) recognizing and honoring the Blinded 
Veterans Association on its 65th anniversary of representing blinded 
veterans and their families.
  The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
  The text of the joint resolution is as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 80

       Whereas, at 8:45 a.m. on March 28, 1945, 100 blinded 
     members of the Armed Forces who served in World War II formed 
     the Blinded Veterans Association at Avon ``Old Farms'' Army 
     Convalescent Hospital in Connecticut;
       Whereas the founders of the Blinded Veterans Association 
     were a cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only 
     shaped the rich history, philosophy, and knowledge of 
     education and rehabilitation of the blind, but also provided 
     insight into current and future challenges facing the blind 
     and engaged in continual advocacy efforts to ensure that 
     services for all blinded persons would be unique and 
     specialized;
       Whereas, on March 28, 2010, the Blinded Veterans 
     Association will mark its 65th anniversary of dedication to 
     blinded members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their 
     families;
       Whereas in 1946, General Omar Bradley, of the Veterans 
     Administration, appointed the Blinded Veterans Association as 
     the first official representative for blinded veterans for 
     the filing of claims and appeals to the Veterans 
     Administration, making the Blinded Veterans Association only 
     the eighth veterans service organization to receive such 
     authorization;
       Whereas the Blinded Veterans Association was originally 
     incorporated in New York State as a nonprofit association, 
     and then moved to Washington, DC, in 1947;
       Whereas in 1958, the 58th Congress approved the 
     Congressional Charter for the Blinded Veterans Association;
       Whereas from its early beginnings, the Blinded Veterans 
     Association encouraged the blinded veterans it served ``to 
     take their rightful place in the community with their fellow 
     men and work with them toward the creation of a peaceful 
     world'', and it has continued to advocate for the war-blinded 
     to regain independence, confidence, and self-esteem through 
     rehabilitation and training; and
       Whereas many people of the United States recognize March 28 
     of each year as Blinded Veterans Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     Congress--
       (1) expresses appreciation for the efforts of the Blinded 
     Veterans Association in improving the rehabilitation 
     services, education, and benefits for blinded veterans of the 
     United States;
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of Blinded Veterans Day; 
     and
       (3) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     Blinded Veterans Day with appropriate programs and 
     activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 80, recognizing and 
honoring the Blinded Veterans Association on its 65th anniversary of 
representing blinded veterans and their families, sponsored by Mrs. 
Halvorson of Illinois. Mrs. Halvorson, as a first-term Member, has been 
incredibly active and committed to veterans on our committee.
  I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois to further explain the bill.
  Mrs. HALVORSON. I thank Chairman Filner for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, it was truly a privilege to introduce H.J. Res. 80, 
which recognizes and honors the Blinded Veterans Association on its 
65th anniversary. Madam Speaker, this simple resolution helps to honor 
the service and sacrifice of the more than 165,000 blind or visually 
impaired veterans.
  The resolution helps us to remember that on March 28, 1945, 100 
blinded members of the Armed Forces who served in World War II formed 
the Blinded Veterans Association in order to help veterans and their 
families meet and overcome the challenges of blindness. The following 
year, in 1946, General Omar Bradley of the Veterans Administration, 
appointed the BVA as the first official representative for blinded 
veterans for the filing of claims and appeals to the Veterans 
Administration. This made the Blinded Veterans Association only the 
eighth Veterans Service Organization to receive such distinction and 
responsibility.
  In 1958, Congress followed General Bradley's lead and echoed his 
recognition of the BVA by officially approving the BVA congressional 
charter. Since that time, the BVA has encouraged and assisted blinded 
veterans to take their rightful place in the community with their 
fellow men and work with them towards the creation of a peaceful world.

                              {time}  1445

  Their leadership continues to advocate for the war-blinded to regain 
independence, confidence and self-esteem through rehabilitation and 
training. Almost 13 percent of the evacuated wounded servicemembers in 
Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered a serious eye injury of one type or 
another. This means that the Blinded Veterans Association's services 
are just as crucial today as they were 65 years ago.
  H.J. Res. 80 recognizes the extraordinary members and work of the 
BVA, and the good that they do for America's visually impaired 
veterans. I thank the members of the BVA for their service and strongly 
encourage my colleagues to do the same by voting in favor of this 
resolution.
  Mr. FILNER. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, not only does the BVA provide support for 
our Nation's blind veterans, the organization also provides inspiration 
and support for their family members via the Kathern F. Gruber 
Scholarship Awards. This worthy scholarship enables spouses and 
dependent children of blinded veterans to achieve their goals in higher 
education.
  Our blinded veterans have made tremendous sacrifices on behalf of our 
Nation to ensure our safety and our freedom. It is altogether 
appropriate that we honor them this day and join the Blinded Veterans 
Association in celebrating its 65th anniversary.
  Obviously I am a strong supporter of H.J. Res. 80, a resolution to 
recognize and honor the Blinded Veterans Association on its 65th 
anniversary of representing blinded veterans and their families. As all 
of us know, recovering from the tragic loss of sight is a traumatic and 
life-changing event. Veterans who are burdened with this loss are 
forced to relearn almost every task associated with normal daily 
activities. Such rehabilitation is a difficult but necessary challenge 
blinded veterans must overcome to integrate back into civilian life. 
The Blinded Veterans Association was established specifically to help 
these severely injured veterans and their families during this most 
difficult period.
  On March 28, 1945, 100 blinded members of the Armed Forces who served 
in World War II formed the Blinded Veterans Association. Just a year 
later, in 1946, General Bradley of the Veterans Administration 
appointed the BVA as the first official representative for blinded 
veterans who were filing claims and appeals to the Veterans 
Administration. This made the Blinded Veterans Association the eighth 
veterans service organization to receive such authorization.
  Chartered by Congress in 1958, the BVA has worked throughout the 
years assisting blind veterans in acquiring Department of Veterans 
Affairs disability compensation and health care benefits, as well as 
other Federal and local benefits. Thanks in large part to the efforts 
of the BVA, there are now ten blindness rehabilitation centers located 
at various VA medical centers across this country.
  Madam Speaker, along with this legislation, which obviously you can 
see how important it is, we wanted to honor today these blinded 
veterans on their 65th anniversary. But, Madam Speaker, our committee 
also had requested consideration of H.R. 4360, a bill to designate the 
blind rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, as the Major 
Charles R. Soltes, Jr., O.D. Department of Veterans Affairs Blind 
Rehabilitation Center. This legislation has the support of the entire 
California delegation and the major veterans service organizations in 
California and would further honor blind veterans to whom Major Soltes 
provided so much service and so much sacrifice.
  I would like to inquire, if it is appropriate to the Speaker, or 
perhaps

