[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6284-6285]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 MEMORIAL TO HONOR DISABLED VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1509) to authorize the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial 
Foundation to establish a memorial in the District of Columbia or its 
environs to honor veterans who became disabled while serving in the 
Armed Forces of the United States.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1509

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. MEMORIAL TO HONOR DISABLED VETERANS OF THE UNITED 
                   STATES ARMED FORCES.

       (a) Memorial Authorized.--The Disabled Veterans' LIFE 
     Memorial Foundation is authorized to establish a memorial on 
     Federal land in the District of Columbia or its environs to 
     honor veterans who became disabled while serving in the Armed 
     Forces of the United States.
       (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The 
     establishment of the memorial shall be in accordance with the 
     Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
       (c) Payment of Expenses.--The Disabled Veterans' LIFE 
     Memorial Foundation shall be solely responsible for 
     acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses 
     of, the establishment of the memorial. No Federal funds may 
     be used to pay any expense of the establishment of the 
     memorial.
       (d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--If, upon payment of all 
     expenses of the establishment of the memorial (including the 
     maintenance and preservation amount required under section 
     8(b) of the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1008(b))), or 
     upon expiration of the authority for the memorial under 
     section 10(b) of such Act (40 U.S.C. 1010(b)), there remains 
     a balance of funds received for the establishment of the 
     memorial, the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation 
     shall transmit the amount of the balance to the Secretary of 
     the Treasury for deposit in the account provided for in 
     section 8(b)(1) of such Act (40 U.S.C. 1008(b)(1)).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would first like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Sam Johnson), for his efforts in introducing this bill. He has 
worked diligently in preparing this legislation. I urge Members' 
consideration and support of H.R. 1509.
  A significant portion of veterans who served in defense of our Nation 
are disabled. In fact, there are nearly 2.3 million disabled veterans 
in America today who have fought in foreign conflicts ranging from the 
Gulf War to World War I. There are even 13 disabled veterans from the 
Mexican border war against Pancho Villa. Although we honor these men 
and women on Memorial Day, there is no memorial to commemorate those 
veterans who were disabled during our Nation's conflicts. H.R. 1509 
serves to recognize our disabled veterans by authorizing the Disabled 
Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to construct a memorial honoring 
their sacrifice on behalf of our country.
  The Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation will be responsible 
for all expenses associated with the establishment of this memorial. 
This bill ensures that its establishment will be in compliance with the 
Commemorative Works Act and that Federal funds will not be used to pay 
for the memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, I again commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam 
Johnson) for his tireless work on behalf of America's veterans, and 
H.R. 1509 reflects his years of service. The gentleman from Texas is a 
true war hero, and I urge Members to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may use.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation as 
described by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  The minority side of the committee is in strong support of this 
legislation and in support of taking this important first step in the 
process. We look forward to a time hopefully when visitors to the 
Washington area can see a tangible reminder of the courage and the 
dedication displayed by many of our disabled veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), the author of this legislation.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time, and I appreciate the gentleman's help in getting 
this through the committee. I appreciate the help from the Democrat 
side as well.
  I want to ask my colleagues to support this legislation which I 
introduced. It is to establish a memorial honoring our Nation's 
disabled veterans. The memorial expresses our thanks and, at the same 
time, honors the nearly 2.3 million disabled American veterans in our 
country today.
  This memorial would pay tribute to the men and women who have fought 
in every major conflict this Nation has entered since the great Civil 
War, including 471,000 wounded in the Civil War; 234,000 wounded in 
World War I; 670,000 wounded in World War II; 100,000 wounded in Korea; 
300,000 wounded in Vietnam; and nearly 500 wounded in the Persian Gulf 
War.
  Despite those staggering numbers, they do not even begin to represent 
those who returned with no visible physical wounds but who suffered 
more through emotional agonies wrought by war.
  There are monuments, memorials dedicated to the wars our Nation has 
fought and to those who lost their lives in the effort to preserve the 
freedom that we all enjoy. But we have not properly acknowledged the 
sacrifices of those who went and fought those same battles to preserve 
the same freedoms and who paid a severe price.

                              {time}  1530

  We have yet to honor those who returned from battle with the scars 
and wounds which serve as daily reminders of how just costly a war can 
be and how precious the privileges that we enjoy in this Nation are.
  This memorial would be the only one dedicated to disabled American 
veterans, many of whom are still living,

[[Page 6285]]

thereby giving the American people an opportunity to honor and express 
their gratitude to those who have sacrificed so much for each of us.
  It has been 25 years since the conclusion of the Vietnam War, which 
we have seen on TV in the past week, and 50 years since the Korean War. 
Those are two wars in which I fought. And I fear the passage of time is 
going to allow our wounded veterans to fade from the Nation's memory 
and conscience.
  This memorial will ensure that our Nation will not forget the 
dedication and devotion to duty, honor, and country demonstrated by all 
disabled American veterans. It is time to honor their commitment to 
this Nation and to our freedom which we so richly enjoy.
  God bless everyone. I hope my colleagues can see clear to passing 
this bill.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam 
Johnson) for his excellent remarks, and I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger).
  Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1509, which authorizes a memorial to honor disabled American veterans.
  This legislation, sponsored by my friend and distinguished veteran, 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), honors those veterans who 
not only risked their lives but gave part of themselves for our 
freedom. The courage and the conviction that are demonstrated by these 
heroes is inspiring and uniquely American.
  Mr. Speaker, the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who defend 
our country are national treasures. Disabled veterans are brave men and 
women who deserve to be honored and remembered for their sacrifices. 
Their sacrifices teach us one lesson above all, freedom is not free. 
Our national security is preserved because we have men and women who 
are willing to pay the price, bear the burden, and meet the demand of 
keeping our country safe and secure.
  All of us owe a great debt to those who wear the uniform in defense 
of America. As I like to say every day when I get up, I thank God for 
my life. And I thank our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines for our 
way of life.
  While we can never adequately thank the millions of American disabled 
veterans, this memorial will stand as an eternal reminder of their 
honor, service, and sacrifice. These are the heroes who protected 
freedom in America and ensured democracy for the world.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1509, a bill to 
establish a memorial honoring veterans who sustained disabling injuries 
in the service of their nation. I commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Sam Johnson) for bringing this measure to the floor at this time, and I 
urge all of our colleagues to join in supporting this worthy endeavor.
  H.R. 1509 grants authorization to the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial 
Foundation to establish a memorial in our District of Columbia to honor 
all those veterans who became disabled while serving in our Armed 
Forces. The establishment of the disabled veterans memorial will be in 
accordance with the Commemorative Works Act, and this Foundation will 
be responsible for both managing contributions for and paying the 
expenses of establishing this memorial.
  While all of our veterans deserve our support and appreciation, those 
who became disabled during their period of service deserve our special 
recognition. The Federal Government has recognized their extraordinary 
sacrifices through the provision of free medical care from service-
connected disabilities and the issuance of monthly disability pensions.
  Yet, Mr. Speaker, remarkably, there is no separate monument to our 
disabled veterans in our Nation's capital. This legislation will 
correct that oversight.
  For that reason, I urge my colleagues to give this measure their 
unwavering support.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1509.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the 
yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

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