American Veterans Committee

Washington, DC – 2 March 2016 – The Advisory Board for Washington, DC Veterans Affairs adopted two resolutions yesterday that were proposed by American Veterans Committee’s President Saif Khan.

The first resolution was to establish the first ever Veterans Hall of Fame in Washington, DC. The purpose of establishing the DC Veterans Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor those military veterans who, through their work and lives during or after military service, have made significant contributions to the District of Columbia.

The second resolution that was adopted would support automatic Selective Service registration during issuance of drivers’ licenses at the Washington, DC Department of Motor Vehicles. During a presentation by representatives from the Selective Service System at the Advisory Board’s February 2016 meeting, Mr. Khan learned that Washington, DC had one of the lowest compliance rates for Selective Service registration and young men that had failed to register were ineligible for federal benefits such as federal employment. These individuals were excluded from employment with the U.S. Postal Service, federal student financial assistance, participation in federally funded job training programs and eligibility for U.S. citizenship for immigrants. Mr. Khan felt compelled to propose a resolution to address this issue.

Mr. Khan hailed the adoption of the resolutions by the Advisory Board for DC Veterans Affairs as a win for all veterans residing in Washington, DC.  After the resolutions were adopted, Mr. Khan made the following statement: “I’m proud to be a part of the esteemed group of leaders serving on the DC Advisory Board for Veterans Affairs and thank Director Tammi Lambert, Chairman Harry Wingo and Vice Chair Victoria Pridemore for their leadership and guidance.”

The resolutions now head to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to consider implementing them through Mayor’s Order or through legislative action by the City Council.

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District of Columbia Veterans’ Hall of Fame Resolution:

PROPOSED RESOLUTION (Adopted 1 March 2016)

Proposed by Saif Khan, DC Advisory Board for Veterans Affairs, Board Member – Ward 2

To request the Mayor’s Advisory Board on Veterans Affairs to consider adopting this resolution and support the establishment of a Veterans’ Hall of Fame in the District of Columbia

WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Mayor’s Advisory Board of Veterans Affairs for the District of Columbia to recognize and honor those military veterans who, through their works and lives during or after military service, have made a significant contribution to the of District of Columbia.

WHEREAS, a District of Columbia Veterans’ Hall of Fame Committee shall be created within the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs as an Advisory Committee, consisting of a seven-members.

WHEREAS, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs and the Chairman of the Advisory Board shall nominate a seven-member committee consisting of current board members to serve for a period of two years. The majority vote of the board shall confirm the nomination and appoint the seven-member Selection Committee. A member whose term expires shall continue to serve on the Committee until such time as a replacement is appointed.

WHEREAS, the members shall annually elect a chair by a majority vote and meet at the call of its chair, at the request of the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, or at such times as may be prescribed by the Committee. A majority of the members of the appointed Committee would satisfy quorum requirements, and a meeting may not be held unless a quorum is present. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Committee present would be necessary for any official action by the Committee.

WHEREAS, members of the Committee may not receive compensation or honorarium for their services.

WHEREAS, appointees may be removed by a majority vote of the entire Advisory Board of Veterans Affairs from the Hall of Fame Selection Committee for misconduct or malfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence, or permanent inability to perform official duties or if the member is adjudicated guilty of a felony.

WHEREAS, the District of Columbia Veterans’ Hall of Fame Committee shall annually accept nominations of persons to be considered for induction into the District of Columbia Veterans’ Hall of Fame and shall transmit a list of up to 10 nominees to entire Advisory Board for a final vote before submission to the Mayor for selection, by the Director.

WHEREAS, in selecting its nominees for submission to the Mayor, the District of Columbia Veterans’ Hall of Fame Committee shall give preference to veterans who have adopted District of Columbia as the location of their primary residence or base of operation and who have made a significant contribution to the District of Columbia in civic, business, public service, or other pursuits.

