[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5357-5359]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  EXTENDING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE AMERICAN VETERANS DISABLED FOR LIFE 
                                MEMORIAL

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill

[[Page 5358]]

(H.R. 995) to amend Public Law 106-348 to extend the authorization for 
establishing 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. 995

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

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ESTABLISHING DISABLED 
                   VETERANS MEMORIAL.

       Public Law 106-348 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking ``The establishment'' and inserting 
     ``Except as provided in subsection (e), the establishment''; 
     and
       (B) by striking ``the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 
     1001 et seq.)'' and inserting ``chapter 89 of title 40, 
     United States Code'';
       (2) in subsection (d)--
       (A) by striking ``section 8(b) of the Commemorative Works 
     Act (40 U.S.C. 1008(b))'' and inserting ``section 8906 of 
     title 40, United States Code'';
       (B) by striking ``or upon expiration of the authority for 
     the memorial under section 10(b) of such Act (40 U.S.C. 
     1010(b)),''; and
       (C) by striking ``section 8(b)(1) of such Act (40 U.S.C. 
     1008(b)(1)'' and inserting ``8906(b)(2) or (3) of such 
     title''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Termination of Authority.--Notwithstanding section 
     8903(e) of title 40, United States Code, the authority to 
     establish a memorial under this section shall expire on 
     October 24, 2015.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The 106th Congress authorized the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial 
Foundation to establish a memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor 
disabled veterans. The law specified that the memorial is to be 
established pursuant to the Commemorative Works Act. A memorial site 
located near the Rayburn House Office Building was identified, but the 
project is yet to advance due to security and traffic concerns raised 
by the Architect of the Capitol and the U.S. Capitol Police.
  The foundation is in the process of negotiating a solution to that 
problem. However, the Commemorative Works Act specifies that the 
legislative authority for any memorial expires 7 years after the date 
of enactment, October of this year for this proposal. H.R. 995, 
sponsored by our colleague from Illinois, Representative Phil Hare, 
amends the original authorization to extend authority to establish the 
memorial to October 24, 2015.

                              {time}  1430

  This extension will allow additional time to ensure an appropriate 
commemoration to our Nation's disabled veterans to whom we owe a 
tremendous obligation.
  While Representative Hare is a new Member of this House, he is well 
acquainted with the sacrifices made by our Nation's veterans, both from 
his service in the Army Reserves and his more than 20 years as district 
director for our former colleague and advocate for veterans, Mr. Lane 
Evans. We congratulate Representative Hare for his work on behalf of 
this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I might add that, given the ongoing and recent scandal 
regarding the care and support of our current disabled veterans, this 
legislation, H.R. 995, is timely and appropriate to honor and remind us 
of the sacrifice of all veterans and those that are disabled as a 
consequence of their service to this country. This is an obligation 
that is owed to them. This memorial would be a fitting reminder that we 
have an ongoing obligation and responsibility to their care and 
comfort.
  Mr. Speaker, we strongly support H.R. 995 and urge its adoption by 
the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 995 and 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 995 has been adequately explained by the majority 
and we support the extension to establish a memorial honoring our 
disabled veterans.
  I note that the original law authorizing this memorial was authorized 
by our own war hero, Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas. Last year, 
Congresswoman Sue Kelly of New York introduced this extension bill, and 
I am happy to see that Congressman Hare is carrying on her legacy. I 
urge the adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare), the sponsor of this legislation.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the 
very kind words.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 995, a bill to extend 
the authorization for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. 
I introduced H.R. 995 along with my colleague Congressman Mark Kirk to 
provide the time necessary to raise the private funds and navigate the 
approval process in order to bring this memorial to life in Washington, 
D.C. Without this bill, the charter for the memorial will expire in 
October of this year.
  I would like to thank Chairman Rahall for quickly moving this 
legislation through the Resources Committee; and Lois Pope, the Chair 
of the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation, who has worked 
tirelessly to establish this memorial since 1996. I also appreciate the 
efforts of Congressman Kirk and Congressman Dennis Moore to ensure the 
memorial is funded and dedicated by 2010, and all the other Members who 
have made this legislation a priority in the 110th Congress.
  There are more than 3 million disabled veterans living today and 
millions of veterans from past and future conflicts who will be honored 
by this long overdue memorial.
  It is my hope as a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs that 
this memorial will only be the beginning of our recognition of the 
incredible sacrifices of our veterans. This memorial cannot repay the 
sacrifice of our disabled veterans, but it will serve as a reminder of 
the debt that we owe to each and every one of them.
  Transcending conflicts, service branches and generations, the 
American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will express America's 
lasting gratitude to the men and women whose lives were forever changed 
in service to our country.
  Due to its proximity to the Capitol, the memorial will remain in the 
sight of America's lawmakers, serving as a constant reminder of the 
human cost of conflict and the sacrifices of our disabled veterans. The 
memorial will be a setting for school groups to learn about disabled 
veterans, the cost of freedom and the challenges faced by those with 
disabilities. Most importantly, it will be a place for disabled 
veterans to come and know they are recognized by a grateful Nation.
  I am proud to be a freshman legislator in the 110th Congress because 
we are changing this country's priorities. In our recently passed 
continuing resolution, we increased veterans health care by over $3.6 
billion, and we are taking swift action to hold those who are 
responsible for the inexcusable conditions at Walter Reed accountable.
  Congress has a responsibility to plan for the long-term well-being 
and health of our troops, and I am committed to taking care of our 
veterans when they are in conflict and when they return home. This bill 
is a critical first step in honoring the sacrifices our military men 
and women have made and continue to make for our country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 995 and join me and 
the other

