Posted by Vintage Power Wagons on Thursday, September 27, 2001 at 12:57PM :
In Reply to: Re: Demil Bill posted by Mike in Indiana on Thursday, September 27, 2001 at 8:54AM :
This week I spoke with Lee Holland, President of the MVPA, concerning the SB #1416 section 1062. He informed that the bill has passed in the Senate. The bill now has to be finalized in the Senate Conference Committee. The lobbiest hired by the MVPA
hopes to get it defeated in this Committee, but don't hold your breath. This bill is an attachment to the National Defense Authorization Act. I asked Kay Willard, the MVPA's Association Manager, if I could reprint her letter to her Senator. With her
permission, please read her letter below and
use it or my letter also attached to contact your Senator. I used some wording from a letter previously posted on the forum, so it's not tough. This bill is really important to all of us, so I urge you to take
the time and write your senators as soon as possible. Thanks
Dave Butler
Vintage Power Wagons Inc.
Senator John Warner:
I am writing on behalf of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association
--- a not for profit, 10,000 member, international organization
established in 1976 --- in urgent regard to S1416 Section 1062
pertaining to "Authority to Ensure Demilitarization of Significant
Military Equipment Formerly Owned by the Department of Defense."
If this bill is passed in its present form, it could mean the
elimination of the 20,000 military vehicles our members own and
restore. These historic vehicles invoke national pride and patriotism
when they are called upon to participate in parades, veteran and
National Guard functions, as well as events on active military
installations, and even in community disaster relief efforts. The MVPA,
it's members and their vehicles are also participating in the United
States of America's 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Korean War
events as we did with the WWII commemoration.
We encourage you to reconsider the wording of this section and preserve
an important part of our nation's history for future generations.
Sincerely,
Kay Willard-Hinga
Association Manager
Military Vehicle Preservation Association
PO Box 520378
Independence, MO 64052
Tel: (816) 833-MVPA (6872)
Fax: (816) 833-5115
e-mail: kay@mvpa.org
http://www.mvpa.org
Sept. 25, 2001
Senator Tom Harkin,
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2202
To Honorable Senator Tom Harkin,
Regarding Senate Bill #1416, Section 1062 AUTHORITY TO ENSURE DEMILITARIZATION OF SIGNIFIGANT MILITARY EQUIPMENT FORMERLY OWNED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. This bill is an attachment to the NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
As a very concerned citizen and businessman, I wanted you to be aware of this bill which is virtually a mirror image of previously defeated legislation, Section 361 of the old HR4205-2000 legislation. It is my understanding that this section, which was by passed last week by the Senate, would authorize the Secretary of Defense to compel “demilitarization” of certain military equipment.
As a preserver, collector and dealer of historic military vehicles, I urge you to work to remove this section from the final bill. At no time has any old military vehicle, in the hands of private citizens, ever posed a threat to anyone or to our national security. Rather, the provision is just one of those symbolic gestures that chips away at the essence of American principles for the sake of superficial
political appeal.
Many of the vehicles in question, are currently in service and still being used by the U.S. Forest Service and Volunteer Fire Departments around the country. Thousands of these vehicles remain in private hands and are a proud reminder of our military history at a time when all Americans need to join together to fight a common foe.
These vehicles have served as powerful tools of a previous time when America came together to defeat those who would threaten our freedom and our way of life. Section 1062 is so broad in its scope that virtually all military equipment would be affected by it’s passing. I again urge you to carefully review this bill and reject section 1062. I appreciate your attention to this matter.
Most Sincerely,
David Butler, President
Vintage Power Wagons Inc.
302 S. 7th St.
Fairfield, Iowa 52556
(641) 472-4824
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