[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 133 (Tuesday, October 5, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H9312-H9315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MEMORIAL ACT

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1663) to designate as a national memorial the memorial being 
built at

[[Page H9313]]

the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California to honor 
recipients of the Medal of Honor, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1663

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Medal of Honor 
     Memorial Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration 
     which the Nation bestows.
       (2) The Medal of Honor is the only military decoration 
     given in the name of Congress, and therefore on behalf of the 
     people of the United States.
       (3) The Congressional Medal of Honor Society was 
     established by an Act of Congress in 1958, and continues to 
     protect, uphold, and preserve the dignity, honor, and name of 
     the Medal of Honor and of the individual recipients of the 
     Medal of Honor.
       (4) The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is composed 
     solely of recipients of the Medal of Honor.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SITES.

       (a) Recognition.--The following sites to honor recipients 
     of the Medal of Honor are hereby recognized as National Medal 
     of Honor sites:
       (1) Riverside, california.--The memorial under construction 
     at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California, 
     to be dedicated on November 5, 1999.
       (2) Indianapolis, indiana.--The memorial at the White River 
     State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated on May 28, 
     1999.
       (3) Mount pleasant, south carolina.--The Congressional 
     Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, 
     South Carolina, currently situated on the ex-U.S.S. Yorktown 
     (CV-6).
       (b) Interpretation.--This section shall not be construed to 
     require or permit Federal funds (other than any provided for 
     as of the date of the enactment of this Act) to be expended 
     for any purpose related to the sites recognized in subsection 
     (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump).


                             General Leave

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1663.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 1663, the National Medal of Honor Memorial Act, is a significant 
bill that is supported by all veterans and their service organizations.
  The Medal of Honor is this country's highest military honor, awarded 
for distinguished gallantry at the risk of life above and beyond the 
call of duty.
  This bill recognizes three sites dedicated to honoring the Medal of 
Honor recipients. They are a memorial under construction at the 
Riverside VA National Cemetery in California; the memorial recently 
dedicated at White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana; and the 
Congressional Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point in Mount 
Pleasant, South Carolina, on the U.S.S. Yorktown.
  H.R. 1663 is supported by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, 
an exclusive group consisting of all Medal of Honor recipients. I ask 
my colleagues to support the bill, H.R. 1663, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as original cosponsor of H.R. 1663, the National Medal 
of Honor Memorial Act, I am very pleased this legislation is being 
considered today.
  The Medal of Honor is, of course, the highest award for valor and 
action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon a member of 
the armed forces of the United States.
  Established in the Civil War, only 3,429 Medals of Honor have been 
awarded since that time. Because of the extraordinary nature of this 
Medal and those extraordinary Americans who have earned it, it is 
fitting that the Medal of Honor recipients be honored at designated 
Medal of Honor sites.
  I particularly want to particularly commend the gentlewoman from 
Indiana (Ms. Carson) for the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
which she offered to H.R. 1663 during its consideration by the 
committee. As perfected by the Carson amendment, the Congressional 
Medal of Honor Society has expressed enthusiastic support for H.R. 
1663, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Congressional Record a letter from the 
Congressional Medal of Honor Society, as follows:

                                            Congressional Medal of


                                                Honor Society,

                              Mt. Pleasant, SC, September 3, 1999.
     Hon. Lane Evans,
     House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Washington, DC.
     RE: H.R. 1663.
       Dear Congressman Evans: This letter is to express 
     enthusiastic support of the Congressional Medal of Honor 
     Society and its members for H.R. 1663 that designates three 
     locations within the United States of America as ``National 
     Medal of Honor sites.'' The designation will properly 
     acknowledge the tireless efforts of the respective 
     communities in honoring the service of our veterans. By 
     recognizing the recipients of the Medal of Honor each 
     memorial in turn acknowledges the men and women with whom 
     each recipient served.
       The Society will follow the progress of H.R. 1663 and if 
     signed into law, the Society will issue bronze plaques to be 
     affixed to each site declaring each a National Site.
       On behalf of the Society and its members, I thank you for 
     your support.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Paul W. Bucha,
                                                        President.