[[Page H2183]]

Chairman Filner, if they could explain why this very important bill was 
not permitted consideration on the floor today?
  Mr. FILNER. Would the gentleman yield?
  Mr. STEARNS. I yield.
  Mr. FILNER. As the gentleman knows, we included that bill on a list 
of seven bills that we asked to be taken up on the floor, and we were 
scheduled for six of them. That is as far as I know.
  Mr. STEARNS. I understand he is saying that it wasn't put in the loop 
at the moment, it wasn't put on the schedule, but I think you are also 
saying that this is the type of bill that you support and you believe 
should be part of a vote on the floor. Can I assume you support this 
bill?
  Mr. FILNER. If the gentleman would continue to yield, I was one of 
the Californians who signed the original petition, and I support the 
bill. We are as mystified as you are.
  Mr. STEARNS. Well, Madam Speaker, I think it is unfortunate that this 
bill to honor an individual who did so much for our blind veterans 
community and paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country, 
this particular bill is not being considered this afternoon. Many of us 
are disappointed, and we will work with Ranking Member Buyer and 
Chairman Filner, since he is a signee on the unanimous delegation 
letter, to have it brought to the floor at the earliest opportunity.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Madam 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 the joint resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.J. Res 80, ``Recognizing and Honoring the blinded veterans 
association on its 65th anniversary of representing blinded veterans 
and their families,'' a bill sponsored by my colleague from Illinois, 
Congresswoman Halvorson.
  H.J. Res. 80 will honor those who have sacrificed greatly for this 
nation and have lost their eyesight in the process. These veterans have 
given great contributions and made incredible personal sacrifices so 
that all of us in this country might live in a safe and secure nation 
and world. When we pay tribute to the service of our brave veterans, we 
acknowledge the great debt that this Nation owes them.
  Because I realize that our veterans deserve our very best, I 
introduced H.R. 1240, the Vision Impairment Specialist Training Act 
(VISTA), passed into law as part of larger bill. The provisions of 
VISTA help our nation's blind and low-vision veterans by establishing a 
scholarship program for students seeking training in blind 
rehabilitation. There are more than 160,000 legally blind veterans in 
the United States, but approximately 35,000 are currently enrolled in 
Veterans Health Administration. Members of the armed forces are 
important to our nation and we show them our appreciation by taking 
care of them when they no longer can serve.
  Caring for our veterans also means giving them our time. I have had 
the honor of visiting with some of our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed 
Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. Many of these soldiers were 
recovering from some of the most horrific wounds imaginable. But what 
made the most indelible impression on me was that to a man and woman, 
there was no self-pity or anger at their fate. Instead of anger or 
sorrow there was only concern for their fellow soldiers and pride in 
the certain knowledge that they had fought valiantly on behalf of a 
country they loved. There is no reason that any of our veterans should 
not receive the highest care from all of us in this country. I hope all 
Americans take the time to visit their local VA hospital and thank the 
wounded for their service to our country.'' We must do everything 
possible to let our veterans know how much we value their service.
  We all know that no one has paid a higher price than the brave men 
and women through the years who gave the last full measure of devotion 
to their country. Whether it is the ultimate sacrifice of life or the 
loss of limb or the loss of time with family and friends, we owe our 
veterans an enormous outstanding debt of gratitude. So, let us 
celebrate and recognize our blinded veterans during the 65th 
anniversary of the Blinded Veterans Association.
  It is out of my profound respect and gratitude for all who wear and 
have worn the uniform of the United States that I continue to work so 
hard to pass legislation that will ensure that veterans receive the 
health care, job opportunities, housing assistance, and educational 
benefits they deserve. Caring for our veterans also means giving them 
our support when they need it.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.J. 80.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues' unanimous support, 
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 pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 80.
  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. Madam 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.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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