Reflections on Memorial Day and Congressman Sam Graves latest Straight Talk

Last Monday my wife and I had the privilege of going down to the Memorial Day ceremony on the lawn at the Liberty Memorial. I am ashamed to say that this was the first time that I have ever been able to do something like this. This has not always been my fault for the last ten years of my life I have worked in retail oriented jobs and Memorial Day is one that you pretty much have to work. As a child and teenager we just never did stuff like this, usually on vacation or at the lake during this weekend. I must say we had a great time despite the rain. The ceremony was nice and made me think of just the amazing courage that it takes to say that you value ideas and country more than your own life. Thank you to all who have served this great nation. The freedoms that I have enjoyed are because of your selfless service and sacrifice. For that aspect alone I will forever be grateful.

Below you will find the most recent Straight Talk with Sam Graves.

Remember to Thank a Veteran

Americans pause this week as we observe Memorial Day. No doubt many Americans will take advantage of the holiday to enjoy the outdoors. Some will attend cookouts with their neighbors; others will use the long weekend to visit family and friends. Americans work hard and they will no doubt enjoy a little extra time to spend with friends and family.

Memorial Day though is not simply a day to take it easy. The holiday began after the Civil War as a way to honor soldiers who had given their life in order to maintain our Union. Since then it has been expanded to include the veterans of all wars and conflicts. It is a day to pause and remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Even today, brave young men and women are standing watch far from home. They are helping to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today. From the Civil War to today, our professional and citizen soldiers have always answered the call of duty.

Not every soldier who serves this country participates in an epic battle. Every major victory though is made possible by soldiers who are simply doing their job. No matter what battle they fought in, I believe we need to keep our commitment to all veterans.

As Americans we have a duty to remember and care for all of those who served this country and carried the banner of freedom. I hope that you will join me in pausing to remember all of those that have served and sacrificed for this great country.

Sincerely,
Sam Graves

Straight Talk with Congressman Sam Graves 5/22/2009

Below is the most recent Straight Talk with Congressman Graves, this is his weekly email newsletter.

This Week in Washington-

Congress often likes to use the hurry up and wait approach to legislation. After having very little legislation on the floor for the entire month of May, there were a lot of bills on voted on this week.

Legislation

Small Business Bill: On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 2352, the Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act by a strong bi-partisan vote of 406-15. The bill expands programs like Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women's Business Centers (WBCs) and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). The bill also creates new support services for veteran-owned and Native American-owned small businesses. In addition, new online learning programs are included in the bill to assist entrepreneurs in rural regions and underserved communities. Finally, it creates a grant program for SBDCs designed to assist small firms in securing capital and credit.

Defense Procurement: On Thursday, the House passed the conference report for S. 454, the Weapons Acquisition System Reform through Enhancing Technical Knowledge and Oversight Act of 2009. This was legislation authored by my Missouri colleague Ike Skelton and it passed unanimously. The conference report reforms the Department of Defense's weapons acquisition process and requires the President to nominate a senior official within DoD for cost assessment and program evaluation. The conference report also requires the Secretary to assign responsibility to independent officials within the Pentagon for oversight of developmental test and evaluation, systems engineering, and performance assessment.

FAA Reauthorization: On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 915, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 by a vote of 277-136. The bill would reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding and safety oversight programs for four years with a total authorized spending level of $70 billion. The bill also increases the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) on airline flights from $4.50 to $7. I opposed this legislation because there were a number of provisions that I felt were bad public policy. The bill now goes to the Senate who will draft their own version.

Mortgage Fraud Bill: On Monday, the House passed S. 386, the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009, by a vote of 338-52. The bill broadens the coverage of current laws against financial crimes, including fraud affecting mortgages, securities, and federal assistance and relief programs. The bill also established a Congressional Financial Markets Commission to examine all causes, domestic and global, of the current financial and economic crisis. The bill was sent to the President and signed into law on Wednesday, May 20.

Mortgage Foreclosure Bill: The House passed an amended version S. 896, the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, by a vote of 367-54-1. The bill will make a number of changes to current law regarding federally insured mortgages, increase federal bank deposit insurance, and expand federal mortgage modification programs in an attempt to encourage home mortgage modifications. S. 896, as passed by the House and Senate did not contain a "cramdown" provision. The bill was also signed into law on Wednesday.

Credit Card Bill: The House passed H.R. 627, Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act, with Senate amendments. The bill prohibits a creditor from adjusting any annual percentage rate on preexisting balances, except in certain circumstances, requires increased disclosures, requires 45 days notice before interest rates are increased, and outlaws providing a credit card to an individual under the age of 21 without a cosigner. The bill also included a Senate amendment that protected second amendment rights on federal land by prohibiting a ban on the possession of a firearm in compliance with State law in a National Park. I supported the bill, which passed 361-64. The final bill now awaits the President's signature sometime on Friday.

Memorial Day Recess Events

Congress will be in recess next week for the Memorial Day recess. I will be in King City for a Memorial Day event on Sunday, several area cemeteries on Monday and in St. Joseph on Tuesday at the National Guard Armory for a Veterans' Expo event.

Enjoy the long weekend and remember to thank a veteran for their service this week.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves

Doug Ervin Capitol Connection 5/20/2009

Below you will find the most recent Capitol Connection from Doug Ervin. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ervin Tuesday because he came and spoke to my wife's fifth grade classroom. Mr. Ervin took several minutes of his time to speak to me after he spoke to the kids. Mr. Ervin is concerned like much of the rest of us about the future of this nation, especially the actions of the Federal government. He mentioned as well the healthcare debate at the state level. Apparently many Republicans in the Senate were frothing at the mouth over the stimulus money and were willing to accept the Governors Medicaid plan to get it. We have to be really careful next year in the 2010 elections. All Republicans are not fiscal conservatives, and if they are not, they do not deserve to be in the Missouri Senate, or any other elected office for that matter. This nation needs to become fiscally responsible immediately and if the current elected officials refuse to join us, well, throw the bums out!

Capitol Connection

May 20, 2009

A Day of Remembrance

Memorial Day, a day set aside for remembering those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of Liberty, not just any liberty, but our Liberty, the Liberty that binds us together as a Nation.

What began from many different quarters by decorating the graves of Confederate dead in the 1860's has grown to an annual remembrance by the 1200 soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry decorating each of the 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery with a small US flag and then patrolling the grounds 24 hours a day during the Memorial Day weekend to make sure that each flag remains standing.

Closer to home in St. Louis, the Boy Scouts of America and the Cub Scouts place flags on the 150,000 graves at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that began in 1951 and continues to this day.

While many towns and cities pay tribute each year with speeches, parades, and fireworks, for many the "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been either ignored or forgotten. We are the beneficiaries of the sacrifices made by the soldiers, sailors, and airmen of yesterday and today.

Last year, I remember hearing on the radio a former Green Beret say that warriors exist to protect women and children – what a simple, yet significant statement. For those who do not come back from their mission, we cannot forget the charge mentioned by General John Logan in his General Order No. 11 on May 5th, 1868:

...gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime...let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude, - the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.

We can observe Memorial Day as it should be observed, as a day where we actively remember our forefathers, family members, loved ones, and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice:

By visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.

By visiting memorials.

By flying the US Flag at half-staff until noon.

By flying the "POW/MIA Flag (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).

By participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.

By renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

On this Memorial Day, let us not forget, as Moina Michael writes in reply to John McCrae's "In Flanders Fields":

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies

May God bless our men and women in uniform on missions throughout the world serving on our behalf and may He comfort those whose loss runs deep that we should always remember that the "blood of heroes never dies".