  Mr. Speaker, this bill is an excellent piece of legislation. I urge 
all my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), the chief sponsor of this 
legislation.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for 
yielding me the time and for his decisive action in moving this 
important legislation through the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and to 
the House floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 1663, the National Medal of Honor 
Memorial Act of 1999, to honor the sacrifice and bravery of 3,417 Medal 
of Honor recipients. The Medal of Honor is the highest honor given by 
Congress for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life 
beyond the call of duty.
  H.R. 1663 would designate three sites as National Medal of Honor 
Memorials, the Riverside National Cemetery memorial in Riverside, 
California; the White River State Park memorial in Indianapolis, 
Indiana; and the U.S.S. Yorktown memorial in Mount Pleasant, South 
Carolina.
  My bipartisan bill has the Medal of Honor Society's endorsement and 
does not use taxpayer money for the construction of the three memorial 
sites. I am also happy to report that the companion legislation to H.R. 
1663 has been introduced in the Senate.
  I know that the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) and the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Sanford) will speak about the sites 
within their districts; therefore, I want to speak about my own 
Riverside National memorial site in Riverside, California.
  Riverside National Cemetery is presently the final resting place for 
two Medal of Honor recipients: Staff Sergeant Ysmael Villegas, United 
States Army, awarded posthumously for actions in the Philippines; and 
Commander John Henry Balch, United States Navy, awarded for action in 
France.
  The memorial will name 3,417 Medal of Honor recipients. For each 
Medal of Honor recipient, an Italian Cyprus tree will be planted. These 
trees live in excess of 100 years, grow well in southern California, 
and require minimal maintenance. The monument itself will include a 
walled area which will surround a pool and a miniature waterfall.
  The Riverside memorial site will bring honor to our Medal of Honor 
recipients in a solemn manner appropriate to its place in a national 
cemetery. The memorial site will be dedicated in November as the Medal 
of Honor Society convenes their 1999 convention.
  In closing, I wish to encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 1663 
and the Medal of Honor Society's mission to serve our country in peace 
as we did in war, to inspire and stimulate our youth to become worthy 
citizens of our country, to foster and perpetuate Americanism.

[[Page H9314]]

