OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Senator Wayne Allard, Congressman Hefley Introduce Legislation to Create Veterans' Cemetary in Colorado Springs Metro Area

Date: March 8, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans


For Release: Contact: Angela de Rocha
(202) 224-5944
Kim Sears
(202) 225-4422

March 8, 2005

SENATOR WAYNE ALLARD, CONGRESSMAN HEFLEY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO CREATE VETERANS' CEMETERY IN COLORADO SPRINGS METRO AREA

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) and Colorado 5 District
Congressman Joel Hefley (R-Colorado Springs) introduced identical legislation in the U.S. House and Senate Tuesday that would establish a national cemetery for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces in the Colorado Springs metro area.

"We need a new national cemetery in Colorado to serve the needs of our veterans and their families," Senator Allard said. "It won't be easy, but we owe it to our veterans and the military community of southern Colorado to try to get this accomplished."

"El Paso County is the home to more than 73,000 veterans and 30,000 active duty and reserve military personnel. That is one of the largest concentrations of veterans and military retirees in the entire country. Congressman Hefley and I feel it is important that we get a national cemetery in southern Colorado," the Senator said.

"Our veterans deserve the right to be buried near their families and next to others who have also answered the call to duty. With the third largest concentration of retired service members in the country, a number which doesn't include non-retired veterans and those currently serving, placing a national cemetery in Colorado Springs seems to make a lot of sense," said Hefley. "Our men and women in uniform have performed a great service to our country and it is our duty to make sure they are appropriately honored for that service. While getting a veteran's cemetery in Colorado Springs may not happen overnight, I am committed to getting done."

The legislation directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the new cemetery after
consultation with Colorado state officials, Colorado Springs local officials and the U.S. General Services Administration.

Both Congressman Hefley and Senator Allard have introduced similar legislation at different times in
past congresses.

The closest national cemetery is in Denver, a 70 mile trip from Colorado Springs.

http://allard.senate.gov/press/releases/030805a.pdf

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