Day 49.7. Theresa Grafenstine -Did the Awans Do the DHS Hack On MicroPACT

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CONYERS: In Honor Of Our Veterans - Resource Fair, November 18, 2017

On Saturday, November 18, 2017, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Piquette Square, 6221 Brush Street, Detroit, Michigan 48202, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. wil hold a veteran resource fair in honor of veterans, active duty military and family members are invited to engage with representatives from:

• Federal & State Government Agencies; 
• Housing & Health Services; 
• Employment & Education Assistance; 
• Food Assistance; 
• Veteran Service Organizations; 
• Benefits & Claims Assistance; 
• Medical Center & Community Resources.  

For additional information please call the Detroit Office: 3131-961-5670 the Westland Office: 734-675-4084.

Congressman Conyers Veterans Resource Fair - 11-18-2017 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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CONYERS: Michigan Needs A New State Police Director

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) issued the following statement after Michigan State Police Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue posted an uninformed statement on Facebook concerning National Football League (NFL) protests against racial injustice:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“I have been defending the ideal symbolized by the American flag for my entire adult life. Here in the U.S. Congress since 1965; before that as a state official; and before that as an officer in the United States Army serving in the Korean Conflict.  When I went off to war, the country I fought for was far from realized: in Korea I was an officer and a gentleman; at home I was a second-class citizen.  But still I fought, because our country is about so much more than a flag or an anthem.  It is about a great struggle, centuries in the making, to make a more perfect union. 

“Michigan State Police Director Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue is entitled to her wrong-headed, spiteful opinion. However, her comments in regards to NFL players protesting racial injustice by kneeling during the national anthem were completely inappropriate, unbefitting an officer of the state of Michigan, and raise practical concerns about her ability to enforce the laws of our state and country.

“Michigan needs a Michigan State Police Director who understands the very real issue of racial injustice and the blatant disparities that African-Americans face within our criminal justice system and at the hands of some ill-willed law enforcement officers. Instead of bashing the protests, Etue should be looking to address the reason for the protests in the first place, by working with the Michigan police force and the communities they protect and serve to improve relations.  If Etue cannot complete that mission, she should stand down.

“I strongly believe that no one should ever make the mistake that the fight for justice in America is anything less than an act of patriotism.  As a veteran, I served alongside soldiers who fought for this country’s freedom. It is time for us to honor these struggles and commit to working toward a society that so many have sacrificed for.”

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CONYERS: Floor Statement on H.R. 1215, the so-called “Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017”

H.R. 1215, the “Protecting Access to Care Act of 2017,” will do little to protect Americans’ access to safe and affordable health care.  Instead, it will deny victims of medical malpractice and defective medical products the opportunity to be fully compensated for their injuries and to hold wrongdoers accountable.

This legislation imposes various restrictions on lawsuits against health care providers concerning their provision of health care goods or services that would apply regardless of the merits of a case, the misconduct at issue, or the severity of the victim’s injury. 

There are so many problems with this bill that I would need 5 hours to discuss them all, but here are just a few.

To begin with, H.R. 1215 deeply intrudes on state sovereignty.

In particular, H.R. 1215 preempts state law governing joint and several liability, the availability of damages, the ability to introduce evidence of collateral source benefits, attorneys’ fees, and periodic payments of future damages. 

Members should not be fooled by assertions that the bill preserves state law. In fact, the rule of construction contained in the bill expressly states that it preempts state law except in very limited circumstances where state law is more favorable to defendants. 

And a number of so-called “state flexibility” provisions simply reinforce one-way preemption where the bill mostly supersedes state laws that are more favorable to victims, while leaving intact State laws that are more favorable to defendants.

In truth, H.R. 1215 does nothing to address the fundamental concerns about states’ rights previously raised by Members on both sides of the aisle.  In fact, just yesterday the House Liberty Caucus, a group of conservative libertarian members, registered their strong opposition to this bill stating that it “unconstitutionally voids state laws governing health care lawsuits.”

Further yet, this bill would cause real harm by severely limiting the ability of victims to be made whole.

