[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22996]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS OF WELCOME BACK VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 17, 2010

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my full support 
for H. Res. 1746, a resolution recognizing and observing the efforts of 
the Boston Red Sox Foundation and other organizations for their Welcome 
Back Veterans Initiatives. I thank Congressman Steve Israel for 
introducing this resolution to give us the opportunity to move in a 
definitive direction in improving the care for our veterans.
  I am emotionally connected and affected by the plight of returning 
soldiers and their families. As a Korean War Veteran myself, I know all 
too well the significant toll that war can have on a soldier's physical 
and mental well-being, and that of their families. I am very familiar 
with how substantial support upon returning home can make all the 
difference.
  I, along with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, 
welcomed the Boston Red Sox Foundation to our Congressional Black 
Caucus Foundation Veterans Braintrust to explore and discuss issues 
concerning our veterans. The Boston Red Sox Foundation's efforts were 
very impressive.
  Given the fact that we are welcoming an increasing amount of our 
soldiers home who will without a doubt be faced with a multitude of 
problems that we may not yet be equipped to deal with, this discussion 
is very timely. For this reason, I am heartened that this resolution 
encourages our Veterans Affairs Department to establish innovative 
public-private partnerships in the treatment of PTSD. This is a 
remarkable turning point in our handling of this condition.
  I again thank the gentleman from New York for introducing this 
resolution and I urge all the members of this body to stand in support 
with me to ensure our service members are receiving the care they so 
rightfully deserve.

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