HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESJM 8001

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                  Government Administration

Brief Description:  Petitioning for a plaque honoring veterans dying from war‑related injuries received in the southeast Asia theater of operations.

Sponsors:  Senators Hargrove, McCaslin, Snyder, Patterson and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Administration:  3/25/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives D. Schmidt, Chairman; D. Sommers, Vice Chairman; Scott, Ranking Minority Member; Gardner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Doumit; Dunn; Dunshee; Reams; Smith; L. Thomas; Wensman and Wolfe.

Staff:  Bronwyn Mauldin (786-7093).

Background:  In 1984, legislation was enacted authorizing the design and placement of a memorial on the capitol campus honoring Washington State residents who died or are Amissing in action@ in the southeast Asia theater of operations.  This memorial, commonly known as the Vietnam Memorial, was dedicated in May 1987.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature requests that the Governor, in consultation with the directors of Veterans Affairs and General Administration and with the state=s Vietnam veterans= organizations, place a plaque on the Vietnam Memorial honoring those veterans who died from war-related injuries received in the southeast Asia theater of operations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  Many Washington veterans have not been honored because their deaths occurred outside of the parameters for inclusion on the Vietnam memorial.  Loss and death resulting from war-related injuries are no less than combat casualties. 

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Hargrove, prime sponsor; John Lee, Deputy Director, Dept. of Veterans Affairs; and Roger Welles, Veterans Legislation Coalition.