Rep. Terry's VETS Act Language Included in NDAA Reauthorization Passed by the Senate -- Awaits Presidential Signature to Become Law

Statement

Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today released the following statement regarding this morning's Senate vote to pass the National Defense Authorization Act that included language of the Veteran's Equality to Salute (VETS) Act written by Congressman Terry as an amendment:

"With the President's signature, this legislation will bolster our national security by authorizing critical programs for our military personnel and our veterans.

"NDAA is especially important for Nebraska because it reauthorizes STRATCOM's operations and provides funding for new construction. The bill also deals head-on with the issue of sexual assault in the military by removing commanders' authority to overturn jury convictions, making retaliation against victims a crime, and giving victims access to a Special Victims' Counsel.

"Also included in this bill is legislation that I introduced on the anniversary of D-Day that amends the United States Flag Code and allows veterans and military personnel to give a military salute to the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance. Similar changes were made in 2008 to allow veterans to render a military style salute during the hoisting, lowering and passing of the flag and in 2009 during the playing of the National Anthem. The leadership of local VFW 2503 approached me with this idea of providing parity to veterans and out of uniform military personal so they could salute the flag during the pledge of allegiance and I am proud to say with their support, it has passed both chambers of Congress and I expect the President to sign my legislation into law."

Source