[Pages H5445-H5449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

GRANTING A FEDERAL CHARTER TO KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION,
INCORPORATED

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules
and pass the Senate bill (S. 1692) to grant a Federal charter to Korean
War Veterans Association, Incorporated.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

S. 1692

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. GRANT OF FEDERAL CHARTER TO KOREAN WAR VETERANS
ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED.

(a) Grant of Charter.--Part B of subtitle II of title 36,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking the following:

``CHAPTER 1201--[RESERVED]'';

and
(2) by inserting after chapter 1103 the following new
chapter:

``CHAPTER 1201--KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED

``Sec.
``120101. Organization.
``120102. Purposes.
``120103. Membership.
``120104. Governing body.
``120105. Powers.
``120106. Restrictions.
``120107. Tax-exempt status required as condition of charter.
``120108. Records and inspection.
``120109. Service of process.
``120110. Liability for acts of officers and agents.
``120111. Annual report.
``120112. Definition.

``Sec. 120101. Organization

``(a) Federal Charter.--Korean War Veterans Association,
Incorporated (in this chapter, the `corporation'), a
nonprofit organization that meets the requirements for a
veterans service organization under section 501(c)(19) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and that is organized under the
laws of the State of New York, is a federally chartered
corporation.
``(b) Expiration of Charter.--If the corporation does not
comply with the provisions of this chapter, the charter
granted by subsection (a) shall expire.

``Sec. 120102. Purposes

``The purposes of the corporation are those provided in the
articles of incorporation of the corporation and shall
include the following:
``(1) To organize as a veterans service organization in
order to maintain a continuing interest in the welfare of
veterans of the Korean War, and rehabilitation of the
disabled veterans of the Korean War to include all that
served during active hostilities and subsequently in defense
of the Republic of Korea, and their families.
``(2) To establish facilities for the assistance of all
veterans and to represent them in their claims before the
Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations
without charge.
``(3) To perpetuate and preserve the comradeship and
friendships born on the field of battle and nurtured by the
common experience of service to the United States during the
time of war and peace.
``(4) To honor the memory of the men and women who gave
their lives so that the United States and the world might be
free and live by the creation of living memorial, monuments,
and other forms of additional educational, cultural, and
recreational facilities.
``(5) To preserve for the people of the United States and
posterity of such people the great and basic truths and
enduring principles upon which the United States was founded.

``Sec. 120103. Membership

``Eligibility for membership in the corporation, and the
rights and privileges of members of the corporation, are as
provided in the bylaws of the corporation.

``Sec. 120104. Governing body

``(a) Board of Directors.--The composition of the board of
directors of the corporation, and the responsibilities of the
board,

[[Page H5446]]

are as provided in the articles of incorporation of the
corporation.
``(b) Officers.--The positions of officers of the
corporation, and the election of the officers, are as
provided in the articles of incorporation.

``Sec. 120105. Powers

``The corporation has only those powers provided in its
bylaws and articles of incorporation filed in each State in
which it is incorporated.

``Sec. 120106. Restrictions

``(a) Stock and Dividends.--The corporation may not issue
stock or declare or pay a dividend.
``(b) Political Activities.--The corporation, or a director
or officer of the corporation as such, may not contribute to,
support, or participate in any political activity or in any
manner attempt to influence legislation.
``(c) Loan.--The corporation may not make a loan to a
director, officer, or employee of the corporation.
``(d) Claim of Governmental Approval or Authority.--The
corporation may not claim congressional approval, or the
authority of the United States, for any activity of the
corporation.
``(e) Corporate Status.--The corporation shall maintain its
status as a corporation incorporated under the laws of the
State of New York.

``Sec. 120107. Tax-exempt status required as condition of
charter

``If the corporation fails to maintain its status as an
organization exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, the charter granted under this chapter shall
terminate.

