| 1 | 1 | | 89R4674 TBO-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Tepper H.C.R. No. 7 |
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| 7 | 7 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 8 | 8 | | WHEREAS, For 125 years, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the |
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| 9 | 9 | | United States has rendered exceptional service to former members of |
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| 10 | 10 | | our nation's armed forces; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The VFW traces its origins to 1899, when veterans of |
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| 12 | 12 | | the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War founded |
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| 13 | 13 | | local organizations in Ohio, Colorado, and Pennsylvania to advocate |
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| 14 | 14 | | for their rights and secure benefits such as medical care and |
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| 15 | 15 | | pensions; the movement quickly gained momentum, and the groups |
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| 16 | 16 | | banded together to form the VFW; today, the organization and the VFW |
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| 17 | 17 | | Auxiliary boast memberships totaling more than 1.4 million; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Since its inception, the VFW has supported a wide |
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| 19 | 19 | | range of veterans' benefits programs, and it has offered guidance |
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| 20 | 20 | | to countless former service members in their transition back to |
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| 21 | 21 | | civilian life; in addition, the organization has made a positive |
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| 22 | 22 | | impact in local communities, and it has distinguished itself as a |
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| 23 | 23 | | national leader on issues important to veterans and their families; |
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| 24 | 24 | | and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, The VFW's many contributions have included |
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| 26 | 26 | | advocating for the establishment of the Veterans Administration |
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| 27 | 27 | | (now known as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) and the |
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| 28 | 28 | | national cemetery system, fighting for improved health care for |
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| 29 | 29 | | women veterans, and providing funds for a number of memorials |
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| 30 | 30 | | honoring military service members; the organization has also played |
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| 31 | 31 | | an instrumental role in the passage of legislation such as the GI |
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| 32 | 32 | | Bill for the 21st Century in 2008, the Veterans Access, Choice, and |
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| 33 | 33 | | Accountability Act of 2014, the 2019 Blue Water Navy Vietnam |
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| 34 | 34 | | Veterans Act, and the 2022 Honoring Our PACT Act; and |
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| 35 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to the |
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| 36 | 36 | | military personnel who put themselves in harm's way to defend our |
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| 37 | 37 | | safety, security, and freedom, and the VFW is indeed deserving of |
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| 38 | 38 | | special recognition for its efforts to ensure that veterans receive |
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| 39 | 39 | | the support and appreciation they deserve; now, therefore, be it |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 41 | 41 | | hereby designate September 29 as Veterans of Foreign Wars of the |
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| 42 | 42 | | United States Day; and, be it further |
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| 43 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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| 44 | 44 | | Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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| 45 | 45 | | effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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| 46 | 46 | | finally passed by the legislature. |
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