Date: 2004-05-20
Speaker: VAN HOLLEN (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer: pools open. barbecues are held in local parks and in backyards. and families set out on car trips to take advantage of the long weekend. But the excitement of the beginning of summer should not obscure the holidays true meaninghonoring the men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. This weekend. the National World War II Memorial will be dedicated in Washington D.C. This memorial allows a grateful nation to thank the World War II generation for their selfless sacrifices. which helped preserve the freedoms we all enjoy. I am proud to join thousands of Americans around the country in honoring them. They exemplify the spirit. sacrifice. and commitment of the American people to securing freedom and democracy throughout the world. We are not just the beneficiaries of their bravery. We are the stewards of theirsacrifice. This Memorial Day. we have thousands of -brave men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. As we remember those who have fallen. we must continue to stand up for those who are still fighting overseas and those who have finished their service with honor. Our government must be accountable for the promises it makes to young men and women who are asked to serve our country in this way. Military retireeswho served a career in uniform to defend our freedomsare not asking for handouts. they are only asking for what was promised to them. I introduced the "Keep Our Promises to Americas Military Retirees Act." a bill to restore earned and promised health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services. Many people joined the military believing they would earn a lifetime medical care in exchange for 20 years of service. based on promises made by recruiters and government officials. We must now honor that promise. I am pleased that a majority of the House of Representatives has cosponsored the bill. now the House must act. Another promise made to young men and women when they were recruited was that their surviving spouses would receive a fair pension upon retirement. However. the militarys Survivor Benefit Plan (SB.P) unfairly slashes pension benefits for thousands of military sp9uses just when they need it the most. In response to this injustice. I cosponsored the Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act. This is fair legislation that would increase the minimum survivor benefit and restore to 55 percent from 35 percent the basic annuity for surviving spouses age 62 and older. I am pleased that this legislation recently passed the House. I am also fighting to end the Disabled Veterans Tax. which forces disabled veterans and military retirees to give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar of disability pay they receive. I believe that our troops should be taken care of when we send them into battle and that they should be given our respect when we bring them home. Our brave men and women in uniform fought for our country. They shouldnt have to fight the government to get the benefits they deserve. The National World War II Memorial will inspire future generations of Americans and stand as an important symbol of American national unity. It will serve as a timeless reminder of our solemn obligation to preserve peace for our children and the strength of our nation when united in a common and just cause.