``Sec. 120108. Records and inspection

``(a) Records.--The corporation shall keep--
``(1) correct and complete records of account;
``(2) minutes of the proceedings of the members, board of
directors, and committees of the corporation having any of
the authority of the board of directors of the corporation;
and
``(3) at the principal office of the corporation, a record
of the names and addresses of the members of the corporation
entitled to vote on matters relating to the corporation.
``(b) Inspection.--A member entitled to vote on any matter
relating to the corporation, or an agent or attorney of the
member, may inspect the records of the corporation for any
proper purpose, at any reasonable time.

``Sec. 120109. Service of process

``The corporation shall have a designated agent in the
District of Columbia to receive service of process for the
corporation. Notice to or service on the agent is notice to
or service on the corporation.

``Sec. 120110. Liability for acts of officers and agents

``The corporation is liable for any act of any officer or
agent of the corporation acting within the scope of the
authority of the corporation.

``Sec. 120111. Annual report

``The corporation shall submit to Congress an annual report
on the activities of the corporation during the preceding
fiscal year. The report shall be submitted at the same time
as the report of the audit required by section 10101(b) of
this title. The report may not be printed as a public
document.

``Sec. 120112. Definition

``For purposes of this chapter, the term `State' includes
the District of Columbia and the territories and possessions
of the United States.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The item relating to chapter 1201
in the table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle II of
title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

``1201. Korean War Veterans Association, Incorporated.........120101''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.

General Leave

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield 1
minute to our distinguished majority leader, Mr. Steny Hoyer, the
author of this legislation.
Mr. HOYER. I thank my friend, the distinguished representative from
the State of Texas and a leader in our caucus and in our Congress.
I want to say how very proud I am to be associated with my good
friend, Sam Johnson, an American hero not only to this body, but to
veterans who have served in every one of our wars, and certainly the
Korean War in particular. I thank him for his cosponsorship of this
resolution with me.
Madam Speaker, I strongly support this legislation granting the
Korean War Veterans Association a Federal charter. It will enable them
to expand its mission and further its charitable and benevolent causes.
The Association, comprised exclusively of Korean War members, has
more than 23,000 members and is one of the few such organizations of
its size without a Federal charter.
More than 50 years have passed since the war-weary men and women who
served in Korea returned home. History has revealed that the sacrifices
made by these brave soldiers was instrumental in stopping the expansion
of communism, and that their sacrifice effectively contributed to a
more peaceful world. Can one imagine if North Korea were in charge of
all of Korea, what a dangerous world this would be? Granting this
Federal charter is a small expression of our appreciation for the
extraordinary courage of our forces who were deployed to the Korean
Peninsula.
This bipartisan legislation is an opportunity to express our
gratitude and respect for our military, past and present, and to give
Korean War veterans the long-awaited recognition that they so deserve
so that the so-called ``forgotten war'' is and should be forgotten no
more.
I want to thank, as I have done earlier, my colleague, Representative
Sam Johnson, a decorated Korean and Vietnam veteran, for cosponsoring
this legislation with me in the House. He honors our House by his
service, as he honored this House and this country by his service in
Korea and in Vietnam. I know that the Korean War veterans, his
colleagues who stood the battle in Korea, are extraordinarily honored
by his cosponsorship of this resolution.
I want to thank my good friend, Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, for
his work on this issue in the Senate.
This is an appropriate step for us to take. This recognition for our
Nation's Korean War veterans is long overdue, but it is never too late
to do the right thing. And I am pleased, Madam Speaker, to rise and
urge my colleagues to unanimously support this resolution, and again
thank the distinguished soldier who serves with us and served his
country so well in battle.
Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I would like to express my support for S.
1692, legislation that grants a Federal charter to the Korean War
Veterans Association.
Many Americans are only familiar with the Korean War through the
television series M*A*S*H. Yet, it was one of the defining conflicts of
the 20th Century. Because of the courageous service of millions of
American servicemen and women, the global spread of Communism was
halted on the Korean peninsula. More than 36,000 Americans lost their
lives to preserve the liberty of the South Korean people. The fall of
the Iron Curtain. would have been inconceivable without their
sacrifice.
The Korean War Veterans Association was established in 1985 as the
only veteran's organization comprised solely of Korean War Veterans. It
now has over 25,000 members. The Association was founded in order to
maintain a continuing interest in the welfare of veterans of the Korean
War, to rehabilitate disabled veterans of the War, to establish
facilities for the assistance of War veterans and to represent them in
claims before the Department of Veterans Affairs without charge, and
finally to perpetuate and preserve the comradeship and friendships born
on the field of battle and to honor the memory of the men and women who
gave their lives in the Korean War.
Now, on June 6 of last year, the Immigration Subcommittee adopted the
following policy concerning the granting of new federal charters: The
Subcommittee will not consider any legislation to grant new federal
charters because such charters are unnecessary for the operations of
any charitable, non-profit organization and falsely imply to the public
that a chartered organization and its activities carry a congressional
``seal of approval,'' or that the Federal Government is in some way
responsible for its operations. The Subcommittee believes that the
significant resources required to properly investigate prospective
chartered organizations and monitor them after their charters are
granted could and should be spent instead on the Subcommittee's large
range of legislative and other substantive policy matters. This policy
is not based on any decision that the organizations seeking federal
charters are not worthwhile, but rather on the fact that