For instance, the bill’s $250,000 aggregate limit for noneconomic damages -- an amount established more than 40 years ago pursuant to a California statute -- would have a particularly adverse impact on women, children, the poor, and other vulnerable members of society.

These groups are more likely to receive noneconomic damages in health care cases because they are less able to establish lost wages and other economic losses. 

Women, for example, are often paid at a lower rate than men, even for the same job, and are also more likely to suffer noneconomic loss, such as disfigurement or loss of fertility.

Imposing a severe limit on noneconomic damages, therefore, hurts them disproportionately.

Finally, this bill is particularly harmful for veterans, members of the military, and their families.  Because the bill preempts state tort law in any health care related lawsuit that includes any coverage provided by a federal health program, all cases arising from substandard care received in a Veterans Administration facility or a military hospital would be subject to the bill’s restrictions.

As a diverse coalition of veterans organizations noted in their letter of opposition, H.R. 1215 would limit the ability of veterans and military families to “hold health care providers, drug manufacturers and medical products providers accountable for pain and suffering, and death that result from substandard care, preventable medical errors, and defective drugs and devices.” 

For these and many other reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 1215 and I reserve the balance of my time.

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CONYERS Says 'Goodbye' To His Friend & Colleague Charlie Rangel From Congress

Yesterday, I spoke to my colleague, my dear friend, my brother Charles Rangel off the House floor as we said our goodbyes. This was truly a bittersweet moment. Charlie and I began our careers in public service as veterans of the Korean War, fighting to defend democracy. After serving in the first truly integrated armed forces, we began on this journey tackling the injustice and inequality plaguing Detroit and New York City. For the last four decades, we have worked together in the U.S. House of Representatives.

As the last two founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus serving in Congress, we have seen our world change, we have seen our country change. I don't want to see him go, but I am encouraged knowing that he will be leaving behind a lasting legacy, decades of great memories, and will be embarking on a new journey in life. Charlie, my friend, your dedication and service to NYC and to this country is unwavering and I will miss you dearly.

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Congressman John Conyers Invites You To Attend The Veterans Resource Fair 11-19-2016

Congressman John Conyers Invites You To Attend The Veterans Resource Fair 11-19-2016 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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CONYERS, RANGEL, JOHNSON Introduce Resolution To Recover POW/MIA Remains From North Korea

Washington D.C. – Marking the 66^th anniversary of the start of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, the three remaining Korean War veterans in Congress, Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), joined by Reps. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), and Sam Johnson (R-TX), introduced House Resolution 799 that calls on the U.S. government to resume talks with North Korea to account for thousands of American men and women from the Korean War (1950-1953). Between 1954 and 2005, joint U.S.-North Korea teams successfully conducted recovery missions that identified and returned thousands of Americans. Yet these efforts were suspended in 2005, despite the fact that the remains of 5,300 out of 8,000 total number of unaccounted Korean War veterans are estimated to be in North Korea.

Dean of the U,S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“More than five thousand brave American soldiers who fought in the Korean Conflict for our country remain unaccounted for.  That is simply unacceptable.  As a veteran of the Korean Conflict, I feel honor bound to ensure we do everything we can to bring their remains home.  After all our fighting men in Korea sacrificed, it is our duty to make sure we do everything to provide them and their families some measure of peace.  I am proud to join with my fellow veterans of the Korean Conflict in ensuring the United States reengages the North Korean government on this issue,” said Conyers, who served in the National Guard and the United States Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War.

“I am grateful to my colleagues and fellow Korean War veterans for working together to ensure that we bring these veterans home. This resolution would ensure that the heroic service members of the Korean War are identified and brought back to their loved ones in the United States, where they belong. We have a responsibility to our veterans to make sure we do not forget their sacrifices made to defend the freedoms we enjoy. Their families deserve peace,”said Rangel, a decorated veteran, who has been awarded both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. 

  

“With the 66th Anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War around the corner, it is important we remember those American forces who remain unaccounted for from this war. As a Korean War veteran and former Prisoner of War, I believe we owe our fallen brothers in arms every last effort to provide a proper and dignified return to home. I'm proud to join my fellow Korean War veterans, Congressman Rangel and Congressman Conyers, in this noble cause,” said Rep. Johnson, a decorated war hero, who spent his 29-year career in the U.S. Air Force, during which he flew combat missions in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Johnson endured nearly seven years as a Prisoner of War in Hanoi, including 42 months in solitary confinement.

