Udall Applauds Passage of Legislation to Create Southern Colorado Veterans' Cemetery

Press Release

UDALL APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION TO CREATE SOUTHERN COLORADO VETERANS' CEMETERY

Today the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 1660, a bill sponsored by Rep. John Salazar (D-Manassa) that creates a new national veterans cemetery to be located in southern Colorado. Colorado currently has the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver and the Fort Lyons National Cemetery near Las Animas. Congressman Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) is a cosponsor of the legislation.

"This is a particularly timely bill to consider today, as we approach another Memorial Day and as we continue to send our troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. We must provide our troops and veterans with the care and support they have been promised, and an important measure of that support is providing them with a resting place close to their own communities. Rep. Salazar has led the way to pass this bill today, and I commend his efforts, along with the efforts of Rep. Doug Lamborn and my former colleague, Joel Hefley. With a growing military retiree and veterans population in southern Colorado and particularly El Paso County - and with Denver's Fort Logan cemetery rapidly filling up its burial spaces - it makes sense to provide for the future even as we ensure that southern Colorado's veterans receive the recognition they deserve."

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are approximately 150,000 veterans located in Southern Colorado. For years, veterans groups have listed the addition of a cemetery in Southern Colorado as one of their top priorities.

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