[[Page H5447]]

federal charters serve no valid purpose and therefore ought to be
discontinued.
This policy represented the continuation of a policy the Subcommittee
put in place at the start of the 101st Congress and has been continued
every Congress since, against granting new federal charters to private,
non-profit organizations. However, if the majority seeks to jettison
the policy adopted by its own Judiciary Committee just last year, so be
it. If we are to grant any organizations federal charters, then the
Korean War Veterans Association should be at the top of the list. I
urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Madam Speaker, it is my great honor to yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Plano, Texas, a man of personal
experience on what it's all about to be a Korean War veteran, a man who
I believe brings to the House the kind of insight necessary to bring
this bill to the floor.
Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute
to the 5 million valiant men and women who served in the Korean War.
Some may know the names Buzz Aldrin or John Glenn. You know, we all
flew F-86s in the 51st Fighter Wing back then together. They were
household names then. I flew 62 combat missions in the Korean War and
got a chance to fly with Buzz many times.
On Capitol Hill, there are three of us who served in Korea in this
Congress--Charlie Rangel of New York, John Conyers of Michigan, and I.
The Congress is better off because Korean War veterans are represented.
They call the Korean War the ``forgotten war'' as Steny Hoyer said.
Nowhere is this more evident than the fact that the Korean War Veterans
Association has not received a national charter.
A little known fact is that American prisoners of war in Korea
endured even more severe treatment than those of us in Vietnam. In
fact, they didn't even want to talk about it for years. Giving the
Veterans of the Korean War a national charter will put them in the same
echelon as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, truly a
mark of distinction.
There is a Sam Johnson Korean War Veterans Group, chapter 270, in
north Texas. The founder, Ed Buckman, a great patriot, did not talk
about his history or his story for decades. It wasn't until a couple of
years ago that he started sharing his experience and became a Korean
War veteran champion.
Ed Buckman is the one who helped bring the need for a national
charter to my attention. Mr. Buckman arrived home in Fort Worth after
serving from 1950 to 1951 as a Navy electrical engineer aboard the USS
Princeton. The Veterans of Foreign Wars advised him that because
President Truman dubbed the conflict in Korea a ``police action'' and
not a war, Mr. Buckman and other military personnel were not considered
veterans.
He once said he did not say the word ``Korea'' out loud for more than
40 years. He confided to the Dallas Morning News that he was bitter.
``We were treated like dirt when we got home.'' Then, in 2000, he heard
about a parade in New York City honoring veterans, including those from
the Korean War. ``When I went to this parade,'' he said, ``with 25,000
marchers, they put me on the front float and there were a million
people saying thank you. No one had ever thanked me for my service in
Korea before,'' and he said ``it made me feel proud.'' He tirelessly
advocated a national charter for the Korean War veterans, and it brings
me great pleasure to know that his hard work paid off.
Ed Buckman, your country and your Congress are saying thank you for
your sincere devotion to the cause by creating this long overdue
national charter for all Korean War veterans.
I want to thank Steny Hoyer and the others in this Congress for
helping do this. It's about time our Nation thanked the Korean War
veterans for their service and sacrifice with national recognition and
premier status.
This July, we mark the 55th anniversary of the Korean War armistice.
To the remaining one million plus Korean War veterans we will say, God
bless you and God bless America. Your war and your efforts will not be
forgotten. This is for you. America salutes you.

