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

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 413

 Expressing the immense gratitude of the House of Representatives for 
 the acts of heroism, valor, and sacrifices made by the members of the 
United States Armed Forces and allied armed forces who participated in 
     the June 6, 1944, amphibious landing at Normandy, France, and 
  commending those individuals for their leadership and bravery in an 
          operation that helped bring an end to World War II.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 30, 2019

Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Schiff, Mr. 
    Latta, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Engel, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. 
   Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Trone, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. 
 Doggett, Mr. Rush, Mr. Sires, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Connolly, Mr. Castro of 
  Texas, Mr. Costa, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Spanberger, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. 
Wright, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Deutch, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Babin, 
Mr. Scalise, Mr. Hill of Arkansas, Mr. Bera, Ms. Titus, Mr. Raskin, and 
 Mr. Guest) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on 
Foreign Affairs, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the immense gratitude of the House of Representatives for 
 the acts of heroism, valor, and sacrifices made by the members of the 
United States Armed Forces and allied armed forces who participated in 
     the June 6, 1944, amphibious landing at Normandy, France, and 
  commending those individuals for their leadership and bravery in an 
          operation that helped bring an end to World War II.

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.
                                 <all>