Press Releases

During the July recess, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), led his first international Congressional Delegation (CODEL) as Chairman to Europe to visit and pay respects at American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) memorials and cemeteries, as this year marks their centennial anniversary and ABMC is funded by Congress. The CODEL then visited with active-duty servicemembers stationed throughout Germany and Italy.

Chairman Bost was accompanied by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Chairman Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), and Rep. Scott Franklin (R-Fla.).


The delegation’s first stop was in France to visit the Aisne Marne American Cemetery. Chairman Bost chose this as their first stop to commemorate the 2,289 war dead, most of whom were Marines who fought in the vicinity and in the Marne Valley in the summer of 1918 during the Battle of Belleau Wood.


Next, Chairman Bost and the delegation had the opportunity to tour Point Du Hoc, which overlooks Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. These cliffs witnessed the daring assault conducted by the 2nd U.S. Ranger Battalion on D-Day. The delegation then traveled 8 miles East to visit the final resting place of many of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in those efforts on June 6, 1944. The Normandy American Cemetery contains the graves of 9,387 military dead, and designates a Wall of the Missing to those not found or identified. The wall is inscribed with 1,557 names and the delegation had the opportunity to memorialize those who lost their lives on D-Day by rubbing sand from Omaha Beach into their name inscriptions.

The CODEL’s time at Omaha Beach concluded with a visit to the National Guard Monument, which is placed in the exact location where the 29th National Guard Division Guard Division obstructed German Defenses on D-Day. Today, the monument pays honor to all National Guardsmen who fought in World War II and preserves their legacy.


In Belgium, the delegation visited the Battle of Bulge Monument in Bastogne. The ABMC is currently working with the Belgian government on an investment to restore, preserve, and maintain this sacred memorial. When ABMC's restoration is complete, visitors to Bastogne will know the stories of these WWII American heroes who freed Belgium from tyranny for generations to come.


The delegation’s third stop was in Germany to visit Ramstein Air Base, where they met with base leadership, visited with servicemembers from their home states and territories to discuss mental health care access, their careers, and toured Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. At Landstuhl, the delegation visited the bases’ medical facility and got an update on the care they provide to servicemembers from all over the region, including those who may sustain combat-related injuries while deployed to the Middle East and Africa.


Chairman Bost’s delegation also met with a VA disability claims representative who is stationed in Germany and assists servicemembers who are transitioning out of the military throughout Europe with starting their VA claims processing, including PACT Act claims.

Lastly, the delegation visited US Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy which is home to more than 50 separate commands and approximately 8,500 Navy personnel. They engaged in a roundtable with a handful of sailors at various points in their personal transition processes. Through this conversation, the delegation received feedback on the TAP program, including what servicemembers believe it does well, in addition to areas the Committee may spearhead improvement on moving forward, such as encouraging spouse participation and better support throughout the VA disability claims process.