“The lifetime hope for thousands of Americans is to bring home their loved one still missing in North Korea. It is a wound that never healed. The path to finding that closure will open only when North Korean and U.S. leaders decide to pursue this humanitarian mission other than their political differences. It can be done. It has been done. It is time to do so again. Thank you to Representatives Rangel, Conyers and Johnson, who are keeping the mission alive to help fulfill the promise that no one's father, husband, brother, uncle, cousin or comrade in arms is left behind in war," said Rick Downes, President of the Coalition of Families of Korean & Cold War POW/MIAs, and son of Hal Downes, who went missing in action in North Korea in 1952.

As recently as this year, North Korea has reported uncovering the remains of American veterans- but the fate of these remains is unknown due to construction and development. H.Res 799 calls on the U.S. Government to resume talks with North Korea regarding the research, investigation, recovery, and identification of missing and unaccounted Korean War veterans.

“While we will never be able to fully end the lingering pain of the families, we must try to bring closure,” said Rangel,“We will keep fighting to bring home our comrades in arms.”

Rangel, Johnson, and Conyers have previously worked together to introduce and pass legislation that supports veterans of the Korean War, including H.Res.384 - Calling for a formal end of the Korean War; H.Con.Res 91, Encouraging reunions of divided Korean American families; H.Con.Res.41 - Encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula (Passed in 2013); H.Res. 618 - Expressing support for designation of 2012-2013 as the "Year of the Korean War Veteran" (Passed in 2012); H. Res 376 - Calling for Repatriation of POW/MIAs and Abductees in North Korea (Passed in 2011); H.J.Res.86 - Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and Reaffirming U.S.-Korea Alliance (Passed in 2010); and the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-41).

Below is the full text of H.Res 799 calling for U.S. Government to resume talks with North Korea on Korean War POW/MIAs:

Calling on the United States Government to resume talks with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea regarding the research, investigation, recovery, and identification of missing and unaccounted members of the United States Armed Forces from the Korean War.

Whereas more than 36,000 members of the United States Armed Forces died and nearly 103,000 were wounded during the Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950;

Whereas of the approximately 8,000 members of the United States Armed Forces who remain unaccounted for from the Korean War, the remains of at least 5,300 Americans are believed to be in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (in this resolution referred to as “North Korea”);

Whereas the United States and North Korea have a precedent of working together on issues related to American prisoners of war/missing in action (POW/MIAs) from the Korean War;

Whereas North Korea has intermittently returned the remains of deceased members of the United States Armed Forces found in North Korea, including several thousand sets of remains in 1954, and varying numbers of remains in 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, and 2003;

Whereas United States operations in North Korea to recover the remains of deceased members of the United States Armed Forces were suspended in 2005;

Whereas the remains of deceased members of the United States Armed Forces in North Korea are being lost due to construction and development, the passing of North Korean observers of United States plane crashes, and inclement weather conditions;

Whereas North Korea has reported uncovering the remains of deceased members of the United States Armed Forces in North Korea through agriculture and construction projects as recently as 2016;

Whereas not all of the remains of Korean War veterans located at the National Memorial Cemetery in Hawaii (The Punch Bowl) have been identified;

Whereas members of the Coalition of Families of Korean & Cold War POW/MIAs, the National League of POW/MIA Families, the National Alliance of Families, Rolling Thunder, the Korean War Veterans Association, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and thousands of families and veterans are yearning and advocating for the accounting of their loved ones and comrades in arms of the Korean War; and

Whereas the mission of the United States Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is to provide the fullest possible accounting of missing United States personnel;

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls upon the United States Government to resume talks with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to make substantial progress in the research, investigation, recovery and identification of missing and unaccounted members of the United States Armed Forces from the Korean War.