[[Page 5359]]

28 cosponsors to ensure this memorial is built and dedicated as soon as 
possible.
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, on February 12, I joined my colleague from 
Illinois, Mr. Hare, in introducing H.R. 995 to extend the authorization 
of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial through 2015. This 
legislation will give the American Veterans Disabled for Life 
Foundation more time to raise the money needed to build this memorial 
just south of the Rayburn Building. I believe the time has come to 
recognize the sacrifices made by America's more than three million 
disabled veterans by building a memorial for them in here in 
Washington, D.C.
  Last December President Bush signed into law a bill to transferring 
control of the land for the memorial from the District of Columbia to 
the National Park Service. Now the American Veterans Disabled for Life 
Memorial Foundation needs to raise approximately $65 million to cover 
the cost of construction. By passing H.R. 995 today, we will give the 
foundation time to raise this money.
  Earlier this year I joined my colleague from Kansas, Mr. Moore, in 
introducing legislation to authorize the minting of commemorative coins 
to help raise money for this cause. As we extend the authorization for 
the memorial today, I want to encourage my colleagues to join us in 
cosponsoring H.R. 634 to issue these coins. No federal funds will be 
used to build the disabled veterans memorial, but it is appropriate for 
Congress to do all it can to support and encourage its construction.
  With more than three million disabled veterans in the United States 
today, it is fitting that a memorial to their sacrifice be erected in 
Washington, D.C. It is my hope that passing Mr. Hare's legislation will 
bring us closer to making the American Veterans Disabled for Life 
Memorial a reality.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly support 
H.R. 995, to amend Public Law 106-348 to extend the authorization for 
establishing a memorial in the District or its environs to honor 
veterans who became disabled while serving in the Armed Forces of the 
United States.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to stand here today to support a 
bill that will honor the service of veterans who have become disabled 
while serving in the Armed Forces. These veterans have given great 
contributions and made incredible personal sacrifices so that all of us 
in this country might live in a safe and secure nation and world. 
Establishing a memorial in the District of Columbia for these valiant 
warriors is only a small step towards repaying the insurmountable debt 
that all of us owe to all veterans. For, what is the price of freedom?
  As President Kennedy once said, ``The price of freedom is high, but 
Americans have always paid it.'' And no one has paid a higher price 
than the brave men and women through the years who gave the last full 
measure of devotion to their country. Whether it is the ultimate 
sacrifice of life or the loss of limb or the loss of time with family 
and friends, we owe our veterans an enormous outstanding debt of 
gratitude.
  From Bunker Hill to Yorktown, from Washington, DC to the Battle of 
New Orleans, from Bull Run to Gettysburg and Antietam to Appamattox, 
brave Americans gave their lives so that the nation might live. And 
from Alsace Lorain to Verdun, and Normandy to Berlin and Pearl Harbor 
to Okinawa, from Inchon and Correigador to Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, 
Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq, Americans have nobly sacrificed their 
lives so that the world may live in freedom.
  The debt of gratitude we owe to the soldiers, sailors, marines, and 
airmen who answered their nation's call and made supreme sacrifices can 
never be repaid. But the nation can follow President Lincoln's 
admonition to ``care for him who has borne the battle, and for his 
[family].'' Indeed, it is the least we can do.
  It is out of my profound respect and gratitude for all who wear and 
have worn the uniform of the United States that I continue to work so 
hard to pass legislation that will ensure that veterans receive the 
health care, job opportunities, housing assistance, and educational 
benefits they deserve.
  Because I realize that our veterans deserve our very best, I have 
recently introduced H.R. 1240, the Vision Impairment Specialist 
Training Act (VISTA). VISTA is a means to help our nation's blind and 
low-vision veterans by establishing a scholarship program for students 
seeking training in blind rehabilitation. There are 160,000 legally 
blind veterans in the United States, but only 35,000 are currently 
enrolled in the Veterans' Health Administration. Members of the Armed 
Forces are important to our Nation and we show them our appreciation by 
taking care of them when they no longer can serve.
  Caring for our veterans also means giving them our time. I have had 
the honor of visiting with some of our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed 
Army Hospital in Washington, DC. Many of these soldiers were recovering 
from some of the most horrific wounds imaginable. But what made the 
most indelible impression on me was that to a man and woman, there was 
no self-pity or anger at their fate. Instead of anger or sorrow there 
was only concern for their fellow soldiers and pride in the certain 
knowledge that they had fought valiantly on behalf of a country they 
loved. There is no reason that any of our veterans should not receive 
the highest care from all of us in this country. I hope all Americans 
take the time to visit their local VA hospital and thank the wounded 
for their service to our country. We must do everything possible to let 
our veterans know how much we value their service.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 995.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 995.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 question will 
be postponed.

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