Congressman
Elton Gallegly
Serving the 23rd District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2000

 Contact: Tom Pfeifer
(202) 225-5811

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On a unanimous vote, the House Resources Committee today approved a bill by Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura County) that would create a plaque near the Vietnam War Memorial to honor those who died after the war, but as a result of the war.

Although the Department of Defense adds some names to the Vietnam War Memorial each year, it does not recognize many conditions as being service-related, such as Agent Orange exposure and post traumatic stress syndrome. The plaque created by Gallegly's bill would honor those whose deaths are not otherwise recognized by the monument.

"It is appropriate that this bill was approved unanimously by the Resources Committee this month," Gallegly said. "This month marks the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. A plaque honoring those who continued to suffer and die years after the war ended - and their families - is a proper way to mark this anniversary."

Gallegly's bill continues to attract formidable bipartisan support. As of today, 250 Members of Congress have signed on as cosponsors - a majority of the House. Cosponsors include leadership members from both parties. In addition, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado) introduced a nearly identical bill in the Senate, citing Gallegly's bill in his introductory remarks. Campbell's bill has attracted more than 25 Senate cosponsors.

The bill would authorize the placement of a 6-square-foot to 18-square-foot plaque within the 13-acre Vietnam War Memorial site. No public funds would be used for the plaque. The inscription, design and exact placement will be approved by the American Battle Monument Commission in consultation with the National Park Service, the Commission on Fine Arts, the National Planning Commission and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

The bill next will be considered by the full House of Representatives.

Among the groups who have endorsed the concept of the plaque are the Vietnam Veterans of America; Veterans of Foreign Wars; AMVETS; Vietnam Women's Memorial, Inc.; Rolling Thunder; The Korean War Veterans Association; the National Congress of American Indians; the National Conference of Viet Nam Veteran Ministers; The Vietnam War In Memory Memorial, Inc.; the Society of the 173D Airborne Brigade; the Agent Orange Widows Awareness Coalition; American Gold Star Mothers; Vietnam Veterans of Ventura County, Inc.; and Veterans of the Vietnam War, Inc.