[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1232-S1233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 518--HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF DISABLED 
                           AMERICAN VETERANS

  Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. Tester) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 518

       Whereas Disabled American Veterans was founded on September 
     25, 1920, and chartered by Congress on June 17, 1932, in 
     recognition of the role of Disabled American Veterans as the 
     official voice of the wartime-disabled veterans of the United 
     States;
       Whereas, in 2020, Disabled American Veterans celebrates 100 
     years of serving veterans of the Armed Forces, their 
     families, survivors, and communities;
       Whereas Disabled American Veterans is the largest wartime 
     veterans service organization in the United States comprised 
     exclusively of men and women who became disabled while 
     defending the United States, with approximately 1,000,000 
     service-disabled veterans in its membership;
       Whereas the National Headquarters of Disabled American 
     Veterans is located in Kentucky, and the National Service and 
     Legislative Headquarters of Disabled American Veterans is 
     located in Washington, D.C., and Disabled American Veterans 
     has 52 departments and 1344 chapters located throughout the 
     United States;
       Whereas, since its founding, Disabled American Veterans has 
     served veterans of the United States who have become wounded, 
     injured, or ill due to service in the Armed Forces by 
     advocating for the establishment of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs and urging Congress to pass legislation to 
     provide benefits and services for service-disabled veterans;
       Whereas, in 1920, Disabled American Veterans began 
     representing the interests of veterans and subsequently 
     developed a professional national service officer corps, 
     which has made Disabled American Veterans the preeminent 
     provider of claims assistance to injured and ill veterans of 
     the United States, their families, and survivors;
       Whereas Disabled American Veterans continues to provide 
     direct onsite assistance to injured and ill members of the 
     Armed Forces on active duty through 30 Transition Service 
     Officers, who provide benefits counseling and assistance to 
     separating members of the Armed Forces seeking to file 
     initial claims for benefits administered through the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs;
       Whereas Disabled American Veterans co-presents the National 
     Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and the National 
     Disabled Veterans Training Exposure Experience Tournament, 
     has organized a nationwide transportation network providing 
     free transportation to medical facilities of the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs for injured and ill veterans, operates an 
     active Charitable Service Trust that funds the needs of local 
     providers assisting at-risk local veterans, maintains an 
     active volunteer corps providing millions of hours of service 
     to veterans and communities, and created the Jesse Brown 
     Memorial Youth Scholarship Program to contribute to the lives 
     of young people in the United States;
       Whereas Disabled American Veterans has championed important 
     initiatives for improving the lives of all veterans, such 
     as--
       (1) the establishment of--
          (A) a cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs;
          (B) the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 
     Claims;
          (C) a modernized appeals process for disability claims;
          (D) an advance appropriation to ensure adequate and 
     timely funding for health care provided by the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs;
          (E) benefits for family caregivers; and
          (F) the model for present-day Vet Centers; and
       (2) the elimination of the offset between military retired 
     pay based on years of service and veterans' disability 
     compensation; and
       Whereas Disabled American Veterans continues to advocate 
     and create awareness for

[[Page S1233]]

     many issues affecting veterans of the United States, such as 
     equitable benefits and services for women veterans, 
     appropriate resources for mental health and suicide 
     prevention services, and benefits for all veterans exposed to 
     toxic substances: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that, throughout 100 years of service, 
     Disabled American Veterans has made significant contributions 
     to veterans, both with and without disabilities, and the 
     communities of veterans, ``fulfilling our promises to the men 
     and women who served'';
       (2) honors the vital and ongoing role Disabled American 
     Veterans plays in supporting the needs of veterans and their 
     families in the United States; and
       (3) commemorates the legacy of Disabled American Veterans 
     in the provision of services and advocacy for veterans 
     throughout 100 years of history of the United States.

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