Establishing a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day

Floor Speech

ESTABLISHING A WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS DAY -- (House of Representatives - June 25, 2007)

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 189) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'' should be established.

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H. Res. 189, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day be established.

H. Res. 189, which has 54 cosponsors, was introduced by Representative Linda Sánchez on February 16, 2007. H. Res. 189 was reported from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on June 12, 2007 by voice vote.

The Vietnam War was the longest military conflict in U.S. history. The hostilities in Vietnam claimed the lives of more than 58,000 Americans, and some 304,000 were wounded in combat. The Vietnam War was a military struggle fought in Vietnam from 1961 to 1973. The patriotic men and women who served valiantly and faithfully in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War were caught, upon their arrival and return home, in the crossfire of public debate about the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation to establish a Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day to honor those members of the United States Armed Forces who served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The time for a Welcome Home Day is long overdue. I know every Member of this House and every American would want to come forward to welcome home these veterans who were not always welcomed home in the way we should always welcome home those who have served us in the Armed Forces regardless of our feelings on the particular conflict in which they came forward bravely to serve us all.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Linda Sánchez, for introducing this legislation and urge the swift passage of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleague in his remarks, and especially his remarks as to why didn't we think of this before. I want to assure Vietnam War veterans, it has nothing to do with their service. We have had a number of wars since and perhaps we have been somewhat preoccupied with war, but we will never forget this important and very sacrificial group of veterans.

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