[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 26418-26421]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1615
      SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING GREATER SUPPORT FOR VETERANS DAY

  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 89) supporting and encouraging greater support for 
Veterans Day each year.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                               H. Res. 89

       Whereas veterans of service in the United States Armed 
     Forces have served the Nation with honor and at great 
     personal sacrifice;
       Whereas the American people owe the security of the Nation 
     to those who have defended it;
       Whereas on Veterans Day each year, the Nation honors those 
     who have defended democracy by serving in the Armed Forces;
       Whereas veterans continue to provide a valuable service in 
     their communities across the Nation and are important members 
     of American society;
       Whereas we must honor and express our sincere gratitude to 
     all our veterans for their unwavering commitment to country, 
     justice and democracy;
       Whereas the observance of Veterans Day is an expression of 
     faith in democracy, faith in American values, and faith that 
     those who fight for freedom will defeat those whose cause is 
     unjust; and

[[Page 26419]]

       Whereas section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code, 
     provides that ``Veteran's Day, November 11'' is a legal 
     public holiday: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) encourages Americans to demonstrate their support for 
     veterans on Veterans Day each year by treating that day as a 
     special day of reflection;
       (2) encourages schools and teachers to educate students on 
     the great contributions veterans have made to the country and 
     its history, both while serving as members of the United 
     States Armed Forces and after completing their service; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation each 
     year in connection with the observance of Veterans Day 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe that 
     day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Walz) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, each year on Veterans Day, Americans come together to 
honor our Nation's heroes, over 23 million veterans that have served 
our country. Again this year, our country is engaged in conflicts that 
require the dedication of our uniformed troops. Our Nation has a proud 
legacy of appreciation and commitment to the men and women who have 
worn the uniform in defense of this great land. We must be united in 
seeing that every soldier, sailor, airman and marine is welcomed back 
with all the care and compassion that this grateful Nation can bestow.
  House Resolution 89 encourages Americans to demonstrate their support 
for veterans. No other group of Americans has stood stronger and braver 
for our democracy than our troops and veterans.
  As a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, it is my honor to 
serve the veterans of this Nation, and I encourage my fellow Americans 
to do the same. I firmly believe that Veterans Day should not be 
observed just once a year, but our Nation's heroes must be celebrated, 
honored and remembered every single day of the year.
  I encourage all Americans to reach out to veterans, thank them and 
their families for the amazing sacrifices they make, learn more about 
their contributions to our country, and gain the wisdom of their 
personal stories.
  On this 90th official Veterans Day, it is important to let these 
heroes know that this grateful Nation honors their service. Pause to 
remember that service and the sacrifices of each and every one who has 
worn this Nation's uniform. On Veterans Day and throughout the year, 
join me and every Member of this House to take the time and show your 
gratitude to those who have answered the call of duty.
  Mr. Speaker, I know as a veteran myself, as a member of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee and having the honor to serve there, and as a teacher 
of our high school students, how incredibly important it is to remember 
the foundations this country was founded on and those who are willing 
to give and, as we speak, are still willing to give the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  Veterans Day is not a day for sales, and Veterans Day is not a day to 
take the day off. Veterans Day is a day to understand that all the 
blessings of liberty and freedom this country has emanate from each and 
every one of those. So I think it is incredibly important. I urge 
support for this piece of legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 89, a resolution supporting 
and encouraging greater support for Veterans Day each year.
  Our Nation's veterans have sacrificed so much for the freedoms that 
we enjoy on a daily basis. Our Nation has an obligation to ensure that 
those who have served, and especially those who were injured while 
serving, have the necessary benefits and services available to allow 
them to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
  Today, a new generation of heroes returns home, too often draped in 
the Nation's flag. Their comrades in arms stand guard and honor their 
memories as they themselves become the living symbols of the cost of 
freedom. It is right that today, almost 1 week before our commemoration 
of Veterans Day, that we consider this resolution encouraging and 
supporting the observance of this important day for our Nation.
  This resolution encourages Americans to demonstrate their support for 
veterans on Veterans Day each year by treating that day as a special 
day of reflection, encourages schools and teachers to educate students 
on the great contributions our veterans have made to our country, and 
requests that the President issue a proclamation each year in 
connection with the observance of Veterans Day.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Baca of California, 
for introducing this legislation, as well as Chairman Filner and 
Ranking Member Buyer for moving the bill so quickly to the floor for 
consideration.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 89.
  Mr. Speaker, having no further speakers, I just again want to say how 
important this resolution is. Mr. Walz said it so eloquently, 
especially coming from somebody like himself who did many years in the 
military and rose to a place of such prominence. We appreciate his 
service.
  Again, this resolution basically just says that we need to slow down 
and do more to recognize the sacrifice of our veterans on this very, 
very important day. I think it is certainly very fitting.
  With that, I urge all of my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on House Resolution 89.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from 
Arkansas, my good friend, a tireless supporter of veterans, a true 
gentleman in this House, and someone who embodies what we are here for. 
There is far more that unites us than divides us, and nothing makes 
that clearer than Veterans Day. I think all of us know that when we 
come together in support of our veterans, it is all that is right in 
this country. We have our differences, we disagree on things, but 
nothing will ever shake that.
  I want to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for their 
outstanding commitment to this. Maybe some people are wondering why 
this is H. Res. 89 after all the big numbers. Mr. Baca puts this in 
first every year in every Congress to make sure that it is ready to go 
for Veterans Day. For that I thank him.
  Andre Carson was down here earlier. As I explained to Mr. Stearns why 
we did this, one of the things was, it is never hard to get anyone to 
come and support pieces of veterans legislation. Mr. Carson from 
Indiana came back early and did that.
  I also want to thank the staff for this package of initiatives going 
forward before Veterans Day, both the majority and the minority staff, 
for their tireless work on this. The one thing I have found working in 
the Veterans' Affairs Committee, the staff are there for our veterans. 
That is their main purpose, that is what they are there for every day, 
and they continue to work tirelessly to ensure that we are doing good 
things.
  So it is with that that I ask all Americans to stand proud with our 
veterans, stand tall, know that those freedoms that they enjoy so much 
come at an incredible cost to many of our fellow Americans, but to let 
them know that we are with them every step of the way, and these pieces 
of legislation will go further to do that.
  I urge the unanimous support of H. Res. 89.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 89, the Veterans 
Day resolution.
  I thank Chairman Bob Filner and Ranking Member Steve Buyer for their 
commitment to

