HCR 24, As Adopted by the Senate, March 17, 2004

            Reps. Rocca, Hopgood, Nitz, Bieda, Byrum, Spade, Wojno, Sak, Gleason, Anderson, Woronchak, Stahl, Ruth Johnson, Caul, Vander Veen, Richardville, Phillips, Accavitti, Acciavatti, Bradstreet, Brandenburg, Brown, Caswell, Clack, Condino, Dennis, DeRoche, DeRossett, Drolet, Ehardt, Elkins, Emmons, Farhat, Farrah, Garfield, Gieleghem, Hager, Howell, Huizenga, Hummel, Hune, Jamnick, Koetje, Kooiman, LaJoy, McConico, Meyer, Milosch, Minore, Newell, Nofs, O'Neil, Paletko, Palmer, Palsrok, Pappageorge, Pastor, Shaffer, Sheen, Sheltrown, Shulman, Stakoe, Stallworth, Tabor, Tobocman, Van Regenmorter and Voorhees offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 24.

            A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to grant a federal charter to the Korean War Veterans Association.

            Whereas, As our nation witnesses once again the sacrifices of our fellow citizens taking up arms to preserve liberties, we have reawakened our sensitivity to the importance of service to veterans from all of America's wars.  Organizations that work to help and advocate on behalf of veterans help fulfill a promise between our country and its defenders; and

            Whereas, The Korean War Veterans Association is the only veterans organization comprised exclusively of Korean War veterans.  This group has established an excellent record of service to those who served and suffered in Korea and their families; and

            Whereas, However, the Korean War Veterans Association is one of the few veterans groups of its size operating without a federal charter.  Legislation is currently pending in Congress in both the House of Representatives (H.R. 1043) and the Senate (S. 478) to grant a federal charter; and

            Whereas, The long overdue granting of a federal charter would enable the association to significantly enhance its efforts to help needy Korean War veterans and their families.  With a charter, which would extend to it the same status as other veterans groups, the Korean War Veterans Association would be able to further its work and participate more fully with other groups.  A federal charter also would permit the organization to assist in processing claims for benefits; and

            Whereas, As our nation marks the fiftieth anniversary of the end of military hostilities on the Korean Peninsula, granting the federal charter would be most appropriate; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to grant a federal charter to the Korean War Veterans Association; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.