{time} 1745

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to now yield 2
minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) who
also desires to rise to thank the Korean War veterans.
Mr. SARBANES. I thank my colleague very much.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 1692 which
will grant this Federal charter to the Korean War Veterans Association.
This day, as has been said already, is long, long overdue. Later this
summer will mark the 55th anniversary of the armistice that ended the
full-scale fighting in Korea.
I am very pleased the House will today pass legislation to finally
grant the Korean War Veterans Association a Federal charter. My father,
Senator Paul Sarbanes, introduced this legislation over several
Congresses in an effort to get these veterans the recognition that they
deserved. And although this legislation had been a priority of his and
Leader Hoyer's for many years, we had been unable to get certain
opponents to move out of the way and allow it to pass.
Now, thanks to the majority leader and to Senator Ben Cardin and to
others who stepped forward with their support, we will finally send
this legislation to the President for his signature, and it will become
law.
Madam Speaker, this is about recognizing the 5.7 million veterans who
fought in the Korean War and more than 36,000 Americans who made the
ultimate sacrifice in service to their country in that conflict.
This is also about fairness. A Federal charter will give the Korean
War Veterans Association the same status as other major veteran
services organizations and allow them to more efficiently assist their
membership.
The Korean War is often called the ``forgotten war.'' By passing this
legislation, we take a modest step to reassure the Korean War veterans
that we will never forget them and their tremendous sacrifice to our
Nation.
Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I might consume.
Madam Speaker, let me rise in appreciation to the chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee, Mr. Conyers, and the ranking member, Mr.
Smith, in working with the Senate and working with the staff on this
very important initiative. And I would like to acknowledge both former
Senator Sarbanes, Senator Cardin, and of course our very, very able and
distinguished and dedicated Majority Leader Hoyer in collaboration with
Congressman Sarbanes to have this legislation, S. 1692, move, which is
to create the Korean War Veterans Association to become a Federally
tax-exempt organization. It was a Federally tax-exempt corporation that
was incorporated in the State of New York on June 25, 1985. And now
this bill will grant a Federal charter to the Korean War Veterans
Association.
The veterans association is an association of persons who have seen
honorable service during the Korean War at any time between June 25,
1950 and January 31, 1955, both dates inclusive, and of certain other
persons, the particular qualifications for membership to be set forth
in the bylaws of the Korean War Veterans Association.
Over the years, the organization has established a strong record of
service and commitment to fellow Korean War veterans ranging from the
efforts on behalf of Project Freedom to a successful effort to
construct a national Korean War veterans memorial on the National Mall.
I certainly personally want to thank my friend and colleague from
Texas, Congressman Sam Johnson, who has never wavered from his
commitment and dedication to the men and women of the United States
military, to his love of Texas, and certainly to his particular love of
those who served in the Korean War as he did, along with his service in
the Vietnam War.
He made mention of our friends and colleagues, Congressman John
Conyers and Congressman Charlie Rangel. So today we honor them as we
honor many, many of those who served. The Korean War, often overlooked
in American history, is anything but forgotten by the nearly 1.2
million American veterans of the Korean War still alive today. And
during the 3-year course of the war, some 5.7 million Americans were
called to serve.

