Supporters of HR 2720 Will Discuss Government Interference at Veterans Funerals During Press Avail, June 6 at 3:30 PM
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120523/DC12743LOGO-b)
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WHAT:
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Today, Liberty Institute President Kelly Shackelford and concerned U.S. veterans will join U.S. Rep. John Culberson to offer remarks during a press availability following a scheduled hearing before the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs in support of H.R. 2720, a bill to clarify the role of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in providing a benefit or service related to the interment or funeral of a veteran. Rep. Culberson filed H.R. 2720 in response to acts of religious censorship at the Houston National Cemetery under then-director Arlene Ocasio—a case that Liberty Institute fought and won on behalf of veterans in 2011.
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WHO:
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U.S. Rep. John Culberson (TX-07), chair of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, sponsored HR 2720. Kelly Shackelford heads Liberty Institute, the largest non-profit law firm in the country dedicated solely to defending religion liberty in America. Lisa Ward, a veteran and widow to Major Richard Ward, who served in the US Army and in the Persian Gulf War, was forced to hold her husband's funeral service at a nearby chapel since the full VFW Ritual, which references God, was banned from cemetery grounds. Jay Sanders is the Incoming Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars District 4, a Houston, TX-based post that oversees more than 4,000 members.
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WHEN:
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012.
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- 2 PM ET Hearing
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- Approximately 3:30 PM ET Press Availability
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WHERE:
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334 Cannon House Office Building
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Washington, DC
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LIVE FEED:
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http://veterans.house.gov/hearing/legislative-hearing-on-pending-legislation
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DETAILS:
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During Rainey v. VA in 2011, Liberty Institute won a great victory when a federal judge signed a consent decree ordering the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to stop restricting prayer and the word "God" at national cemeteries, to revoke national policies hostile to religion and to reopen the chapel at the Houston National Cemetery.
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NOTE:
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Interviews also available by phone. Contact Gregg Wooding, 214-558-9455.
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Liberty Institute is a nonprofit legal group dedicated to defending and restoring religious liberty across America — in our schools, for our churches and throughout the public arena. Liberty's vision is to reestablish religious liberty in accordance with the principles of our Founding Fathers. For information, visit www.LibertyInstitute.org.
Contact: Gregg Wooding, Onsite: 214.558.9455, Office: 972.941.4453, gwooding@libertyinstitute.org
Roe Ann Estevez, Cell: 214.558.9957, raestevez@libertyinstitute.org
/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- June 5, 2012/
SOURCE Liberty Institute