[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23479]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      FEDERAL CHARTER FOR THE AMERICAN INDIAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHANIE HERSETH

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2004

  Mr. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
would recognize and grant a Federal charter for the National American 
Indian Veterans Association.
  Native Americans have long answered the call to serve in our Nation's 
military and to make the sacrifices necessary to protect this country. 
In fact, in World War II, more than one-third of all able-bodied Indian 
men between the ages of 18 and 50 served in our nation's military. Even 
today, Native Americans have the highest rate of military service of 
any ethnic group in the country. Native American soldiers serve 
willingly and honorably and they should have a veterans' organization 
befitting that service.
  Last week, the National American Indian Veterans Association, held 
its first annual meeting in Phoenix, AZ. Native American veterans from 
around the country attended this convention and voted unanimously to 
approve the charter for this new organization. I believe this 
organization is long overdue and I enthusiastically introduce this 
legislation today.
  Over the years, Congress has chartered many veterans' organizations 
that represent specific groups: the American War Mothers, the Blinded 
Veterans Association, Catholic War Veterans, Italian American War 
Veterans of the USA, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, the National 
Association for Black Veterans, and the Polish Legion of American 
Veterans, just to name a few. Providing a federal charter for the 
American Indian Veterans Association is the right thing to do and it 
will provide many advantages for its thousands of potential members.
  It will connect its members with a network of fellow veterans that 
will enable them to share information as well provide each other with 
as personal and emotional support. This group will serve as a resource 
and a clearinghouse for Native American veterans to discover what 
benefits to which they may be entitled, and assist them in taking full 
advantage of the many veterans' programs that may be geared to meet 
their needs.
  I believe that the National American Indian Veterans Association 
would be an important and positive resource for its members, and I 
encourage my colleagues to support this beneficial and important 
organization.

                          ____________________