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Indiana (Ms. Carson).
  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Calvert) and others for being so generous in terms of incorporating all 
of the Medal of Honor memorials into H.R. 1663.
  I would encourage the enthusiastic support of the Congress given the 
old adage that says given honor unto whom honor is due.
  Earlier this year in my district on May 28, thanks to the civic 
virtue of John Hodowal, and the civic enterprise of the Indianapolis 
Power and Light Company Enterprises Foundation, a new memorial was 
unveiled in Indianapolis in honor of those special American heroes who, 
for military service above and beyond the call of duty, were rewarded 
the Congressional Medal of Honor.
  We were fortunate to have one of the attendees included there when 
the presentation was made, Mr. Melvin Biddle of Anderson, Indiana, who 
was awarded the Medal of honor following his displayed conspicuous 
gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy near Soy, 
Belgium, on December 23 and 24, 1944.
  We not only, Mr. Speaker, do our respective districts proud, we do 
America proud by passing H.R. 1663 in honor of the 3,400 persons that 
those memorials honor.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today for this legislation that would 
recognize as National Medal of Honor sites the memorial at the White 
River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated on May 28, 1999; 
the memorial under construction at the Riverside National Cemetery in 
Riverside, California, to be dedicated on November 5, 1999; and the 
Congressional Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point in Mount 
Pleasant, South Carolina, currently situated on the ex-U.S.S. Yorktown. 
I am pleased that my colleagues on the Veterans Committee supported my 
substitute amendment to Representative Calvert's original bill.
  This legislation is supported by the Congressional Medal of Honor 
Society. I would like to recognize and thank Paul Bucha, President of 
the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, for his continued support of 
the Indianapolis memorial, this legislation, and the extraordinary work 
he does on behalf of the Medal of Honor recipients. This bill has 
received the support of several other veterans organizations--AMVETS, 
the Non Commissioned Officers Association, the Disabled American 
Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars.
  The Medal of Honor is only bestowed on those who have performed an 
act of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond 
the call of duty. Acts of bravery and courage are not unusual among 
those in uniform, and engaging in direct battle with an enemy or 
carrying out one's duties under enemy attack is an act of bravery and 
courage performed by many members of our Armed Forces. The level of 
heroism cited among those who receive the Medal of Honor is uncommonly 
high and of a far greater magnitude. The individuals who have received 
this medal for acts of valor have been signaled out not to glorify war, 
but to recognize that, for all of its destructiveness, war often is the 
backdrop for extraordinary acts of bravery.
  As a symbol of heroism, this medal has no equal in American life. As 
of now, 2,363 Medals have been awarded to the Army, 745 to the Navy, 
295 to the Marines, 16 to the Air Force, 1 to the Coast Guard, and 9 
Unknowns. There have been a 3,410 total recipients and 3,429 total 
Medals awarded. Of those, nineteen (19) have received the Medal of 
Honor twice.
  Earlier this year in my district on May 28th, thanks to the civic 
virtue of John Hodowal, and the civic enterprise of the corporation he 
leads, IPALCO Enterprises and the IPALCO Enterprises Foundation, a new 
memorial was unveiled in Indianapolis in honor of those special 
American heroes who, for military service above and beyond the call of 
duty, were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. The dedication 
ceremony, with ninety-six of the 155 living recipients of the Medal of 
Honor, was attended by one of the largest ever gatherings of these 
reputable men and women. One of these attendees included Mr. Melvin E. 
Biddle, of Anderson, Indiana, who was awarded the Medal of Honor 
following his displayed conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action 
against the enemy near Soy, Belgium, on December 23 and 24, 1944.
  This magnificent memorial, compose of 27 curved walls of glass, each 
between seven and ten-feet high and representing specific conflicts in 
which the medal was awarded, features the names of the 3,410 people who 
have received the medal since it was first awarded during the Civil 
War. The location of this memorial, on the north bank of the Central 
Canal in White River State Park is particularly significant, since it 
is adjacent to Military Park, which served as a training facility 
during the Civil War. Nearly half of the Medals of Honor issued, 1,520, 
were bestowed upon soldiers who fought in the Civil War. This memorial 
joins the many memorials that line downtown Indianapolis paying homage 
to the men and women in uniform who served our nation at war and at 
peace down through the years. Nearby, a memorial to the men of the USS 
Indianapolis marks their service, and on Monument Circle, at the very 
heart of downtown Indianapolis, stands the Soldier's and Sailors' 
Monument, standing nearly as tall as the Statute of Liberty, a 
multifaceted recognition of the contributions of Indiana's Soldiers, 
Sailors and Marines from the Civil War through the Spanish American 
War, the Boxer Rebellion and our other foreign military engagements up 
to World War I.
  I am pleased to support this measure to honor these three sites as 
National Medal of Honor Sites, allowing us the opportunity to say 
``thank you'' to these men and women who have showed us what heroism is 
all about.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Sanford).
  Mr. SANFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  I think it interesting that, over 100 years ago, an Army officer 
leaned down in the ground and scratched in the Pennsylvania soil and 
said this was sacred ground. As it turns out, his comments were 
prophetic, because that happened to be near a little place called 
Gettysburg.
  What I think is prophetic about this bill and so important about this 
bill is that, basically, it reaches out and it consecrates three 
national shrines to the theme of patriotism, to the theme of 
persistence.
  I think that it is particularly fitting that one of those shrines be 
the U.S. Yorktown. The Yorktown, as has already been mentioned, is tied 
up off Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, there along the coast of South 
Carolina, and it is named ``The Fighting Lady.''
  The reason it got that name is that it earned 11 battle stars in 
World War II. It earned five battle stars off the coast of Vietnam 
prior to its retirement in 1970. In fact, it took a direct hit back in 
1945. Yet, despite the fact that The Fighting Lady had been hit, she 
continued air operations. She continued to fight. Several men were 
killed, others were wounded, but they kept on fighting.

