[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 81 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 81

  Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge during 
                             World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 16, 2019

   Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. Sires) submitted the 
  following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the 75th 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 Allied Forces defeated Germany 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 over 89,000 United States 
        casualties, including 19,000 soldiers killed, 47,500 wounded, and more 
        than 23,000 captured or 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 in 
        May 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 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;
Whereas the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in 2019 will be marked 
        by many commemorative events by citizens of the United States, Belgium, 
        Luxembourg, and many other nations; and
Whereas the friendship between the United States and both Belgium and Luxembourg 
        is strong today in part because of 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 75th anniversary of 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.
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