[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 413 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 413

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                          June 4, 2019.
Whereas June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of the day the United States 
        launched the assault at Normandy, France, alongside troops of the United 
        Kingdom, Canada, and Free France, known as ``Operation Overlord'';
Whereas the D-Day landing was the largest single amphibious assault in history;
Whereas an attack by Nazi E-boats during a series of large-scale rehearsals 
        conducted in preparation for D-Day, known as Exercise Tiger, resulted in 
        at least 749 American servicemen deaths;
Whereas soldiers of 6 divisions, including 3 from the United States, 2 from the 
        United Kingdom with troops from Free France, and 1 from Canada, stormed 
        ashore in 5 main landing areas on beaches in Normandy, code-named 
        ``Utah'', ``Omaha'', ``Gold'', ``Juno'', and ``Sword'';
Whereas approximately 10,000 Allied casualties were incurred on the first day of 
        the landing, with more than 6,000 being members of the United States 
        Armed Forces;
Whereas over the course of Operation Overlord, the Allies managed to land more 
        than 2,000,000 men in Northern France and suffered nearly 230,000 
        casualties;
Whereas military and civilians on the home front and abroad made significant 
        contributions and sacrifices toward the success of Operation Overlord, 
        including more than 19,000 French civilian casualties during the 
        Normandy campaign;
Whereas the Allied assault and following operations were supported by ships, 
        aircraft, and troops from Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Free 
        Norway, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the Polish Armed 
        Forces in the West;
Whereas the arrival of United States forces in Europe and the ultimate success 
        of the Normandy campaign, albeit at tremendous cost, ultimately turned 
        the tide for the Allies and led to victory over Adolf Hitler, the Nazi 
        regime, and of one of the most evil ideologies the world has ever seen;
Whereas the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy, France, is the 
        final resting place for more than 9,000 Americans who gave their lives 
        to the cause of liberating Europe from Nazi tyranny;
Whereas the advanced age of the last remaining veterans of World War II and the 
        Normandy landings, and the gradual disappearance of any living memory of 
        the events, make it necessary to increase educational activities 
        intended to impart these critical moments in history, particularly to 
        younger generations;
Whereas the significant material remains of the Normandy landings found on the 
        Normandy beaches and at the bottom of the sea in the territorial waters 
        of France, such as shipwrecks and various items of military equipment, 
        bear witness to the remarkable and unique nature of the material 
        resources used by the Allied forces to execute the Normandy landings;
Whereas the 5 Normandy beaches and a number of sites on the Normandy coast, 
        including Pointe du Hoc and various paratrooper drop zones, were the 
        scene of the D-Day landings and constitute a unique piece of world 
        heritage and a symbol of peace and freedom; and
Whereas the world owes a debt of gratitude to the members of the ``Greatest 
        Generation'', who assumed the task of freeing the world from Nazi and 
        Fascist regimes and restoring liberty in Europe: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the amphibious landing by the 
        Allies on June 6, 1944, at Normandy, France and this seminal moment in 
        American history that has shaped security and prosperity;
            (2) recognizes this decisive point in history that led to world 
        leadership which now rests upon the shoulders of a free people, 
        committed to modern liberal democracy, and all its tenets;
            (3) recognizes the importance of World War II history and D-Day as 
        symbols of the costs of freedom, the perils of fascism, and the 
        indispensable nature of the global alliances and partnerships of the 
        United States, through which the United States and its allies together 
        stand ready to defeat any foe;
            (4) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the members of the 
        United States Armed Forces and allied armed forces who participated in 
        the D-Day operations, and other military and nonmilitary personnel, at 
        home and abroad, who contributed to the success of Operation Overlord 
        and turned the tide of war against the Nazis and the Axis Powers during 
        World War II;
            (5) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the young people of the 
        United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and all our allies 
        for their efforts to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Normandy 
        landings, preserve the historical significance of D-Day, and ensure that 
        future generations know of the acts of heroism and sacrifice carried out 
        by Allied troops who gave their lives in the name of freedom;
            (6) calls for expanding educational efforts to ensure that the 
        lessons of World War II and the sacrifices made in pursuit of freedom 
        are never forgotten;
            (7) recognizes the efforts of France and the people of Normandy to 
        preserve for future generations the unique world heritage represented by 
        the Normandy beaches and offshore sunken ship remains by inscribing 
        those beaches and remains on the United Nations Educational, Scientific 
        and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List;
            (8) requests that the President issue a proclamation recognizing the 
        remaining living veterans of the Normandy campaign; and
            (9) calls on the people of the United States to observe the 75th 
        anniversary of the Normandy landings with appropriate ceremonies and 
        programs to honor the sacrifices made by those who liberated Europe.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.