[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 110 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 110

  Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge during 
                             World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 8, 2004

   Mr. Hastert introduced the following joint resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge during 
                             World War II.

Whereas the battle in the European theater of operations during World War II 
        known as the Battle of the Bulge was fought from December 16, 1944, to 
        January 25, 1945;
Whereas the Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive in the Ardennes 
        forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg which took Allied forces by 
        surprise and was intended to split the Allied forces in Europe by 
        breaking through the Allied lines, crippling the Allied fuel supply 
        lines, and exacerbating tensions within the alliance;
Whereas 600,000 American troops, joined by 55,000 British, Belgian, Canadian, 
        and other soldiers, participated in the Battle of the Bulge, overcoming 
        numerous disadvantages in the early days of the battle that included 
        fewer numbers, treacherous terrain, and bitter weather conditions;
Whereas the Battle of the Bulge resulted in 81,000 American and 1,400 British 
        casualties, of whom approximately 19,000 American and 200 British 
        soldiers were killed, with the remainder wounded, captured, or listed as 
        missing in action;
Whereas the worst atrocity involving Americans in the European theater during 
        World War II, known as the Malmedy Massacre, occurred on December 17, 
        1944, when 86 unarmed American prisoners of war were gunned down by 
        elements of the German 1st SS Panzer Division;
Whereas American, British, Belgian, Canadian, and other forces overcame great 
        odds throughout the battle, including most famously the action of the 
        101st Airborne Division in holding back German forces at the key Belgian 
        crossroads town of Bastogne, thereby preventing German forces from 
        achieving their main objective of reaching Antwerp as well as the Meuse 
        River line;
Whereas the success of American, British, Belgian, Canadian, and other forces in 
        defeating the German attack made possible the defeat of Nazi Germany 
        four months later in April 1945;
Whereas thousands of United States veterans of the Battle of the Bulge have 
        traveled to Belgium and Luxembourg in the years since the battle to 
        honor their fallen comrades who died during the battle;
Whereas the peoples of Belgium and Luxembourg, symbolizing their friendship and 
        gratitude toward the American soldiers who fought to secure their 
        freedom, have graciously hosted countless veterans groups over the 
        years;
Whereas Luxembourg has erected over 90 monuments and plaques commemorating the 
        liberation of Luxembourg by United States Armed Forces during World War 
        II;
Whereas the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in 2004 will be marked 
        by many commemorative events by citizens of the United States, Belgium, 
        Luxembourg, and many other nations;
Whereas the friendship between the United States and both Belgium and Luxembourg 
        is strong today in part because of the Battle of the Bulge; and
Whereas section 204 of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2002 (38 U.S.C. 2409 note) 
        authorized the Secretary of the Army to place in Arlington National 
        Cemetery a memorial marker honoring those who fought in the Battle of 
        the Bulge: Now, therefore, be it:
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,  That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the the battle in 
        the European theater of operations during World War II known as 
        the Battle of the Bulge, which began with a German surprise 
        attack in the Ardennes forest region of Belgium and Luxembourg 
        and ended with an Allied victory that made possible the defeat 
        of Nazi Germany four months later;
            (2) honors those who gave their lives during the Battle of 
        the Bulge;
            (3) authorizes the President to issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States to honor the 
        veterans of the Battle of the Bulge with appropriate programs, 
        ceremonies, and activities; and
            (4) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between the United 
        States and both Belgium and Luxembourg.
                                 <all>