OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

American Veterans Disabled For Life Commemorative Coin Act

Floor Speech

Date: May 15, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans


AMERICAN VETERANS DISABLED FOR LIFE COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT -- (House of Representatives - May 15, 2007)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, this legislation that we are considering today is a simple, straightforward bill that would take a small but important step to recognize and honor the more than 3 million American veterans currently living with disabilities as a result of their sacrifice and service in our United States Armed Forces. In fact, of 26 million American veterans today, nearly one in 10 embody the physical cost of their service in permanent disability.

While there are many other steps that Congress should take to improve the lives of disabled veterans, by passing this bipartisan legislation today, which I have introduced with my friend and colleague, Mr. Kirk of Illinois, we hope to honor and show our gratitude for their sacrifice and the toll this has taken on their lives. Specifically, Madam Speaker, this legislation provides for the design, manufacture and sale of special commemorative silver coins and authorizes special surcharges on these coins to be contributed toward the construction of a memorial to disabled veterans.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will occupy an impressive 2-acre site located just southwest of the Rayburn House Office Building adjacent to the National Mall within full view of the United States Capitol. The memorial will embody America's lasting gratitude for the men and women whose lives are forever changed in their service to our country. It will also serve as an important reminder to Members of Congress of the human cost of war and the need to support our veterans. We must never forget the sacrifices these American heroes made and continue to make in order to promote a better world for our fellow citizens.

Building this long overdue memorial is something we need to do and should do as Americans.

BREAK IN TRANSRIPT


Source
arrow_upward