Senate Proceeding 11-10-09 on Nov 10th, 2009 :: 1:40:55 to 1:45:10
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1:40:51 to 1:41:11( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: an institution is too big to fail, it's too big to exist. let's break them up. i yield the floor. mr. menendez: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from new jersey. mr. menendez: mr. president, i understand there is a pending amendment before the senate. i ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and

1:40:55 to 1:45:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Thune

1:41:12 to 1:41:32( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: call up amendment 2741. the presiding officer: is there objection? without jection, so ord the clerk will report. the clerk: th the senator from new jersey, mr. mendez, proposes amendment numbered 2741. on page 52 after line 2 i the following -- mr. mendez: i ask that further reading be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. menendez: thank you. i want to speak tbreefl this

1:41:33 to 1:41:55( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: amendment. we are often reminded of the special sacrifice military families make in service to our country. memorial day and veterans day are just two occasions when we as americansake a moment to acknowledge our military men and women, of those who have served in uniform. we pause for a moment of

1:41:56 to 1:42:16( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: silence, bow our head for the fallen, family members visit the final resting place of those they have lost. we think of those hallowed grounds, those special places, lines of crosses at nor man dirk the graves at arlington, the tomb of the unknown soldier, veterans cemeteries across the nation. we rember all those who have

1:42:17 to 1:42:37( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: served in nation with honor. one of the ways we can horthem and their families is by covering the cos of bureauial for veterans, their spouses and their dependent children in federal veteran cemeteries. unfortunately, we have not adequately funded these cemeteries in the past. and as the greatest generation ages, our ability to keep the

1:42:38 to 1:42:58( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: promise of a fr for each of them is becoming increasingly difficult to keep. across america and in my home state of new jersey, federal cemeteries are having problems keeping up with requests for biewrls. as these cemeteries become overcrowded, veterans and their families are turned away from a

1:42:59 to 1:43:20( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: benefit theyerned through their service. in fact, 10 states do not even have federal cemeteries but have managed to set aside state cemeteries. the very least we can do is provide funding for these state veterans' cemeteries, which would be a cost-effective way for the v.a. to prode veterans with the burial benefits they were promised.

1:43:21 to 1:43:41( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: veterans who have lived their whole lives in one place, a place with special meaning to them and to their families, should have a final resting place based on the veterans cemetery in their location of choice, not the veteran administration's funding choice. my amendment would simply increase federal funding for state cemeteries by $4 million

1:43:42 to 1:44:02( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: so that we can have the resources to keep our promise and provide our heroes with the dignity, respect, and honor they deserve. honoring america's veterans is not solely reserved for medicalial day and veterans day. this commitment to state veterans cemeteries reinforces americans' respect for its veterans and their families.

1:44:03 to 1:44:24( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: they have already given their service to this country. the least we can do is give them a final resting place with their brothers and sisters who served and their families who will visit. mr. president, arlington cemetery is an inexpiring place. we've all seen it. we all have been there. we are awed by its majesty what

1:44:25 to 1:44:45( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: it says about ame what we and who we as a nation are,nd what we stand for as a people. arlington to inspire the next generation to live up to the promise of america. we owe our veterans a choice of a blaze to be buried.

1:44:46 to 1:45:05( Edit History Discussion )

John Thune: i urg my phraoegz to support this important amendment. colleagues to support this important amendment. with yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.