WHEREAS, the Veterans’ Hall of Fame Committee shall establish a criteria and set specific time periods for acceptance of nominations and for the process of selection of nominees for membership and establish a formal induction ceremony to coincide with the annual commemoration of Veterans’ Day or another date that the Committee deems appropriate.

SO BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Advisory Board on Veterans Affairs recommends that District of Columbia establish a Veterans’ Hall of Fame.

SO BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the District of Columbia Veterans’ Hall of Fame be established under the structure of the District of Columbia Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA).

SO BE IT RESOLVED THAT, each person who is inducted into the District of Columbia Veterans’ Hall of Fame shall have his or her name placed on a plaque displayed in the designated area of the Mayor’s Office.

Respectfully submitted, on this 2nd day of February 2016.

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District of Columbia – Automatic Selective Service Registration at Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Resolution

PROPOSED RESOLUTION (ADOPTED 1 March 2016)

Proposed by Saif Khan, DC Advisory Board for Veterans Affairs, Board Member – Ward 2

To request the Mayor’s Advisory Board on Veterans Affairs to consider adopting this resolution to support automatic Selective Service registration during issuance of drivers’ licenses in Washington, DC.

WHEREAS, the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925 currently does not require that all eligible persons shall register with the Selective Service System when obtaining or renewing an operator’s permit or identification card at the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles.

WHEREAS, District of Columbia has one of the lowest Selective Service registration compliance rates in the Nation.

WHEREAS, thousands of young men in Washington, D.C. are losing valuable federal and state benefits linked to the registration requirement, such as:

— federal employment, including employment with the U.S. Postal Service;
— federal student financial assistance;
— participation in federally funded job training programs;
— eligibility for U.S. citizenship for immigrants.

WHEREAS, over a nine-year period (CY07-15), young men in Washington D.C. lost over $4 million in potential benefits and 173 immigrants could not show registration compliance to obtain U.S. citizenship because they failed to register.

WHEREAS, many young men, especially those who have fallen out of the mainstream, the disadvantaged, men of color, and immigrants, fail to register with the Selective Service System and learn later they have been denied valuable benefits that would have otherwise helped them to attain the American dream.

WHEREAS, amending the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925 to provide for automatic registration offers an easy and constituent-friendly modification to driver’s license applications that helps men improve their futures while allowing federal education and training dollars to flow into Washington, D.C.

WHEREAS, automatic registration has proven to be less expensive to implement than optional registration, much more effective, with no ongoing costs or additional workload for D.C. DMV staff.

SO BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Advisory Board for Veterans affairs recommends that District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925 be amended to require that all eligible persons shall register with the Selective Service System when obtaining or renewing an operator’s permit or identification card and to require the Department of Motor Vehicles to notify the applicant on the application that submitting the application serves as consent to registration with the Selective Service System, if required by federal law.

SO BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Advisory Board for Veterans Affairs recommends the following provisions of the District of Columbia Traffic Act be amended as follows to implement automatic Selective Service registration:

Sec. 2 Section 7(a)5A) of the District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925, approved March 3, 1925 (43 Stat. 1121; D.C. Official Code § 50-1401.01(a)(5A))., is amended to read as follows:

“(A) Any eligible United States citizen or resident who is at least 18 years of age but no more than 26 years of age shall be registered with the Selective Service System, in compliance with the requirements of section 3 of the Selective Service Act of 1948, approved June 24, 1948 (62 Stat. 605; 50 U.S.C. App. § 453), when applying for an operator’s permit or identification card pursuant to the laws of the District.

“(B) The Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles (“Department”) shall forward, in an electronic format, the personal information required of the applicant identified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph to the Selective Service System for registration. The Department shall notify the applicant on the application for an operator’s permit or an identification card that submitting the application serves as consent to register with the Selective Service System, in compliance with federal law.

“(C) This form shall comply with the requirements of the Language Access Act of 2004, effective June 19, 2004 (D.C. Law 15-167; D.C. Official Code § 2-1931 et seq.) (“Language Access Act”), including being printed in each required language under section 4 of the Language Access Act.

Respectfully submitted, on this 1st day of March 2016.