As we observed Memorial Day yesterday, all Americans had  the opportunity to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of the members of our armed forces throughout our history. In the months ahead, Congress will have the opportunity to do even more to thank our veterans by providing members of our military, veterans and their families with additional benefits they deserve.

Legislation I am working to see passed in Congress includes:

• Monthly postage vouchers to military members who are serving overseas
• Improvements to benefits paid to spouses of military members who are killed or injured
• Homeownership Assistance to military members serving in combat zones
• Creation of a House Select Committee on POW and MIA affairs
• Creation of an equity compensation fund for WWII veterans of the Merchant Marine
• Stronger legal protections from vandalism for memorials and grave markers of military veterans

If you would like more information on these measures or any other legislation, please visit my Web site or contact my office.

The Second Amendment in national parks

Among the rights our armed forces have been called to defend is our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. This week, I voted on legislation that would allow individuals to carry a concealed firearm in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges in accordance with the respective laws of the State in which the public land is located. 

This is a momentous achievement in that since the 1930’s possession of operable and loaded firearms in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges was for the most part prohibited by federal regulation.  Since then, 48 states have passed “concealed carry” laws allowing law-abiding individuals to carry concealed handguns for purposes of self-defense, and of those states 24 allow concealed carry in state parks.

In 2008, the Department of Interior, under former President George W. Bush, moved to alter regulations so that individuals would be permitted to possess loaded and concealed firearms, as long as doing so was legal under that respective state’s gun laws where the public lands are located.  The public lands gun regulation was issued by the Department of Interior on December 10th and took effect January 9, 2009.
 
The right-to-carry regulation was short lived when a federal district court in Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction against the implementation of the new rule on March 19, 2009, and instructed the Department of Interior to evaluate the rule and suggest a course of action. 
 
Almost immediately, legislation was introduced in Congress to reinstate the rule.  As one of the original cosponsors of the Preservation of the Second Amendment in National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges Act (H.R. 1684), I am especially pleased to see this significant legislation on the brink of becoming the law of the land, which will reinstate the rights of law abiding gun owners in national parks and wildlife refuges throughout the nation.