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CONYERS and RANGEL: Trump’s Bigotry Reminds Us of Strom Thurmond

By John Conyers, Jr. & Charlie Rangel

'As veterans who have fought for our country abroad and then at home, we simply cannot stay silent while un-American attacks on other minority groups are given voice'

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

Some six decades ago, we left our homes in Detroit and New York City to serve in the Korean War. We were both young men in our early 20s, afraid but resolute. We would both be decorated for our service, and Charlie would be severely wounded in the Battle of Kunu-ri. We would both fight to defend democracy on the Korean Peninsula.

In Korea, we fought as part of the first truly integrated armed forces our nation had ever known. The near defeat of U.S.-led forces in the early days of the conflict led to rapid integration after three years of delaying implementation of President Harry Truman’s 1948 order to desegregate our Army and Navy. This led to a certain level of meritocracy: Charlie would rise to Staff Sergeant, and John would serve as an officer.

However, when we returned home we were quickly reminded that we were not just veterans—we were black veterans. Commendation medals did not mean we could sit in the front of the bus in Alabama, and a Purple Heart did not protect black veterans from racist landlords, employers, businesses or police. Our service didn’t trump our race.

Today, Donald Trump is fomenting a movement to bring back that shameful period in time by alienating groups who have fought and died for our freedoms. In the “Great America” that Donald Trump talks about, people of Mexican descent are not soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines—or judges—they are drug dealers, rapists and thieves. To Trump, Muslim immigrants are not allies who had to flee persecution because their assistance to U.S. forces endangered their lives—every single one is a potential terrorist who should be subject to special police laws. Both groups of citizens—Hispanics and Muslims—are clearly unfit to serve as judges in Trump’s America. Like the segregationists of our youth, no amount of national service seems to overcome Trump’s belief that a person’s race and religion make him or her less American.

As we have said, Trump’s hair-brained bigotry is nothing original. Indeed, his sort of prejudiced campaign does not even predate our service to our country. In 1948, the year we both put on U.S. Army uniforms, Strom Thurmond won 39 electoral votes as the nominee of the Dixiecrats. But Trump’s dangerous provocations—the forced expulsion of 11 million people and the creation of secret police and special religious ghettos for Muslims—represent crimes that we simply did not travel half a world a way to defend.

That Trump has never served in uniform—his boarding school experience excepted—is painfully obvious when he speaks. And we are not just referring to his shameful comments about Senator John McCain and prisoners of war. He has clearly never had to put his life at risk for our nation. If he had, he would know the same thing we learned from bullets and bombs as young men—on the battlefield, one’s skin color or the name of his God is the last thing that matters.

A Commander-in-Chief is responsible for the lives of all our fighting men and women: 158,000 of those soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen identify as Hispanic or Latino, and more than 5,000 of them are Muslim. Trump simply cannot fulfill the constitutional duties of the presidential office by questioning the patriotism, integrity and devotion of one out of eight U.S. service men and women. Nor should a man who wants to build a wall between the United States and Mexico, our military ally—a nation with whom we last fought an armed conflict in 1919—receive command of a military that has been through enough unnecessary dust and bloodshed.

Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans are starting to take their cues from their nominee, with all but 20 of them voting last week to end enlistment programs that grants citizenship status to undocumented immigrants who came here as children, who already have legal residency in the United States, and who simply want to serve in our Armed Forces. This trend is disturbing. It is one thing for a fringe political candidate who won a plurality of G.O.P. voters to suggest such dangerous polices; it is another for Congressional Republicans to pick up and carry that flag in the House.

As veterans who have fought for our country abroad and then at home, we simply cannot stay silent while un-American attacks on other minority groups are given voice.

Sixty-six years to the day after our military went to fight a war as an integrated force for the first time, we hope the American people will stand up for those who are fighting on our behalf.

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CONYERS Stands For Dignity & Respect For All

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

"North Carolina's House Bill 2 prevents local governments from passing and enforcing additional anti-discrimination laws. This also undermines existing ordinances that protect LGBT Americans, disabled Americans and veterans. I join my colleagues and fellow veterans in urging the Governor of North Carolina to ‪#‎RepealHB2‬ " said Conyers.

