America's Veterans : Fighting for Our Nation's Freedom

By: Congressman Rick Renzi (AZ-1) This month we celebrate Veterans Day, and honor the 25 million Americans who have served in our Armed Forces. America has always been a nation devoted to the cause of liberty both at home and abroad. And through their bravery, our nation's heroes have advanced freedom's cause and allowed us to live free and be secure. Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor our veterans for their love of country and the sacrifices that our service members and their families undertake in order to keep America safe. In our nation's capital, I am fighting to ensure that America keeps its promise to our nation's veterans. We can never fully repay them for their sacrifices to our country, but we can honor and remember their brave service, not just on Veterans Day but every day. I continue to fight for more veterans' healthcare funding, and this year I am also calling on Congress to specifically recognize the service of our Native American veterans by establishing November 7, 2005 as Native American Indian Veterans Day. I have been proud to fight for America's veterans since coming to Congress. This year I co-sponsored the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 which would expand federal law to allow for prosecution of individuals who falsely claim to have received decorations or medals authorized by Congress for distribution by the Armed Forces. This legislation would also levy fines and up to six months of jail time for individuals who knowingly wear, manufacture, or sell fraudulent decorations or medals, such as the Purple Heart. Our veterans who have earned these honors deserve our deep appreciation and respect, and these heroic acts of service should not be tarnished by others. One of the first measures I supported as a member of Congress was legislation to ensure that the concurrent payment of veterans' disability compensation and retirement pay to eligible individuals will occur. As a nation, we have an obligation to compensate those who devoted their lives to military service and sustained injury or illness as a result. As a fierce advocate for increased veteran and military retiree benefits, I share the frustration of those who have long fought for the restoration of their earned retired pay. We were able to craft a proposal that provides for a 10-year phase-in of full concurrent receipt for those with a 50 percent disability rating and higher. Although I still believe that we must do more, I am pleased that we were able to broker a proposal that had the support of the Congress and the White House. Today the members of our Armed Forces are fighting the War on Terror and are making real progress. We choose to fight these terrorists abroad so that we are not forced to fight them here at home. With the help of our Armed Forces and their commitment to freedom and liberty, the Iraqi Army continues to take more control of their cities and towns. Last year at this time there were only five Iraqi Army battalions, today there are more than one hundred as Iraqi forces maintain order in Najaf and most of Baghdad. As we pause to remember the many sacrifices made by our veterans and their families, we must never forget the high cost of freedom. The dedication of those who serve or have served in our Armed Forces is an inspiration to all who love our nation and its freedoms. We can never repay our veterans, but we must continue to fight to see that they receive the benefits and recognition they deserve.