On 53rd Anniversary of Korean Armistice Agreement, Hoyer Spearheads Effort to Grant Federal Charter to Korean War Veterans Association

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today began an effort to put bipartisan pressure on the House Judiciary Committee to take up legislation that would grant the Korean War Veterans Association a Federal charter.

“Korean veterans deserve this recognition,” Hoyer said. “I hope that members of both parties will join me in advocating for a Federal charter for the Korean War Veterans Association.”

Last year, on the 52nd anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement, Hoyer introduced H.R. 3476, a bill that would grant the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) a Federal charter – enabling KWVA to expand its mission and further its charitable and benevolent causes. KWVA, comprised exclusively of Korean War Veterans, has over 25,000 members and is one of the few such organizations of its size without a Federal charter.

Hoyer today began collecting signatures on a letter to Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) asking him to “allow the Judiciary Committee to act to bring this legislation, which has 126 bipartisan cosponsors, to the House floor.”

“Granting this Federal charter, at no cost to the government, is a small expression of our appreciation for the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of our forces in Korea and will afford the Association the same status as other major veteran organizations,” the letter reads.

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