Congressional Letter To North Carolina Governor To Protect Veterans By Repealing HB2

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Statement of the Honorable John Conyers, Jr., for the Markup of H.R. 1854, the “Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015"

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“H.R. 1854, the ‘Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act of 2015,’ reauthorizes funding for and updates the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004. 

“I support this bipartisan bill for several reasons. 

“To begin with, the legislation recognizes the fact that approximately 45% of federal inmates, 56% of state inmates, and 64% of jail inmates display symptoms of mental health conditions.   Of the approximate 11 million people who cycle through our Nation’s local jails annually, anywhere between 16% to 60% of this population have mental illness treatment needs. 

      

“In addition, studies indicate that mentally-ill prisoners tend to stay in jail longer than those without mental illnesses, return to jail more often, and cost local jurisdictions more money while incarcerated.

“The grants authorized by this legislation pertain to various aspects of the criminal justice spectrum, ranging from pre-booking to transitional programs addressing reentry after a prisoner has served his or her sentence.  These grants fund specialized law enforcement-based response programs, mental health courts and other court-based initiatives, jail-based programs, and programs for youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System. Another reason why I support H.R. 1854 is that it expands grants for veterans in the criminal justice system.  

“Specifically, the bill would authorize veterans treatment courts and related programs to help those who have served our Nation, but who are arrested and exhibit behavioral or mental health conditions, including substance addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and mental health conditions manifesting from traumatic brain injuries.

“Veterans courts help facilitate the diversion of veterans out of the criminal justice system where they can be directed to more appropriate mental health treatment.

 “By funding these specialized programs, H.R. 1854 will enhance our criminal justice system’s ability to meaningfully address the unique mental health needs of our veterans.       

 “Our veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, substance addictions, and other mental health conditions deserve better than being warehoused in our jails and prisons.

“Finally, H.R. 1854 authorizes continued grant funding for the training of law enforcement and correctional personnel to identify and appropriately respond to the mentally ill. 

 “This saves lives and money.  It also supports our long-term goals of criminal justice reform by reducing the number of individuals in jails and prisons and by promoting better relations between law enforcement and the public.

“Law enforcement grant programs fund the development of curricula for police academies and crisis intervention team programs that significantly help to lower the cost of mental health crisis police responses. 

“And, grant programs for correctional officers recognize the crucial role officers play in identifying those inmates who are in need of mental health treatment and are at risk for abuse in a custodial setting.  Our correctional officers need the appropriate training and tools in order to respond to a mental health crisis, to provide for the safety of the mentally ill, and to deliver appropriate treatment and medications.   

 “Accordingly, I support H.R. 1854 and urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.”

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Conyers Honors Metro Detroit Veterans in D.C.

Conyers honors veterans and the unions who support vets in D.C.

Metro Detroit Veterans Coalition

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Conyers Hosts Veterans Resource Fair, November 14, 2015

Join me Saturday, November 14th from 12p-3p for my Veterans Resource Fair. 

The event will take place at the Westland City Hall located at 36300 Warren Rd., Westland, MI 48185.

Veterans, active duty military personnel and family members will be able to check the status of existing claims, receive food and housing assistance, learn about workforce and business development, apply for employment and educational opportunities, receive free health screenings and counseling services, have their veterans licenses designated by the Secretary of State and much more. 

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Conyers Salutes $25,000 in Grant Funding to Detroit Public Television

(WASHINGTON) – Today, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced that $25,000 in grant funding has been awarded to Detroit Public Television as a part of the CPB’s “Veterans Coming Home” Project in which Detroit Public Television will recognize local veterans’ service, opportunities, and challenges. This project will also aim to connect a greater number of veterans with local resources that will support their transition to civilian life. After the announcement was made public, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

"I am pleased to announce that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has awarded Detroit Public Television a $25,000 grant for ‘Veterans Coming Home,’ a televised project recognizing Detroit’s veterans. Not only will this project bring light to the sacrifices made by these brave men and women, it will give them a great opportunity to connect with individuals, organizations, and businesses in Detroit. I have the utmost respect and gratitude for our veterans and thank CPB for enabling Detroit Public Television to publicly honor their work and influence in Detroit. I look forward to watching this project progress and hearing stories from some of Detroit’s finest individuals.”

