Date: 2011-05-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. earlier this morning. in fact just a few minutes ago. I spoke on the tribute that Americans will give to their fallen this coming Monday. sadly so. but with joy and appreciation for the bravery of those who sacrificed their lives and their families. Today I rise with an amendment supported by my colleague and a member of the Armed Services Committee. Mr. JOHNSON. to ask support for an amendment that can bring all us together. the designation of a national day of honor to celebrate the members of the Armed Services who will be returning from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan and other combat areas. This national day of honor would recognize the enormous sacrifice and invaluable service that those phenomenal men and women have undertaken to protect our freedom and share the gift of democracy in other parts of the world. How many of us have stopped to say "thank you" to a soldier walking alone in an airport. maybe having made a travel of millions of miles. thousands upon thousands of miles. to find himself or herself in their rural hamlet or urban center coming home. They have come home over the years. and they have come home not seeking glory or appreciation. Thats our men and women. The men and women of the United States military and intelligence community who helped bring Osama bin Laden didnt ask for applause and appreciation. My amendment will give all Americans. no matter what your political views. religion. ethnicity. gender or background. the chance to be able to say "thank you." It is reminiscent of times that some of us did not live through. I am reminded of the pictures that I saw of those celebrating in the streets during World War II. My uncle served in World War II. My grandmother sent her sons to war. She watched them one by one. and proudly so. As an immigrant American. she was glad to be able to send them to fight our battles. Now. as we make our decisions to bring our troops home. to be able to provide them the opportunity of economic enhancement such as jobs and education. lets have a day where all of us will be able to be in the streets. if you will. to simply say "thank you." and job well done! So I ask my colleagues to join me to say "thank you" to one of the most diverse exhibitions of American bravery and courage. and that is the United States military. As you can see. here they are. without fanfare. fighting for us in the midst of battle. And all I want to do is say "thank you." Mr. Chair. I rise today offering my amendment No. 111 to H.R. 1540. "National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2011." which HANK JOHNSON the gentleman from Georgia has joined me in offering as a Cosponsor. I thank Representative JOHNSON for his support. My amendment will designate a National Day of Honor to celebrate members of the Armed Services who are returning from deployment in Iraq. Afghanistan. and other combat areas. This National Day of Honor would recognize the enormous sacrifice and invaluable service that these phenomenal men and women have undertaken to protect our freedoms and share the gift of democracy to other parts of the world. My amendment provides an opportunity for all Americans. regardless of political views. religion. ethnicity. gender. or background to come together. and to recognize and honor our nations heroes. I believe the paramount and overwhelming conclusion is that our freedom is intertwined with the sacrifices of our Veterans. whose devotion to our way of life is unparalleled. I am privileged to honor their sacrifices and the role they play in our nation. We are in the midst of ongoing conflict and warfare. We must show continued support of our troops and increase their moral. What better way to demonstrate our support than by celebrating their return from deployment with a National Day of Honor. Though we may be divided by our positions on the war in Iraq. Afghanistan and other combat areas. we stand together to support our veterans. Currently. there are close to 100.000 troops serving in Afghanistan. And even in the aftermath of the death of Osama bin Laden. troops remain in Afghanistan to protect against retaliatory attacks and to help rebuild the country. As of April 2011. close to 46.000 American troops are serving in Iraq. At the height of the Iraqi dispute. close to 170.000 U.S. troops were stationed in Iraq. These courageous men and women are mothers and fathers. husbands and wives. yet they have risked their lives and left their families to fight for what they believe in which is freedom. equality. and all the like principles that America stands on. The courage and sacrifice of the men and women are certainly well deserving of celebration. Their service is an extraordinary act of patriotism for which we should all be thankful. Our nation has a proud legacy of appreciation and commitment to the men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of this country. We must be united in seeing that every soldier. sailor. airman. and marine is welcomed back with all the care and compassion this grateful nation can bestow. The military represents Americas diversity. A National Day of Honor will celebrate men and women of all races and backgrounds. There are 2.4 million African American. 1.1 million Hispanic. 320.000 Asian American and Pacific Islanders and 169.000 American Indians and Alaska Natives who are honored veterans of our nations military. Nearly 266.00 African Americans. 