[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 151 (Tuesday, October 11, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H6729-H6730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 2000
PROVIDING HONORARY STATUS TO RESERVE MILITARY MEMBERS
Mr. RUNYAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1025) to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize
the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring
them with status as veterans under law.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1025
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PROVISION OF STATUS UNDER LAW BY HONORING CERTAIN
MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS AS VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended by inserting after section 107 the following new
section:
``Sec. 107A. Honoring as veterans certain persons who
performed service in the reserve components
``Any person who is entitled under chapter 1223 of title 10
to retired pay for nonregular service or, but for age, would
be entitled under such chapter to retired pay for nonregular
service shall be honored as a veteran but shall not be
entitled to any benefit by reason of this section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 107 the following new item:
``107A. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in
the reserve components.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Runyan) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
Mr. RUNYAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 1025 recognizes those retired from the National
Guard and Reserve component of the United States Armed Forces by
honoring them with the status of veterans under law.
Representative Walz of Minnesota, the bill's chief sponsor, recently
commented that ``failure to recognize those who have served 20 years or
more in the Reserve and National Guard as veterans represents a gross
injustice.''
These are men and women who showed devotion and dedication, serving
their Nation in uniform for an entire career of 20 years or more in the
Reserve and National Guard. These servicemembers wore the same uniform
as active duty servicemembers, were subject to the same code of
military justice, received the same training, and were available for
call-up to active duty service at any time.
H.R. 1025 confers honorary veteran's status on the individuals who
are entitled to retirement pay for nonregular service or who would be
entitled to retirement pay but for age. In addition, this bill ensures
those who receive the honorary recognition as veterans conferred in the
bill would not be entitled to any statutory benefit under title 38 or
any other title of United States Code for reason of such recognition
alone.
I would now like to yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Latham).
Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support
H.R. 1025. I join my colleague, the gentleman from Minnesota, in
introducing this bill. My colleagues, you may not be aware that a
member of the Guard and Reserve can complete an entire career without
earning the title of veteran of the armed forces of the United States
if they have never served on Federal active duty for other than
training purposes.
As a result, National Guard members protecting our skies and
airports, or protecting our Southern border--technically under State
orders--may one day retire from the Guard but not qualify to be
classified as a veteran of our Armed Forces.
Our military increasingly depends on the National Guard and Reserve
to keep our country safe. Men and women who served our country
faithfully for decades deserve full recognition as veterans, even if
they were never deployed overseas.
Current law does not consider Guard and Reserve members to be
veterans unless they were deployed for more than 30 days. The policy
excludes many who deployed for long periods of time, carried out
critical support roles during times of war and peace, engaged in
frequent and often dangerous training exercises, and stood ready to
risk their lives to protect our Nation during military careers that
spanned decades.
This legislation recognizes the service and sacrifice of National
Guard and Reserve retirees and grants them the full honor of being
called veterans, which they've earned. I urge my colleagues to support
this legislation, which is a matter of honor and fairness for our
citizens soldiers.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The bill before us, H.R. 1025, as noted sponsored by Congressman Walz
of Minnesota, would ensure that deserving men and women of our National
Guard and Reserve receive the honor and distinction of being called
veterans. It seems a simple thing, and yet it is denied them.
Representative Walz introduced this bill in the last Congress. I'm
disappointed to say it didn't clear the Senate, and so we'll have to
try again. Our Guard and Reserve comprise a large component of those
called to serve in our current wars, and these changing dynamics need
to be incorporated into our policies. I think this bill strikes the
desired balance. I am in full support of the bill.
I would now yield such time as he may consume to the author of the
bill, Congressman Walz, to explain it in more detail.
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. I thank the ranking member for yielding me
this time, as well as being a staunch supporter of this and, of course,
other legislation to secure the rights and benefits for our veterans.
I would also like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his
unwavering support on this and other bills, and appreciate all of the
things that are moving today.