[[Page 26420]]

this resolution and tremendous support for America's veterans.
  As one of many veterans who are now Members of Congress, I am proud 
to introduce and now seek the passage of this important resolution.
  To all my colleagues and fellow veterans, I commend you for your 
service.
  This resolution reminds us that Veterans Day is not just a day off 
from school or work. This is a special day of reflection to honor those 
that have defended our freedom.
  America would not be the great country that she is, if it were not 
for our veterans.
  When our troops commit to serve our country, they make a promise to 
serve and protect.
  We also have a moral responsibility to protect returning veterans and 
their families.
  Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan must receive the best 
treatment. Sadly, for the last few years, I don't believe our 
Government has held its end of the bargain.
  But Congress is working diligently to correct this, most recently by 
implementing an outstanding GI bill and for adding more support 
services to veterans and their families.
  We all must do our part to recognize America's greatest heroes.
  This is why my resolution also encourages schools to educate our 
young people about the contributions of our veterans to this country.
  Last Congress, as Chair of the CHC, I worked closely with Hispanic 
veterans and Medal of Honor winners from WWII to today.
  The stories of courage and sacrifice I heard from them were nothing 
short of amazing. They deserve to be recognized and thanked.
  A special thanks is due to our military families who are often left 
behind and face the daily rigors of war within their homes in America 
and overseas.
  These families sacrifice so much for their loved ones and for 
America. I thank you as well; you are the support system and backbone 
for all these veterans.
  On November 11th, on Veterans Day do not forget who the true heroes 
of this country are. Reflect on the true meaning of Veterans Day, and 
remember the sacrifices made by so many proud American sons and 
daughters.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 89.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 89, ``supporting and encouraging greater support for Veterans Day 
each year.'' The roots of Veterans Day can be traced back to the 
eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, in 1919, yet 
the reigning effects of the efforts of our Veterans reach back much 
further. From our inception as a Nation, freedom has never been free; 
it has been fought for both on battle fields around the world and on 
the floors of the Congress.
  In November 1919, President Wilson remembered our fallen soldiers of 
WWI with the following words: ``To us in America, the reflections of 
Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those 
who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, 
both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the 
opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and 
justice in the councils of the nations . . .'' The Veterans Day that we 
know today was signed into law on May 26, 1954 by President Dwight 
Eisenhower. Congress amended the act on November 8, 1954, replacing 
``Armistice'' with Veterans, and it has been known as Veterans Day 
since.
  In its history, America has endured great tests of faith and each of 
the roughly 42 million men and women who have served this Nation at 
some point in time is a testament to the fact that this country truly 
is the land of the free and the home of the brave. For nowhere else in 
the world can you live a life of liberty in the pursuit of happiness as 
you can on American soil, this is the American Dream. A dream had by 
the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Barbara Jordan 
and every other American. A dream recently achieved by President Obama, 
who came from obscurity to the forefront of a truly just nation. 
Veterans have all done a great service to this Nation and it is our 
duty to honor them. The Texas Veterans Commission recognizes over 1.7 
million veterans in my home state of Texas and within my home district, 
the 18th District of Texas, we hold our 34,000 veterans in the upmost 
respect.
  Every morning when you wake up, you should thank a Veteran. Every 
night you make it to bed, you should thank a Veteran. Every breath in 
freedom you take, you should thank a Veteran. After serving our Nation 
with honor, our Veterans deserve to be honored.
  For these reasons I stand with many of my colleagues in strong 
support of H. Res. 89, authored by Congressman Joe Baca (CA 43rd 
District) for the greater recognition of Veterans Day by:
  1. Encouraging Americans to demonstrate their support for veterans 
