Max Cleland: “I am here today, on the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. My father served in World War II at Pearl Harbor…”

“I am here today, on the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. My father served in World War II at Pearl Harbor after the attack, and I grew up with the legend of Pearl Harbor in my own life. I will introduce a bill urging the President to establish the White House Commission on National Military Appreciation Month. I want to begin by thanking my colleagues and cosponsors, Senators Biden, Bingaman, Carnahan, Clinton, DeWine, Hagel, Levin and Lieberman, Mikulski, Miller, and Senator Harry Reid. Thanks also are due to General Tilleli, the president of the USO, and to Ms. Alice Wax, whose support and tireless efforts on behalf of National Military Appreciation Month have made this day a reality. The bill is framed to afford the President the widest possible flexibility with regard to the recommended Commission and National Military Appreciation Month itself. There is no money authorized in this bill. The establishment of the Commission, the composition of the Commission, and the scope of the Commission's activities are framed as recommendations. I have framed it in this way to make it an easy bill to support, because I believe it is a bill we should all support, and I will tell you why.”