Walz Receives Rare Third Committee Appointment

WALZ RECEIVES RARE THIRD COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT

National Guard veteran and freshman Congressman Tim Walz received word today that he will serve on the distinguished House Veterans' Affairs Committee. Walz, who is the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in the United States Congress, received a special waiver from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi exempting him from a rule that limits most members of Congress to serving on two committees. Walz is also a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure and the House Agriculture Committees.

"Words cannot express how deeply honored I am to serve America's veterans through my membership on the Veterans' Affairs Committee," said Walz. "I will not waiver when it comes to our veterans. Fulfilling our promises to veterans is more than the right thing to do - it is a moral imperative and my solemn duty as a member of this distinguished committee."

Rep. Walz, who is a retired Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major, went on to say, "My personal sense of service was instilled upon me by my father, a Korean War era Army veteran and a public educator. He taught me that we have a moral obligation to care for our veterans and that we have a duty to keep this nation safe. Our veterans will see me fight every day of my congressional career to do just that."

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives was authorized by enactment of Public Law 601, 79th Congress, which was entitled "Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946." There are currently 30 members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

The Committee on Veterans' Affairs is the authorizing Committee for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Committee recommends legislation expanding, curtailing, or fine-tuning existing laws relating to veterans' benefits.

The following items are also within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

a. Veterans' measures generally.
b. Pensions of all the wars of the U.S., general and special.
c. Life insurance issued by the government on account of service in the Armed Forces.
d. Compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education of veterans.
e. Veterans' hospitals, medical care, and treatment of veterans.
f. Service members' Civil Relief.
g. Readjustment of service members to civilian life.
h. National Cemeteries

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