THIS EXCERPT FROM THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD FOR NOVEMBER 16, 1999 INCLUDES SENATOR
BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL'S INTRODUCTORY REMARKS FOLLOWED BY THE
FULL TEXT OF S.1921, 'THE VIETNAM VETERANS RECOGNITION
ACT OF 1999.'
Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing
legislation which would create a plaque honoring those Vietnam
veterans who died as a result of the war but who are not eligible
to have their names placed on the VietnamVeterans Memorial. The
`Vietnam Veterans Recognition Act of 1999' would authorize the
placement of a plaque within the sight of the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after their
service in the Vietnam War, but as a direct result of that service.
This bill is similar to H.R. 3293 , which was introduced
by my colleague in the House of Representatives, Congressman
Gallegly.
Deadly war wounds do not always kill right away. Sometimes
these fatal war wounds may linger on for many years after the
fighting is done. Sometimes these wounds are clearly evident
from the time they are inflicted, sometimes they are not. The
terrible toll that Agent Orange has taken on our Vietnam veterans
stands as one stark example. What we do know is that all too
often these war wounds eventually take the lives of many of our
brave Vietnam veterans.
Even though these veterans may not have been killed in action
while they served in the tropical jungles of Vietnam, in the
end they too made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Like
their brothers and sisters who died on the field of battle, they
too deserve to be duly recognized and honored.
Mr. President, duly honoring the men and women who made the
ultimate sacrifice for our country should always be a priority.
Unfortunately, the service and sacrifices made by some Vietnam
veterans is still not being fully recognized since their names
are not included on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
This bill recognizes the sacrifices made by these Vietnam
veterans by authorizing a plaque that will be engraved with an
appropriate inscription honoring these fallen veterans.
Since no federal funds will be used for the plaque, it will
be up to our nation's leading veteran's organizations and individual
Americans to demonstrate their commitment to honoring these fallen
veterans through charitable giving to help make it a reality.
The American Battle Monuments Commission will lead the effort
in collecting the private funds necessary.
It is vital for us to have a place to honor all the men and
women who have served and died for their country. It is also
important for the families of these fallen heroes to have a place
in our nation's capital where their loved one's sacrifice is
honored and recognized for future generations.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important
bill. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be printed in the
Record.
There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed
in the Record as follows:
S. 1921
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Vietnam Veterans Recognition
Act of 1999'.
SEC. 2. ADDITION OF A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE ON THE SITE OF
THE VIETNAM
VETERANS MEMORIAL.
Public Law 96-297 (16 U.S.C. 431 note), which authorized the
establishment of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 5. PLAQUE TO HONOR OTHER VIETNAM VETERANS WHO DIED AS
A RESULT OF SERVICE IN THE VIETNAM WAR.
`(a) Plaque Authorized: The American Battle Monuments Commission
is authorized to place within the Vietnam Veterans Memorial a
suitable plaque containing an inscription intended to honor Vietnam
veterans--
`(1) who died after their service in the Vietnam war, but
as a direct result of that service; and
`(2) whose names are not otherwise eligible for placement
on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall.
`(b) Specifications: The plaque shall be at least 6 square
feet in size and not larger than 18 square feet in size, and
of whatever shape as the American American Battle Monuments Commission
determines to be appropriate for the site. The plaque shall bear
an inscription prepared by the American Battle Monuments Commission.
`(c) Relation to Commemorative Works Act: Except as provided
in subsection
(a), the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.)
shall apply to the design and placement of the plaque within
the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
`(d) Consultation: In designing the plaque, preparing the
inscription, and selecting the specific location for the plaque
within the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the American Battle Monuments
Commission shall consult with the architects of the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Fund, Inc.
`(e) Funds for Plaque: Federal funds may not be used to design,
procure, or install the plaque.
`(f) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Defined: In this section, the
term `Vietnam Veterans Memorial' means the structures and adjacent
areas extending to and bounded by the south curb of Constitution
Avenue on the north, the east curb of Henry Bacon Drive on the
west, the north side of the north Reflecting Pool walkway on
the south and a line drawn perpendicular to Constitution Avenue
200 feet from the east tip of the memorial wall on the east (this
is also a line extended from the east side of the western concrete
border of the steps to the west of the center steps to the Federal
Reserve Building extending to the Reflecting pool walkway). This
is the same definition used by the National Park Service as of
the date of the enactment of this section, as contained in section
7.96(g)(1)(x) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations.'.
Official Texts and Statements
Vietnam War In
Memory Memorial, Inc.