Honoring America's Veterans

HONORING AMERICA'S VETERANS
November 4, 2005

On November 11, 2005, the United States marks the 52nd Veterans Day observance. Across the nation, speeches, parades and other activities will pay tribute to America's 25 million living veterans and the more than one million who have died in military service.

Veterans Day was first conceived as "Armistice Day," a tribute to Americans who died in the course of their service in the First World War. November 11th was chosen for the original Armistice Day as the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month commemorated the precise date and time of the treaty which ended World War I.

In 1938, Congress approved legislation making November 11th a national holiday, and in 1954, President Eisenhower signed a measure into law to honor veterans each year on this day. While the name and the purpose of the holiday has changed, the day still recalls the sacrifices which were made during both war and peace by America's armed services.

While Veterans Day is a time to recall the sacrifices of those who have protected our liberty and way of life, honoring America's veterans must be an ongoing national priority which is reflected in a strong federal commitment to veterans' educational, housing and medical needs. I am taking several steps at the federal level to ensure that our commitment to the nation's veterans is met.

In order to allow veterans to acquire more easily the medication they need, I am a co-author of legislation which would assure that veterans can receive from Veterans Administration (VA) pharmacies any medication that has been prescribed to them by a licensed private physician. Veterans would be able to obtain prescriptions from their own local doctors rather than having to schedule an appointment with a VA physician.

Because of Democratic efforts this summer, the Administration was forced to acknowledge that funding for veterans' health was billions of dollars short. And Congress only remedied this illness in the VA health care system after pressure by Democrats and veterans organizations. To prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future, I have joined with more than 100 of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in putting forward the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act. This legislation ensures adequate funding for veterans' health care by instituting automatic increases in funding for VA health programs based on the number of veterans who need treatment.

I am also co-author of the Retired Pay Restoration Act. If enacted, the legislation would eliminate the Disabled Veterans' Tax, which forces military retirees with service-connected disabilities to give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar of disability pay they receive. The measure would allow veterans to receive both military retirement benefits and disability benefits in full.

Finally, I have joined with my Democratic colleagues in the House in supporting the Montgomery GI Bill Improvements Act of 2005. In 1944, Congress enacted the original GI Bill of Rights, to honor the military men and women who ultimately won World War II. In doing so, the federal government supported our returning troops with educational benefits, loans to buy a home, and medical assistance. In each major military conflict since, we have honored the service of those who were the uniform through a new GI bill. If enacted, the 2005 GI Bill would improve the education benefits provided to veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill.

As our country honors military veterans on Friday, November 11th, I want to recognize and thank the men and women of Southwest Virginia who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military. For America's 25.9 million veterans, as well as for the 1.4 million men and women who serve in the active duty military and the 1.2 million who serve in the National Guard and Reserves, Veterans Day provides an opportunity to accept the thanks of their fellow citizens for their selfless contributions to our country. I honor the sacrifices of our servicemen and women and pledge a continued commitment to reflect in federal legislation the nation's appreciation for the sacrifices veterans have made.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/va09_boucher/vetsday05.html