[[Page H5448]]

And by the time the Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed in July
1953, more than 36,000 Americans sacrificed their lives, 103,284 were
wounded, 7,140 were captured and 664 were missing. And so we know it
was, in fact, a war that saw a painful time in American history but yet
saw the valiant effort of our American soldiers.
American troops fought to protect our freedom as we know it today and
paved the way for the United States to vanguard the movement for global
democracy and liberty, a movement that afforded many countries the
opportunity to shift to democratic regimes.
And so it is a special honor to me to able to stand today and join my
colleagues, to be able to support this legislation, S. 1692. I would
ask my colleagues to support this legislation and be reminded that no
war should ever be forgotten. We stand here today to acknowledge that
the Korean War is not forgotten, and as well, that we will have the
opportunity to celebrate in the passing of this legislation.
With that, Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote for S. 1692.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S.1692, a bill to grant a
Federal charter to the Korean War Veterans Association. This
legislation honors the sacrifice and courage of our soldiers who served
in the Korean War. My distinguished colleague from Maryland, Senator
Benjamin L. Cardin and the Majority Leader Steny Hoyer seek to
recognize the heroic deeds of Korean War veterans by granting the
Korean War Veterans Association Incorporated a Federal Charter.
The Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) is a federally-tax exempt
organization that was incorporated in the State of New York on June 25,
1985. Its original founder was Mr. William T. Norris, of New York, a
member of F Company, 27th Infantry Regiment (Wolfhounds), 25th Infantry
Division, when he served as a sergeant in the Korean War.
This legislation provides an opportunity for each of us, regardless
of political views, religion, ethnicity, gender, or background to come
together, and to recognize and honor our nation's heroes. We gather
here today, in the midst of ongoing conflict and warfare, honoring the
dedication of our men and women in uniform. Though we may be divided by
our positions on the war in Iraq, we stand together to support all of
our veterans, highlighting in this particular legislation those who
fought in the Korean War.
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 to it that every soldier, sailor, airman, and
marine is welcomed back with all the care and compassion this grateful
nation can bestow. S.1692 assists us in these endeavors by extending a
small gesture of gratitude that grants a federal charter to an
organization that promotes and maintains benevolent and charitable
endeavors. The Korean War Veterans Association is an association of
persons who have seen honorable service during the Korean War at any
time between June 25, 1950 and 31 January 1955, both dates inclusive,
and of certain other persons, the particular qualifications for
membership to be set forth in the by-laws of the Korean War Veterans
Association. Over the years, the organization has established a strong
record of service and commitment to fellow Korean War veterans, ranging
from efforts on behalf of Project Freedom to its successful effort to
construct a national Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall.
The Korean War, often overlooked in American history, is anything but
forgotten by the nearly 1.2 million American veterans of the Korean War
still alive today. During the three year course of the war, some 5.7
million Americans were called to serve, and by the time the Korean
Armistice Agreement was signed in July 1953, more than 36,000 Americans
sacrificed their lives, 103,284 were wounded, 7,140 were captured and
664 were missing.
American troops fought to protect our freedom as we know it today and
paved the way for the United States to vanguard the movement for global
democracy and liberty; a movement that afforded many countries the
opportunity to shift to democratic regimes.
Sadly, all too many of our veterans are left without the help and
support they need to transition from the horrors they bravely faced on
the front lines of battle to a successful civilian life. According to
the Veteran's Affairs Department, as of 2006, on any given night,
196,000 veterans of all ages were homeless. As we work to curb this
formidable reality, let us demonstrate our support for the veterans of
the Korean War by supporting this legislation. This should encourage us
to continue to honor this nation's troops who are fighting and who have
fought for the rights of all of us in places we do not dare to go,
under environments we cannot fully appreciate from this comfortable
position.
I firmly believe that we should celebrate our veterans after every
conflict, and I remain committed, as a Member of Congress, 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.
I have always been a strong supporter of our country's troops, male
and female. That is why I introduced the House Concurrent Resolution
320 which celebrates one of our heroic daughters of Texas, Specialist
