Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON –  Congressman Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, urged support today for a bill that would create an educational visitors center adjacent to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial “Wall”.  H.R.1442 would authorize the design and construction of an underground center, which would be funded by private donations through the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, a non-profit organization which raised the money to build the Memorial “Wall”.  The measure was heard before the Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, on the National Mall, adjacent to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial earlier today.

“America’s Vietnam veterans deserve a facility in our nation’s Capitol that educates others about the sacrifices our troops made during the Vietnam War,” said Cardoza.  “These veterans fought for our country, risking their lives every day.  Now they are fighting for this legislation again and I wholeheartedly support their efforts.”

The hearing featured testimony by actor Robert Duvall, a Vietnam Veteran, and Jan Scruggs, a founder and President of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund who led the fight to build the Vietnam Memorial.  Also testifying was a representative of the National Park Service who expressed the opposition of the agency to adding another structure on the mall.

“This is essentially the same position the Park Service took twenty-five years ago in regard to building the Vietnam Memorial,” said Cardoza, who sits on the committee. “Once again I believe they fail to understand the significance of this memorial to the American people.  We know that the Vietnam Wall Memorial is the most visited memorial on the Mall.  Nearly 3.5 million Americans served in the Southeast Asia Theatre during the Vietnam War with over 58,000 casualties and more than 300,000 wounded.  Many of these veterans, their families and friends make the pilgrimage to the Wall.  An Educational Visitors Center near the “Wall” will enhance this experience for the millions of visitors, especially those too young to remember Vietnam.”

Cardoza, who recently created a veterans advisory committee in his California District, has been involved with the bill since being elected to Congress.  Cardoza quickly pledged to cosponsor the measure and suggested that Scruggs work with Congressman Richard Pombo (R-Tracy), Chair of the Resources Committee, to move the bill forward.