I say a special thank you to Chairman Miller and the majority leader
and the majority whip who changed the schedule around to allow this
bill to be debated tonight after Representatives Roe, Benishek,
DesJarlais, Denham, and I returned from Afghanistan, visiting our
warriors downrange defending freedom and putting their lives on the
line and doing it in such a professional manner, and standing there and
not being able to tell the difference between a Navy, a Marine, or an
Army National Guard or Reservist, all of those services working
together in unity for this.
I'm proud to sponsor this piece of legislation, the Honor America's
Guard and Reserve Act. The veterans' community has prioritized this for
a long time. About the honor that you heard my good friend and the lead
Republican sponsor on this from Iowa, Mr. Latham, talk about, it's
about that honor and dignity and a country respecting that.
These are folks who serve in so many ways, responding to national
emergencies. But, most importantly, I think, standing ready to be
deployed at a moment's notice as a deterrent to aggression. They stood
there during the Cold War, many of these people for 20 years, serving
this Nation, training the current warriors who are downrange. And yet
we will honor them with military retired pay, medical care through
[[Page H6730]]
Tricare, we'll even bury them in a veterans' cemetery. But under
current law, that member of that reserve component, if they weren't
called up under title 10 for more than 179 days, the honor we will not
bestow upon them is the right to call themselves veterans, and that
truly is a gross injustice. I believe it's an oversight to them, and
its an oversight to their families who understood the respect they had.
I think it is basic common sense. A reservist can be buried in a
Federal cemetery. They should have the right--and what this bestows
upon them, no money, no extra benefits, but when the flag comes by on
Veterans Day, they can render a hand salute in taking part when that
national anthem is played. It is about honor.
It may not seem important to some, but for those who wear the uniform
subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice, received the same
training, and spent 20 years away from their families and had the
ability to be called up, this lack of recognition is a gross injustice.
H.R. 1025 will finally correct this in a straightforward way, including
the Guard and Reserve retiree in the definition of the term
``veteran.'' It will ensure they're no longer regulated to second-class
status.
As I've said, the sole purpose is to grant veteran's status to those
who've been denied it to this point. In light of this fact, let me be
absolutely clear: it's about honor. It's not about monetary benefits or
material privilege. Both the Congressional Research Service as well as
the Department of Veterans Affairs concluded this legislation will
provide no additional benefits; instead, it is a tribute to their
service. It has been reinforced by the Congressional Budget Office
which says it has a zero cost to taxpayers. It's a simple bill. It
simply states that those members of the Guard who've served for all of
their time, stood ready to be deployed for whatever reason at a
moment's notice, have earned the right to be considered veterans.
I would like to point out this legislation is supported by the
Military Coalition and the National Military Veterans Alliance, which
together represent more than 4 million active-duty servicemember
veterans and their families.
I'd like to thank everyone who has engaged in this. It's been a long
process. We've got a companion version in the Senate, Madam Speaker,
and the time is right to bestow this honor on those who have given so
much. So with that, I encourage my colleagues to use this as an
opportunity to right an injustice, to stand tall with our Guard and
Reserve soldiers, to set this right and allow them to proudly, by this
Veterans Day, be able to render their hand salute to our flag.
Mr. RUNYAN. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from
Tennessee, Dr. Roe.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend, Mr. Walz, for his
leadership on this very important issue which is long overdue. I think
both sides of the aisle feel this is an injustice. It's gone on far too
long. When you take the oath to uphold the Constitution, you put on the
service uniform of our country, you serve your obligation and are
honorably discharged. You are a veteran. You're as much a veteran as I
am, who served on active duty.
Just a few hours ago, Congressman Walz and others who he mentioned
were in Landstuhl, Germany, before we flew home, and saw National
Guardsmen, who may not be able to be called veterans, flying planes
home to bring our wounded warriors home.
I knew that this legislation was coming up tonight, and I felt
compelled, after meeting these young men and women who are doing an
incredible job to protect our wounded warriors and protect our country,
they be offered this status of veterans. This bill rights a long-
standing wrong. I urge very strong support of this much-needed
legislation.
{time} 2010
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
General Leave
Mr. RUNYAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 1025.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. RUNYAN. I once again encourage all Members to support H.R. 1025,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1025.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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