                              {time}  1045

  The sailors on board the Yorktown, those Navy officers and enlisted 
folks, just would not give up.
  I think that that is what is so important about the Medal of Honor; 
it embraces this theme of patriotism, combined with the idea of 
persistence, and that is a theme I think we could all learn about, 
whether in wartime or in peacetime.
  So I would just applaud the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) 
and applaud the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) for their leadership 
with this bill and how it again consecrates these three national 
shrines to the theme of patriotism and persistence.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I, too, rise in strong support of H.R. 1663, the National 
Medal of Honor Memorial Act.
  As a Californian and original cosponsor of the bill, I am very 
pleased that H.R. 1663 recognizes the Riverside National Cemetery in 
Riverside, California, as a national Medal of Honor site, and I thank 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) for his efforts in that 
regard.
  I was also cosponsor of an amendment offered in full committee by the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) to recognize two additional 
national Medal of Honor sites, one at the White River State Park in 
Indianapolis, Indiana, and the other at the Congressional Medal of 
Honor Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, which we just heard 
about.
  As many people know, the Medal of Honor is the first military 
decoration formally authorized by the American Government to be worn as 
a badge of

[[Page H9315]]

honor, and it was created by this Congress in 1861. Senator James 
Grimes of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Naval Committee, proposed 
legislation to require that a medal of honor, similar to the Victoria 
Cross of England, be given to naval personnel for actions of bravery in 
action. His legislation, which was signed into law by President Lincoln 
on December 21, 1861, established a Medal of Honor for enlisted men of 
the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Subsequently, legislation was enacted 
extending eligibility for the medal to Army-enlisted personnel as well 
as officers of the Armed Services.
  Senator Robert F. Kennedy once said, ``It is from numberless diverse 
acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a 
man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or 
strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.''
  Those extraordinary Americans who have won the Medal of Honor have, 
through their acts of remarkable courage, certainly shaped the history 
of our country and our world. We are doing the right thing today by 
honoring these courageous citizens.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 1663 and urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Reyes).
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1663, the National Medal of 
Honor Memorial Act. This is a good bill because it honors the 
incredible courage and valor of our most distinguished veterans. 
Moreover, it ensures that future generations of Americans will know of 
the great sacrifices made by these men and women who answered the call 
to national service for their country. Medal of Honor winners have 
shown that they were willing to defend our liberty no matter what the 
price. Their heroism in battle has become legendary.
  Since the Civil War, our country has recognized their outstanding 
acts of courage and bravery through the Congressional Medal of Honor. 
As there have been only 3,429 award winners in the history of our 
Nation, these veterans truly occupy a very special place in the hearts 
of all Americans. Therefore, I think that it is important that we 
designate sites around the country as national memorials for our Medal 
of Honor winners.
  With this bill, we recognize memorials in Riverside, California; 
Indianapolis, Indiana; and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, to honor the 
contributions to our freedom and to our country of these brave, fine 
Americans. I therefore strongly endorse this legislation, and I urge 
all my colleagues to join in unanimously approving this bill.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the committee, 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), for all his help in bringing 
this to the floor; and also the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Calvert), the chief sponsor, for bringing this bill to us and for 
working so closely with the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1663, 
the National Medal of Honor Memorial Act.
  As the 20th Century draws to a close, many veterans wonder if the 
nation has lost sight of the sacrifices which have been made to 
preserve freedom. This bill, loudly states that we the Congress, who 
represent the people of this great nation, have not lost sight of the 
heroic sacrifices made in the name of freedom. We appreciate the great 
contributions of these brave individuals who knowingly placed 
themselves in harm's way, ready to sacrifice life and limb so that 
their comrades may live and this nation's values remain strong.
  Over this last Memorial Day weekend, I had the distinct pleasure to 
assemble with nearly 100 Medal of Honor recipients to dedicate the 
Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial site at the White River State 
Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was truly an inspiring gathering, and 
at the same time, proved a very humbling experience. These individuals 
epitomize the true meaning of selfless sacrifice and personal 
commitment.
  While many have answered the call to duty, they have answered a 
higher calling. A calling that is spiritual in nature and bigger than 
one's self. For love of God, country, family and friends. Their 
significant contributions have helped secure a more democratic and 
peaceful world over the last century. More importantly, their actions 
serve as a testament to all Americans about serving and caring for 
others.
  Recognizing these Congressional Medal of Honor memorials sites in 
California, Indiana, and South Carolina as National Medal of Honor 
memorials continues our commitment to these gallant and heroic men and 
women and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1663.
  Mr. Stump. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sununu). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1663, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________