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Conyers Applauds $101,000 Grant Award to Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries

(DETROIT) – Today, the Department of Labor’s Veteran’s Employment and Training Service announced the awarding of a $101k grant that will help homeless female veterans, as well as veterans with families, with job training to facilitate their success in civilian careers. This grant is one of 22 being awarded under the department’s Homeless Female Veterans and Veterans with Families Program. After the announcement of this grant, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

"I am pleased that the Department of Labor has funded a number of grants that will ensure veterans across the country have access to programs that will give them the tools needed to succeed in civilian careers,” said Conyers.

“Following the Great Recession and the return of our military forces from two wars overseas, many veterans are actively seeking jobs. Additionally, at times it is difficult for veterans to reintegrate into the workforce after serving our country. This grant funding will go a long way towards combating both of those problems, and will help to service a heavy veteran population in the 13^th district. Specifically, the Department of Labor’s grant to the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries will enable them to provide services that include job placement, on-the-job and classroom training, career counseling, life skills and money management and help in housing placement.

“I thank the Department of Labor for aiding the Detroit veteran community, who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country.”

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Conyers Co-Sponsors Legislation Boosting Mental Health Access to Veterans

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) co-sponsored the bipartisan “Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act,” introduced by Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa). Currently, veterans face a five-year window in which they must seek treatment for mental illnesses before losing their higher priority status.  This legislation would eliminate that five-year waiting period and allow veterans to seek treatment for mental illnesses stemming from service, regardless of when their conditions arise. Following his co-sponsorship of the bill, Rep. Conyers issued this statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“It is an appalling figure, yet unfortunately 22 veterans commit suicide every single day. Sixty years after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established, it is time for Congress to renew its commitment to providing the men and women who served our nation - from Detroit and all across the country - with the healthcare services they earned," said Conyers.

“Currently the VA provides healthcare treatment and services to veterans who suffer from service-related mental or physical disabilities. Typically, the diagnosis of physical injuries is made before or shortly after separation from the military. However, mental illnesses may not arise until years later. In addition, some serious mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder were virtually undiagnosed in veterans of conflicts prior to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“As the United States armed forces and the VA continue to improve treatment for those who served, there remains a gap for veterans struggling with mental illnesses. Fortunately, the ‘Veterans Mental Health Accessibility Act’ will go a long way towards ensuring that the services and treatments relating to mental health that are available to recently discharged veterans are also made available to all who served.”

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U.S. Lawmakers Seek 'Year of the Korean War Veteran'

U.S. Lawmakers Seek 'Year of the Korean War Veteran'

Four U.S. lawmakers who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War have proposed designating 2012-2013 the "Year of the Korean War Veteran." They are Reps Charles Rangel, John Conyers, Sam Johnson and Howard Coble.

The proposal came at the request of a U.S. Defense Department committee that has been tasked with commemorating the Korean War with events such as a national campaign to honor American veterans.

President Lee Myung-bak salutes four Korean War veterans in the Capitol Hall in Washing D.C. in October last year.

 Last year, the four lawmakers co-sponsored a bill seeking to construct a memorial wall with the names of soldiers who died in the Korean War as part of efforts to keep the war from being forgotten.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce to Host Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair for Veterans and Military Spouses in Detroit

More than 150 Employers with Jobs Available Expected to Participate

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Hero 2 Hired (H2H) and lead sponsors Ryder and Call of Duty Endowment, will host “Hiring Our Heroes – Detroit,” a hiring fair to connect more than 1,000 veterans and military spouses. More than 150 employers are expected to participate with jobs available for veterans and military spouses of all ranks and levels of experience. Companies range from America’s biggest employers to dozens of small companies from across the state. Since its launch in March 2011, Hiring Our Heroes has held more than 140 hiring fairs nationwide, helping more than 9,000 veterans and military spouses find employment.

