[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1850
 
                  FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GI BILL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Abercrombie). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Laughlin] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. LAUGHLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate all American 
veterans on the 50th anniversary of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act 
of 1944, popularly known as the GI bill.
  This important, social legislation has helped millions of American 
veterans, who made great sacrifices by serving in this Nation's 
military forces, to achieve the American Dream.
  Over the past 50 years, 20 million veterans have become better 
educated and more than 14 million homes have been purchased.
  This has been possible because the American Legion had the courage to 
insist on this legislation and President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the 
wisdom to sign it into law 50 years ago today.
  I urge this body to continue its support of this legislation. We owe 
it to the veterans of this Nation.
  They have made the sacrifices necessary for each of us to enjoy the 
freedoms our Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee.
  It is the least we can do for the tremendous sacrifices our veterans 
have made.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. 
Montgomery], distinguished chairman of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman for 
bringing up about the GI bill of rights, which is celebrated today, of 
50 years and to commend him for it and thank the veterans' 
organizations, such as the American Legion, who back in 1944 had a lot 
to do with getting this legislation passed.
  It has been said by historians that this is probably the most 
important piece of legislation that has been passed in this century. It 
has helped young, middle-class Americans get an education. It has 
helped middle-class Americans get a home. I was one of those that used 
the GI bill home loan. In fact, I still live in that home back in 
Mississippi. So it has helped a number of people, and it is just great 
for our country.
  It moved us from being an isolated nation into a progressive nation 
with better education, and we became a leadership country.
  There was a very nice ceremony today down at the Veterans' 
Department. The President of the United States spoke as well as his 
Secretary of the Veterans' Department, Jessie Brown. I am glad that 
they are bringing to the attention of the Americans this great event. 
World War II was terrible. Congressman Dornan on the floor here and 
also Congressman Stearns, we saw all of those white crosses over there 
of young men, 18 and 19 years of age, who had lost their lives for this 
country. But something good did come out of this war in that we got the 
GI bill of rights, and I appreciate very much the gentleman giving me 
this opportunity.
  Mr. LAUGHLIN. Mr. Speaker, I know the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Dornan] speaks in support and in strong support of the veterans and 
this legislation.
  I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio [Ms. Kaptur].
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to indicate and thank all the 
gentlemen on the floor this evening that in celebration of the 50th 
anniversary of World War II, the coins that were minted in our country 
by the U.S. Mint in order to create a World War II memorial here in 
Washington will only be on sale through the U.S. Mint through June 30 
of this month. And there is a dollar coin, a clad half-dollar coin and 
a gold coin ranging in price from $10 all the way to the golden coin, 
which costs $220. If veterans are listening and they want to call the 
Mint, which is an 800 toll-free number or call our office, we would 
tell them how to order these coins. If they buy them, the proceeds go 
to the construction of the World War II memorial here in our Nation's 
Capital to honor the causes for which you have spoken.

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