Veterans deserve more respect from President Obama and his administration. Congressman John Carter, (R-TX31) stood up for veterans Wednesday by helping a group of Honor Flight Veterans bypass security tape to enter the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. Citing the government shutdown, the Obama Administration closed D.C. memorials this week to visitors, which included the World War II Memorial. The unexpected closure left veterans, who traveled by the thousands to the nation’s capitol this week, unable to pay tribute to their fallen comrades at the open air monument.

“I was told directly by a park ranger Wednesday that the memorial was closed to visitors, but the Honor Flight veterans were being allowed in as protesters. This unnerves me. President Obama and his administration are telling these men, women and their families that they can only visit their OWN memorial if they are protesters,” said Congressman Carter. “This is the “Greatest Generation” yet the government they fought and sacrificed so much for, is shunning them from their own memorial.

Last night the House of Representatives passed H.J. Res. 70, the Open our National Parks and Museums Act, which will provide immediate funding for the memorials, National Park Service, Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art and the United States Holocaust Museums. President Obama has announced that he will veto this bill if it passes the Senate, and continue to bar veterans from visiting their own memorials.

“Today the House of Representatives passed legislation to fund our federal parks and ensure that veterans receive their benefits. I implore the Senate to sit down with us and find a solution to end this damaging government shutdown. Until the Senate stops this “my way or the highway” brinksmanship and works with the House to reopen the government, I will continue to work to fund these critical functions of our Federal government,” said Congressman Carter. “The Democrat’s refusal to pass this legislation is an embarrassment to the Obama Administration and the Senate. Mr. President, stop placing your politics over the rights of veterans.”