John Boozman: “As a Nation we are blessed with many things. We have a Constitution that sets the standard for freedom around the world.…”

“As a Nation we are blessed with many things. We have a Constitution that sets the standard for freedom around the world. We have a land that provides us with bountiful food and superb scenery. But most importantly, America is blessed to have sons and daughters willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect the 99 percent of Americans who do not serve. Unfortunately, that feeling of patriotism and sacrifice way too often results in disability that affects the veteran for the rest of their life. Often, the disability is small. But sometimes the injury, whether physical or mental, has a significant impact on the veteran's quality of life and their ability to support their families. In such situations, the disability has affected more than just the veteran. As a part of our debt to these men and women, taxpayers compensate them for their injuries and provide a range of benefits unmatched in any other country. But we can and should do something more symbolic of disabled veterans' service to the Nation, and that is to designate a week that will remind Americans that disabled veterans are with them every day. By giving disabled American veterans the recognition of a week named in their honor, we demonstrate to the American people the importance of the sacrifices made by disabled veterans and their families. This is a way to honor our disabled veterans, and I certainly urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.”