Measure places unoccupied chair on Capitol campus at no cost to taxpayers
(NASHVILLE) — An initiative sponsored by Representative Timothy Hill (R-Blountville) that honors America’s Prisoners of War (POW) and those Missing in Action (MIA) is advancing through the Tennessee’s General Assembly’s committee process.
Wednesday afternoon, members of the House State Government Subcommittee unanimously voted to send House Bill 2138 to the full State Government Committee.
The measure — strongly supported by statewide members of Rolling Thunder — expands the POW-MIA Chair of Honor Program to include placement of an unoccupied chair containing the POW/MIA insignia at the Capitol campus in Nashville at no cost to taxpayers.
The POW/MIA Chair of Honor program is designed to serve as a solemn reminder of our soldiers who are still waiting to be brought home. According to data from the Defense Department’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 80,000 service members are still listed as Missing in Action decades after they served in conflicts like World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
As the grandson of a United States veteran, House Bill 2138 is the latest in a series of initiatives supported by Representative Hill in order to call attention to the selfless sacrifices of American service members and their families.
“I am honored to sponsor passage of an initiative designed to recognize our brave servicemen and women who still have not returned after serving our nation and fighting for our many freedoms,” said Representative Hill. “It is humbling to see the support this measure has received from members of Rolling Thunder, our House State Government Subcommittee, and my Republican colleagues. We must continue to honor America’s heroes, and I look forward to accomplishing this by ensuring passage of House Bill 2138 in the weeks ahead.”
A chair containing the POW/MIA insignia is already displayed at various government buildings, including the Capitol in Washington, and other public locations in cities and towns across the country.
For more information about House Bill 2138, please click here.
Timothy Hill serves as House Majority Whip. He is also a member of the House Calendar & Rules, House Transportation and House Insurance & Banking Committees, as well as the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee. Hill lives in Blountville and represents House District 3, which includes Johnson and part of Carter and Sullivan Counties. He can be reached by email at: Rep.Timothy.Hill@capitol.tn.gov or by calling (615) 741-2050.