Monica L. Brown of the United States Army with for her efforts earlier
this year.
Spec. Brown was the first woman in Afghanistan and only the second
female soldier since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the
nation's third-highest medal for valor. This soldier from Lake Jackson,
Texas was only 20-years-old.
On April 25, 2007, Specialist Brown was part of a four-vehicle convoy
patrolling near Jani Kheil in the eastern province of Paktia on April
25, 2007, when a bomb struck one of the Humvees.
When Spec. Brown saw her fellow soldiers were injured, she grabbed
her aid bag and started running toward the burning vehicle as
insurgents opened fire. All five wounded soldiers from her platoon
scrambled out. Under this commotion, she assessed her patients and
moved them to a safer location because they were still receiving
incoming fire.
Other veteran's legislation that I am pursuing entails guaranteeing
that our VA hospitals have the capacity to efficiently and effectively
meet the needs of our troops. The Riverside Hospital in Houston, Texas
is a historic medical center that has served the needs of veterans in
the Houston area for a long time. However, currently, the hospital is
lacking the tools necessary to treat the augmenting number of troops
who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other common
problems associated with fighting in battle. Today, at this very second
let us take a united stand for the well being of our veterans; to say
the very least, they deserve it and to say the most; we've promised it.
This attests to the fact that we must now ensure that we keep our
promises to our veterans by extending our gratitude and appreciation.
Currently, there are over 25 million veterans in the United States.
There are more than 1,633,000 veterans living in Texas and more than
32,000 veterans living in my Congressional district alone. I hope we
will all take the time to show appreciation to those who have answered
the call to duty. As the Winston Churchill famously stated, ``Never in
the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.''
This recognition for our nation's Korean War Veterans is long overdue,
and it is a small expression of appreciation our nation can offer to
these men and women, and it will enable them to ensure that the
``Forgotten War'' is forgotten no more.
Madam Speaker, as we approach the 55th anniversary of the Korean War
Armistice, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting and
serving those who have served this nation.
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1692, a measure to
grant a Federal charter to the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA).
Though the Korean War is sometimes referred to as the ``Forgotten
War,'' it is among the most significant events of the 20th century.
Communist military aggression was defeated and the United States and
its allies sent a signal to the world that militaristic expansion of
communism would be countered with force.
Nearly 6 million Americans served during the Korean War, and tens of
thousands of them faced some of history's most adverse circumstances
and challenges for the cause of freedom--by the time the Korean
Armistice Agreement was signed in July 1953, more than 36,000 Americans
had died, 103,284 had been wounded, 7,140 were captured, and 664 were
missing.
The heroism displayed by Korean War veterans should never be
forgotten. We can help honor the 1.2 million American veterans of the
Korean War who are still alive today by granting a Federal charter to
America's oldest and largest association of Korea veterans. KWVA is a
20,000-member veterans' service organization devoted exclusively to
Korean War veterans.
That is why we should approve S. 1692 calling on Congress to grant a
Federal charter to KWVA. This recognition is well deserved, and I am
hopeful that Congress will act swiftly to approve this measure. I urge
my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.
Additionally, I would encourage my colleagues to join me in
supporting H.R. 5854, a bill to grant a Federal charter to the Military
Officers Association of America (MOAA).
MOAA is the largest professional association for military officers
and the fourth largest

[[Page H5449]]

veterans group in the Nation. With 370,000 members, MOAA has a
distinguished 79-year history of service to the military community,
veterans, and their families.
Like KWVA, MOAA is among the veterans' service organizations without
a Federal charter. In addition to the deserved recognition it would
accord MOAA, a Federal charter would enable some state-level MOAA
affiliates to participate on governor-appointed advisory councils to
which they are presently excluded.
Again, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to grant a
Federal charter for KWVA, and I would also encourage my colleagues to
cosponsor H.R. 5854 to grant a Federal charter to MOAA.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. With that, I yield back my time.
Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, I would also yield back at this time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1692.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________