157.000 Hispanic Americans. 44.000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. and more than 18.5000 American Indians and Alaska Natives have served are nation in Iraq and Afghanistan. A National Day of Honor will welcome home the diverse group of soldiers upon their return from deployments. Currently there are more than 44.500 African Americans. 31.000 Hispanic Americans. 10.000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. nearly 4.000 American Indians and Alaska Natives deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. When they return home they will find waiting for them a universal welcome and celebration of their service. A designated National Day of Honor will bring Americans together to celebrate those who have returned from serving our country around the world in the name of freedom and democracy. The debt that we owe to them is immeasurable. Their sacrifices and those of their families are freedoms foundation. Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers. sailors. airmen. marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families. our country would not live so freely. As we continue to be engaged in hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan. our young men and women will pay the ultimate price while wearing the uniform of our nation. Let us honor the memory of the 4.400 Americans who have died in Iraq and more than 1.300 who have died in Afghanistan. We also honor the sacrifices of our wounded: nearly 32.000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 9.000 in Afghanistan. And we must not forget all the lives lost on battle fields as our troops stood to support our democracy. Remember the average age of the 58.148 men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam was 23 years old. As we remember their patriotic sacrifices. we must renew our commitment to keep our promises to the nations 3 million troops. A National Day of Honor is the perfect medium to welcome home troops. I represent a district that is home to one of the largest populations of military servicemembers and their families in the nation. There are over 200.000 veterans of military service who live and work in Houston. more than 13.000 are veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. They should return home to banners and to a community that recognizes their service after years of combat. In the words of President John F. Kennedy. "As we express our gratitude. we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words. but to live by them." It is not simply enough to sing the praises of our nations great veterans. I firmly believe that we must demonstrate by our actions how proud we are of our American heroes. There are 23 million veterans in the United States. Currently. more than 1.626.000 veterans are living in Texas and more than 32.000 veterans live and work in my Congressional district alone. It is my hope that by having a National Day of Honor we will take the time to show appreciation to those who have answered the call to duty upon their return home. As the great British leader Winston Churchill famously stated. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." I firmly believe that we should celebrate our veterans after every conflict. and I remain committed to both meeting the needs of veterans of previous wars. and to provide a fitting welcome home to those who are now serving. Veterans have kept their promise to serve our nation. they have willingly risked their lives to protect the country we all love. We must now ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans. We promise to leave no soldier or veteran behind. Politics and partisanship should never be a factor in our support for American veterans or troops. On the battlefield. the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation. let it be our pledge that when they return home. we leave no veteran behind. Celebrate their return home with a National Day of Honor. This day and every day. let us honor their service with actions that fulfill our commitment to our troops. their families. and our veteransand that are worthy of our grateful nation. Our nation is founded on the principles. laid out in the Declaration of Independence. that "all men are created equal." "that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." and "that among these are Life. Liberty. and the pursuit of Happiness." At various points in our history as a nation. we have found need to send our sons and daughters. our most precious resources. overseas to fight in defense of these great principles. At times when the need is greatest. Americas soldiers have always stepped up to protect our nation. And so. today. I hope we will all take time from our daily lives to reflect upon the sacrifices made by those who serve in our armed forces. and to resolve together that we will provide returning veterans with the welcome. services. care. and compassion that they deserve. We should celebrate throughout the country to the sacrifices made by our men and women returning from their deployment to Iraq. Afghanistan. and other combat areas. Let us all remember that one of the things that makes our nation truly great are the young men and women willing to fight to defend it. to defend us. and to defend our way of life. I reserve the balance of my time.