WHO:

The Honorable John D. Dingell, United States House of Representatives
The Honorable John Conyers, Jr., United States House of Representatives
The Honorable Hansen Clarke, United States House of Representatives
Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr., Dearborn
Jennifer Giering, President, Dearborn Chamber of Commerce
Ross Cohen, Senior Director, Hiring Our Heroes, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Afghanistan veteran

WHAT:

Hiring Our Heroes – Detroit

WHEN:

Wednesday, April 11, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT

WHERE:

Ford Community and Performing Arts Center
15801 Michigan Ave.
Dearborn, MI 48126
RSVP:

Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend. To register, e-mail bgoettel@uschamber.com or call 202-463-5961.

This hiring event is being conducted in partnership with the Dearborn, Detroit, Great Lakes and Southern Wayne County Regional, American Arab Chambers of Commerce, City of Dearborn, U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (DOL VETS), Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, Michigan Veteran’s Services Division, United States Army Reserve, Michigan National Guard, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), Vietnam Veterans of American Michigan State Council, Wayne County Veterans Affairs Division, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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Conyers: Congress Must Honor Veterans Service and Pass President Obama’s American Jobs Act Now

For Immediate Release

Date: Monday, December 12, 2011

Contact: Matthew Morgan – 202-226-5543

Conyers: Congress Must Honor Veterans Service and Pass President Obama’s American Jobs Act Now

Thousands of returning veterans face high unemployment

(DETROIT) – Today at an event in Westland, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) joined veterans and members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers (AFSCME)in calling on Congress to provide jobs for the thousands of veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by passing President Obama’s American Jobs Act.  As of October, 41,000 U.S. troops are deployed in Iraq and are due to return by the end of 2011.  In June, President Obama outlined a plan to return 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of summer 2012.  However there may not be a job waiting for many of these  returning service members. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobless rate among post-9/11 veterans in October stood at 12.1 percent, 3.5 percent higher than the national unemployment rate.  Michigan veterans, retirees and AFSCME members joined Representative Conyers to focus public attention on the jobless rate facing returning veterans who have served the Nation with distinction overseas and the need for Congress to take up job creating legislation.

“Congress needs to pass President Obama’s American Jobs Act now,” said Conyers.  “The jobless rate overall has declined a bit in the past year, but among veterans who have served in conflict since 2003, it is increasing. The unemployment rate for veterans serving since the Iraq war began has risen 1.5 percentage points to more than 12 percent in the past year.

“President Obama’s jobs bill, the American Jobs Act, would create as many as 2 million jobs. These jobs would be focused on rebuilding our nation’s roads, bridges and schools and preserving jobs for our teachers and vital public servants like police officers and firefighters. Our returning servicemen and women have the skills to fill these jobs.  In Iraq and Afghanistan they oversaw projects to rebuild that country’s schools, roads and bridges. They managed budgets and worked on engineering projects.  And Congress must  give them the opportunity to do so in their own country.

“So I ask our Republican colleagues and friends to truly honor our veterans – those who are just now returning from Iraq and those who have fought valiantly around the world to protect American interests.  Pass the American Jobs Act.  America’s veterans deserve better.”

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Congressmen Hold Job Fair For Veterans In Detroit

Getty ImagesDETROIT (WWJ) - A couple of lawmakers from Michigan are helping needy veterans get back on their feet. Congressman Hansen Clarke and Congressman John Conyers Jr. are hosting the Veteran’s Resource Fair on Thursday in Detroit.

Congressman Clarke spoke with WWJ about why an event like this is so important.

“Many of our veterans in Metro Detroit are struggling right now financially, which is a shame when you consider the sacrifices they’ve made to this country. We’ve decided to bring the people together that could help veterans and their families, help our veterans find work, get an education, stay in their home or even find basic shelter,” said Clarke.

The Veteran’s Resource Fair will feature more than 25 agencies in the areas of education, job training, entrepreneurship and many other life building opportunities.

“Many of our veterans have really experience trauma and they need healthcare, drug treatments, and just the support that they know that they can make it. We want to help them directly, but also we want to give them hope not to give up, that someone is there to look out for them and to help them. And as a Congressman, I’ll be their personal advocate,” said Clarke.

The Veteran’s Resource Fair takes place Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Historic Fort Wayne, located at 6325 West Jefferson Ave. in Detroit.
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