[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TO AUTHORIZE SEPARATE MEDALS FOR THE IRAQ AND AFGHAN MILITARY CAMPAIGNS

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President. I rise in strong support of the 
legislation we are seeking an agreement to consider that would honor 
the service of our men and women in uniform who are defending our 
freedom honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan. This legislation would award 
separate campaign medals to members of the Armed Forces who participate 
in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi 
Freedom.
  The bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously in March and 
was reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week. 
I am proud to have worked with my colleague, Senator Jeff Bingaman, and 
others on a companion bill in the Senate.
  I know after talking with service men and women from Arkansas that 
this is an important effort which will allow us to properly honor and 
recognize the individual sacrifice of those who put their lives on the 
line so far away from home to defend the freedom we cherish as 
Americans.
  In an effort to demonstrate support for our men and women in the 
military, I am circulating a Soldiers Bill of Rights petition in 
Arkansas to demonstrate to my colleagues in Washington how important it 
is to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and their families. This 
legislation is one of ten priorities I have included in my Soldiers 
Bill of Rights and I hope we can pass this bill in the immediate 
future.
  I close my remarks by commending my colleague, Congressman Vic 
Snyder, who led this effort in the House. Vic is a good friend and a 
Vietnam Veteran, and I am very proud of his leadership on this issue on 
behalf of the constituents we represent in Arkansas.

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