[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 ROSIE THE RIVETER NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AFFILIATED SITE STUDY ACT OF 
                                  1998

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the 
``Rosie the Riveter National Park Service Affiliated Site Study Act of 
1998.'' This legislation authorizes the National Park Service to 
conduct a feasibility study to determine if the Rosie the Riveter Park 
located in Richmond, California meets the requirements of being 
nationally significant to become an NPS Affiliated Site.
  Rosie the Riveter Park is located on the Richmond waterfront on the 
site of Kaiser Shipyards where the Liberty and Victory ships were built 
during World War II. These ships were built almost entirely by women 
who took over shipbuilding jobs to replace men who went off to war. 
Quickly these women became know as ``Rosie the Riveter'' and ``Wendy 
the Welder'' as their numbers grew and their competency as shipbuilders 
became well known.
  These ``Rosies'' and ``Wendys'' built some 747 ships which were 
immediately commissioned into the U.S. Navy and sent to fight in the 
war. Their individual and collective stories are rich with excitement 
of being involved in producing the Liberty and Victory ships, as well 
as the realities of facing numerous new fears. We must remember that 
prior to this time, most women did not enter the work force, especially 
once married with children. With their husbands off to war, they were 
faced with the responsibility of providing food and shelter for their 
families alone. Encouraged by the familiar slogan of ``We can do it'' 
and the lure of salaries never before offered to women, thousands of 
women of all ethnicities flocked to the town of Richmond in search of 
jobs not previously available to them.
  Realizing the value of the women workers, many shipyards including 
Kaiser conducted around the clock day care centers and schools on site 
so the mothers could work knowing their children were well cared for 
nearby. Some perceive this as a new concept that is cost prohibitive 
for business, but it was just the regular order for shipyards during 
this time.
  With the support of the City Council and in particular Councilperson 
Donna Powers, the City of Richmond in my district has dedicated the 
Rosie the Riveter Park to honor all the women of the World War II 
effort. Plans to erect a monument remnant of the Liberty and Victory 
ship are underway as are collections of oral histories from the women 
workers.
  Mr. Speaker, I was honored to be among so many of the former 
``Rosies'' and ``Wendys'' at the kickoff for the memorial on October 5, 
1996. Many told me of the fears they had working deep in the bowels of 
a huge ship or dangling over the side in order to do their job. Several 
stated that when the fear enveloped them, they would think of their 
loved ones in the war and just keep moving. This feeling of connection 
with the men fighting on the ships caused the workers to try for 
perfection with each task.
  What little safety and protective equipment existed in the 1940's was 
made for men and tended not to give the same protection to the women 
who used them. Numerous women still bear the scars they received during 
such unprotected work. I learned so much from talking with the women 
about their experiences and quickly realized that these stories are 
part of who we are as a nation and must be preserved for generations to 
come.
  Rosie the Riveter Park and the history it represents should be 
designated an affiliated area to the National Park Service and I'm 
confident that the study proposed in my legislation will come to the 
same conclusion. I hope the Congress will move quickly to enact this 
legislation.

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