Supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.

H. RES. 483

Supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 21, 2009

Mr. KLINE of Minnesota (for himself, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. MASSA, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. CAO, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. TEAGUE, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. TERRY, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. CHAFFETZ, Mr. SIMPSON, Mrs. BONO MACK, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mrs. BACHMANN, Mr. JONES, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. COSTELLO, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. ADLER of New Jersey, Mr. DAVIS of Alabama, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. OLSON, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. WOLF, Mr. ISSA, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. COLE, Mr. FLEMING, Mr. LEE of New York, Mr. PAULSEN, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. HERGER, Mr. BARTLETT, Mr. BROUN of Georgia, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. AKIN, Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. JORDAN of Ohio, Mr. MANZULLO, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, and Mr. GALLEGLY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

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RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.

Whereas veterans of the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection, the Nation's first major foreign conflicts, faced hardships to include a complete lack of medical care and pensions upon discharge from the service;

Whereas, on September 29, 1899, the American Veterans of Foreign Service and in December 1899, the National Society of the Army of the Philippines, were established to advocate for the rights and benefits then denied to veterans of the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection;

Whereas, in subsequent years, membership in these and other veterans organizations continued to grow;

Whereas these veterans organizations, recognizing their common goals and the importance of unity, merged to form the present-day Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States in 1914;

Whereas membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars continued to grow and reached nearly 200,000 in 1936 when the organization received its Congressional Charter;

Whereas the 2.3 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary remain committed to the organization's mission of `ensuring rights, remembering sacrifices, promoting patriotism, performing community services, and advocating for a strong national defense';

Whereas the organization continues this honorable mission by effectively advocating for our Nation's veterans, to include helping establish the present-day Department of Veterans Affairs, creating the Montgomery G.I. Bill, developing the national cemetery system, and assisting combat wounded veterans receive compensation for their injuries; and

Whereas the members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars celebrate the organization's establishment and achievements on September 29th while carrying on the vital mission of their predecessors: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.