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Congressman John T. Salazar -- Defending Rural Values -- Third District of Colorado
  For immediate release: September 18, 2007  
 
Contact: (202) 225-4761
Eric Wortman, Communications Director
Rick Palacio, Deputy Communications Director
 
 

Rep. Salazar meets with Department of Veterans Affairs to identify appropriate site for new National Cemetery

 
 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman John Salazar met with V.A. Undersecretary William Tuerk today to get an update on the status of a new National Cemetery in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado and urged the Undersecretary to make this project a priority.

In May, 2007 Congressman Salazar successfully passed H.R. 1660 through the House of Representatives requiring the V.A. to establish a new National Cemetery for the growing veteran population in Southern Colorado.  “This legislation is now waiting for approval by the U.S. Senate; however the V.A. has authority to begin this project without Congressional direction and today I urged the Undersecretary to identify a site for the new cemetery and make this project a priority,” Rep. Salazar said.

For many years Former Colorado Congressman Joel Hefley made this project a priority, however this was the first time such a bill was approved by the full U.S. House of Representatives, thanks to the leadership of John Salazar (CO-3) and the efforts of all 7 members of the Colorado Congressional delegation.

Salazar proposed H.R. 1660 out of concern for the distance it takes aging veterans’ and their families to drive to Denver to visit a loved ones’ grave and to serve the growing population of veterans in the region.

Veterans’ groups that have worked to build support for this bill include the Colorado chapters of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Association for Service Disabled Veterans.

 

 
 

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