each year by treating that day as a special day of reflection;
  2. Encouraging schools and teachers to educate our children about the 
many contributions that veterans have made to our society--both during 
and after their service in the military;
  3. Requesting that the President issue a proclamation each year in 
connection with the observance of Veterans Day calling on the people of 
the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and 
activities.
  As stated in the resolution, the observance of Veterans Day is an 
expression of faith in democracy, faith in American values, and faith 
that those who fight for freedom will defeat those whose cause is 
unjust. As our Veterans take an oath to take on a just cause, so must 
we. We must vow to never forget the indisputable fact that our Veterans 
are the back bone of this Nation, they are the reason we can stand 
against forces of oppression. We too must stand and fight for our 
Veterans, to give them the care they both need and deserve.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of 
freedom, but specifically, I rise in support of the soldiers who have 
made the dream of freedom a reality for us all. As a cosponsor of H. 
Res. 89, which recognizes the sacrifices that are made every day by the 
men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces, I am pleased 
the House voted this week on the final passage of this legislation.
  I would also like to acknowledge Congressman Joe Baca for introducing 
this legislation, which commemorates the public holiday of Veteran's 
Day and its significance in carrying on the legacy of our living and 
fallen soldiers.
  As a bipartisan bill, this legislation represents the unanimous 
recognition of the impact that the men and women of the United States 
Armed Forces make on our daily lives. The legislation notes the solemn 
cost of death that we pay for the defense of our freedom, and the 
importance of acknowledging the value of that cost. Every fallen 
soldier is an integral part of our collective American community, and a 
tremendous loss is sustained when a brother, a mother, a sister, a 
father, a child or a friend is removed from that community.
  As we remember those who have given so much to our country, whose 
patriotism exceeds the requirement and defies the norm, we must also 
remember that it is our duty to provide for the needs of those heroes 
through programs, funding and medical services. Many of the trials that 
our veterans face as they return home cannot be resolved, from broken 
bones to the memories of the tragedy of war. However, ensuring that our 
veterans have a home to come home to is the least we can do for these 
patriotic heroes. My colleagues and I were able to accomplish that 
through the Homes for Heroes Act, which was passed in June of this 
year. This bill will establish funding for low-income veterans, and 
will address the issues of homelessness and mental health for our 
veterans who need it most.
  Next week, on Veteran's Day, let us also recognize the significant 
contribution that military families play in the lives of our soldiers. 
Through their sacrifices, all of our families are afforded the 
opportunity of living the American Dream. I thank my colleagues for 
approving H. Res. 89 this week and look forward to joining with my 
constituents in Houston next week. As a community, we will honor the 
sacrifices made by our Nation's veterans.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 89, a resolution encouraging greater support for Veterans 
Day each year.
  Today, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep sense 
of gratitude to the millions of veterans living throughout the United 
States. Since before the founding of this nation, our veterans have 
been on the front lines defending our safety and our liberty. Their 
commitment to duty, honor, integrity, and self-sacrifice has not gone 
unnoticed, and I commend them for a lifetime of exemplary leadership on 
and off the battlefield.
  Veterans' organizations are one great example of the commitment to 
service all of our men and women in uniform possess. These 
organizations help create volunteer opportunities for our nation's 
troops when they retire from the armed services. Some of these include 
donating millions of man hours to the medical facilities of the 
Veterans Administration, sponsoring Boy Scouts of America troops all 
around the country, and awarding millions of dollars for college 
scholarships. These incredible volunteers give back to the very 
communities that they have already sacrificed so much for throughout 
their careers.
  Mr. Speaker, the veterans who have passed away before this Veterans 
Day must also be

