Issa Introduces Two Resolutions Honoring Contributions of Veteran Service Organizations To Our Community

Press Release

Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Vista), a former Captain in the U.S. Army, released the following statement after introducing two bipartisan resolutions (H. Con. Res. 70 and H. Res. 462) to recognize the patriotism and contributions of veteran service organizations to our community.

The first, H. Con. Res. 70, commends veterans' service organizations for their work to ensure that veterans are laid to rest with the proper honor and ceremony they deserve. Every year, veterans service organizations like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Wounded Warrior Project and others, volunteer countless hours to ensure veterans receive the proper honors afforded to them at their funerals including taps, presentation of the flag, and the funeral detail of at least two uniformed members of the Armed Services.

The second, H. Res. 462, celebrates the contributions of generations of these organizations to support members of the Armed Services, their families and our communities as a whole. These organizations each year raise money to aid and enhance the lives of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families by providing financial support with essentials such as rent, child care, utilities, and food, hosting "stand-downs" that focus on providing vital health and support services to homeless veterans, and strengthening their local communities by conducting food drives, visiting hospitals, and providing scholarships to local youth.

"The selfless men and women who serve these great organizations deserve to be recognized for their contributions to honor and support our nation's veterans," said Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Vista). "I'm proud to introduce these resolutions to display the nation's appreciation for the important work they do to improve the lives of veterans, their families and our community."

The full text of the twin resolutions introduced today can be read here and here.

They are introduced with the support of 34 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle including Representatives Kevin Brady (R-TX), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Bill Posey (R-FL), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Mimi Walters (R-CA), Paul Cook (R-CA), Stephen Knight (R-CA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Edward Royce (R-CA), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Fred Upton (R-MI), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Scott Perry (R-PA), Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Luis Correa (D-CA), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Chris Collins (R-NY), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Bill Flores (R-TX), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Brian Mast (R-FL), Bruce Poliquin (ME-02), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Marsh Blackburn (R-TN), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Brian Babin (R-TX), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Robert Pittenger (R-NC), Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Scott Desjarlais (R-TN).

Background:

For nearly a century, veterans service organizations have served as a complementary and integral part of supporting members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. Veterans service organizations have representatives in all 50 States, territories and abroad.

Since their inception, veterans service organizations have proudly supported members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and the families of those who have served, volunteering millions of hours to provide honor and ceremony to those who have perished.

Auxiliary units of veterans service organizations have more than 1,000,000 members and are composed of wives, widows, mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and granddaughters of veterans, as well as veterans themselves.

These organizations have raised money to aid and enhance the lives of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families through financial support--providing assistance with essentials such as rent, child care, utilities, and food.

Many of these organizations host "stand-downs" that focus on providing vital health and support services to homeless veterans. They strengthen their local communities by conducting food drives, visiting hospitals, and providing scholarships to youth.

Veterans organizations provide military honor ceremonies for fallen veterans and their families. They volunteer their services at facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs throughout the country to enhance the lives of veterans and their families.

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