Honor Flight Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4812, the ``Honor Flight Act.''

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Louisiana, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security, Mr. Richmond, for introducing this bipartisan legislation.

We owe a great debt to the men and women of this country who have served to defend our liberty and freedom.

The Honor Flight Network is one organization that attempts to repay these veterans, by bringing them to Washington, DC, to visit the war memorials commemorating their dedication and sacrifice.

I have seen how these trips have enriched the lives of veterans. In my district, fifty (50) servicemen and women registered with the Honor Flight-Mid South in Tunica, Mississippi.

Enactment of this legislation will, in some small way, express the tremendous appreciation and gratitude that we have for these veterans and their families.

We are all aware of the steps that the Transportation Security Administration takes to ensure the security of the flying public, as well as the amount of time that this process can consume.

We are also aware that the veterans that the Honor Flight Network currently serves are mostly World War II veterans.

These heroes, who in some instances require additional assistance, are often wheel-chair-bound, and have other ailments that can make security screening very time-consuming.

To provide these veterans with the dignity and respect they deserve, since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has partnered with TSA to expedite the screening for veterans.

The legislation before us today will ensure that these veterans continue to receive the respect and consideration they deserve when traveling to the capital.

H.R. 4812 represents one of many pieces of legislation that Democratic members of the Committee on Homeland Security have proposed to support veterans.

Former Representative Hochul's ``Clothe a Homeless Hero Act'', signed into law last Congress, ensures that unclaimed clothes that TSA collects at airports is provided to homeless or needy veterans.

Earlier this Congress, Representative Gabbard's ``Helping Heroes Fly Act'' was signed into law by President Obama.

That legislation ensures that severely-injured service members and veterans are provided expedited screening by TSA.

Now we have the opportunity to extend such treatment to our veterans of World War II and, in years to come, to the other selfless men and women who served our country.

Mr. Speaker, we recently commemorated the seventieth anniversary of the D-Day invasion as well as 238 years of American independence.

Let us continue to support and honor the men and women who made these commemorations possible by enacting the ``Honor Flight Act.''

With that Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this measure.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source