[[Page 26421]]

 recognized and graciously thanked for their service. Our Nation has 
experienced many wars in a short history, but we have remained safe at 
home and abroad because of the valiant effort of the members of our 
armed services. The freedoms and liberty we espouse as a democracy have 
and will continue to be under threat. However, our veterans and active 
duty men and women are a testament to the preservation of justice and 
our form of government.
  The families of those who serve our country on the front lines also 
deserve the admiration and appreciation of each and every citizen. 
These family members often watch their loved ones travel to faraway 
lands in support of a cause and an ideal so much greater than any one 
individual. The support given to our service men and women by their 
loved ones is irreplaceable, as it is the foundation for the bravery 
inherent in those who labor steadfastly in the defense of liberty.
  Let us also make certain that we remember those individuals who are 
in harm's way today in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom 
and Operation Iraqi Freedom are successful because of the members of 
our armed services who are day in and day out giving their best to keep 
America safe at home and abroad. They have also sacrificed to secure 
liberty and democracy for other nations and peoples who desire to be 
freed from political oppression. Furthermore, let us not forgot those 
who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and let us say a gracious thank 
you to them for their willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for 
liberty.
  I believe that the brave men and women who sacrifice for our present 
freedoms deserve our fullest support. Our Nation's service men and 
women represent the best our country has to offer, and they must be 
treated with the respect and honor they deserve. As we ask these 
courageous soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines--and their families--
to do more and more, it's only right we continue doing all we can for 
them. Recognizing Veterans Day in 2009 is just one small reminder of 
the superior job our troops perform for America at home and abroad, and 
it is my hope that we will continue to do all we can and more for the 
members of our Armed Forces.
  Mr. WALZ. I have no further requests for time. I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 89.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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