[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 177 (Thursday, October 7, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6996-S6997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF MAINE, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 
                         CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. KING. Madam President, I rise today in recognition of the 100th 
anniversary of the Department of Maine, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Maine 
VFW. Maine VFW was founded in 1921 as a nonprofit organization 
dedicated to serving U.S. veterans of overseas conflicts, advocating 
for all veterans, their families, and their communities, and 
recognizing the sacrifices America's servicemen and women have made for 
this great country. Maine VFW, alongside its sister chapters across the 
United States, represents the oldest war veterans' organization in 
America. Every year for the last century, it has made a positive and 
tangible impact for Maine veterans. Maine VFW deserves not only our 
admiration, but also our gratitude.
  Since its founding, Maine VFW has secured an array of remarkable 
victories for its membership and the many communities it serves. 
Through the Veterans Affairs office at Togus, Maine VFW helps recoup 
more than $5 million in earned benefits every year. Maine VFW also 
advocates for veterans and their families at the State and National 
level and has helped shape national security and veterans' policy for 
generations of Americans. In 2020, for example, Maine VFW helped expand 
the VA's list of conditions for which there is a presumptive service 
connection for veterans exposed to Agent Orange and has made important 
strides to support veterans exposed to toxic chemicals in the first 
Gulf War and the Global War on Terror. Additionally, Maine VFW has 
worked tirelessly to improve mental healthcare for American veterans 
and successfully advocated for the John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental 
Health Care Improvement Act, landmark legislation to increase the VA's 
mental health workforce and strengthen rural veterans' access to care, 
which was signed into law last year. Pursuant to its commitment to 
patriotic service, stewardship, and education, Maine VFW also 
spearheads a variety of community advocacy initiatives, food and blood 
drives, and Homeless Veterans Stand Downs to respond

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to the needs of Maine's most vulnerable populations.
  On the national level, Veterans of Foreign Wars and each of its State 
chapters have played a central role in the passage of nearly every 
important piece of veterans' legislation over the last 100 years, 
including the GI bills that have helped millions of veterans pursue 
education and training opportunities since 1944. VFW champions several 
major youth education and scholarship programs, such as Voice of 
Democracy, a competitive audio-essay scholarship that awards nearly $2 
million annually to students in grades 9-12. VFW and Auxiliary members 
participate in thousands of community service initiatives and major 
philanthropic campaigns each year. VFW also performs important work 
abroad, advocating for prisoners of war and servicemembers who remain 
missing in action.
  Throughout our Nation's history, America's veterans have put 
themselves in harm's way overseas so that we may enjoy freedom at home. 
A testament to Maine's dedication to this cause is the number of 
veterans per capita in our State, which consistently ranks as one of 
the highest in the Nation. Day in and day out, the Maine VFW works to 
support these veterans and their communities and has done so for a 
century. On behalf of a grateful nation, I would like to honor and 
thank the Maine VFW for these 100 years of service. Its steadfast 
support for servicemembers, veterans, and their families continues to 
change the lives of Americans at home and abroad.

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