[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1320 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1320

   Remembering the 80th anniversary of the Solomon Islands campaign, 
       including the battles of Guadalcanal and Ironbottom Sound.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 12, 2022

  Mr. Case (for himself, Mr. Taylor, Ms. Titus, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. 
  McGovern, and Mr. San Nicolas) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 
  to the Committee on Armed Services, 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


 
   Remembering the 80th anniversary of the Solomon Islands campaign, 
       including the battles of Guadalcanal and Ironbottom Sound.

Whereas, following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the 
        United States entry into World War II, Japan commenced its occupation of 
        the Western Pacific, expanding its forward base of operations, 
        disrupting key trade and supply routes, and threatening key Allies like 
        Australia;
Whereas one of the most strategic positions in the Western Pacific was the 
        Solomon Islands and its main island of Guadalcanal, which Japan occupied 
        together with its surrounding seas;
Whereas, on the morning of August 7, 1942, the United States Marines and Navy 
        and Allies mounted the first major amphibious landing of World War II at 
        Guadalcanal;
Whereas after fierce fighting on the Solomon Islands of Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and 
        Florida, the Marines occupied Guadalcanal on August 9 and renamed the 
        captured Japanese runway Henderson Field;
Whereas immediately following occupation of Guadalcanal, the first of many 
        deadly naval battles occurred at the infamous Ironbottom Sound off the 
        coast of the island;
Whereas the fight for control of Guadalcanal, its critical airfield, and the 
        seas around them continued for months, with both sides losing men, 
        ships, and aircraft while also fighting tropical diseases in a 
        threatening environment;
Whereas among many legendary efforts, the celebrated Cactus Air Force, operating 
        from Henderson Field and comprised of aviators from the Navy, Marine 
        Corps, Army, and Allies, sank or destroyed large enemy vessels and shot 
        down hundreds of enemy aircraft, which thwarted the enemy's attempts to 
        retake the island;
Whereas, in February 1943, after 6 months of fierce and intense battles, the 
        Japanese withdrew their final forces and left the island and surrounding 
        seas under United States control;
Whereas securing Guadalcanal, Henderson Field, and the surrounding islands and 
        seas became a critical turning point in the war and a critical Allied 
        base for the subsequent island-hopping campaign toward mainland Japan 
        that brought an end to Japanese imperialism;
Whereas the Solomon Islands campaign cost the United States and its Allies the 
        lives of some 7,000 servicemembers, with an additional 7,000 
        servicemembers wounded, 29 ships sunk in and around Ironbottom Sound, 
        and over 600 aircraft shot down;
Whereas, as a direct result of the sacrifice of thousands of Allied lives at and 
        around Guadalcanal, both the Solomon Islands and Japan and the broader 
        Indo-Pacific have lived and prospered under 3 generations of democracy; 
        and
Whereas it is appropriate that the United States remember those lives lost and 
        harmed 80 years ago, and rededicate the United States to a democratic 
        Indo-Pacific: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) remembers the 80th anniversary of the Solomon Islands 
        campaign, including the battles of Guadalcanal and Ironbottom 
        Sound;
            (2) honors the sailors, soldiers, marines, and airmen that 
        made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States and Allies in 
        the Solomon Islands and the Pacific theater during World War 
        II;
            (3) recognizes the results of their sacrifice, including 
        over 3 generations of a democratic Indo-Pacific; and
            (4) affirms the critical importance of the United States 
        relationship with the Pacific Islands and of United States-
        Pacific Island partnerships to promote democracy, peace, 
        security, and prosperity.
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