[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 106 (Tuesday, September 12, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H7394-H7395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AIR FORCE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION AUTHORIZATION

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4583) to extend the authorization for the Air Force Memorial 
Foundation to establish a memorial in the District of Columbia or its 
environs.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4583

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MEMORIAL EXTENDED.

       The Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the Air Force 
     Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in the District 
     of Columbia or its environs'', approved December 2, 1993 
     (Public Law 103-163), is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 4. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.

       ``Notwithstanding section 10(b) of the Commemorative Works 
     Act (40 U.S.C. 1010(b)), the legislative authority for the 
     Air Force Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial under 
     this Act shall expire on December 2, 2005.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-
Barcelo) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4583 extends the authorization for the Air Force 
Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial in the District of Columbia 
or its environs.
  In December of 1993, authorization was given for the Air Force 
Memorial Foundation to establish an Air Force memorial to honor the men 
and women who have served in the United States Air Force. The memorial 
was to comply with the provisions of the Commemorative Works Act.
  Among other things, the Commemorate Works Acts provides that the 
legislative authority for the commemorative work will expire at the end 
of the 7-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of such 
authority, unless a construction permit has been issued. To date, no 
construction permit has been issued.
  Furthermore, due to unforeseen and lengthy lawsuits, all work, 
including the fund-raising for the memorial, was put on hold for 
approximately 3 years. The lawsuits have been settled and work is ready 
to recommence regarding the memorial. However, due to the delay in the 
7-year requirement of the Commemorative Works Act, the authorization 
for the foundation is about to expire. In fact, the authority will 
expire on December 2 of this year unless Congress passes a time 
extension.
  With considerable work already accomplished and the lawsuit settled, 
the memorial needs now to be completed. Thus, the bill would extend 
authority to the Air Force Memorial Foundation to complete the well-
deserved memorial. The authority would extend until 2005, giving the 
foundation the time to fulfill the final construction and dedication of 
the Air Force memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this very worthy piece 
of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4583 introduced by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) would extend the authorization of the 
Air Force Memorial Foundation to establish an Air Force memorial.
  Public Law 103-163 authorized the Air Force Memorial Foundation to 
establish the Air Force memorial in the District of Columbia or its 
environs. The foundation has identified a site just across the Potomac 
River in Arlington, Virginia.
  We understand that the Air Force Memorial Foundation has made great 
strides toward construction of a memorial but has not proceeded to the 
point of getting a construction permit. Without such a permit, the 
authority to construct a memorial will expire on December 2, 2000.
  Except for its length of 5 years, the extension authorized by H.R. 
4583 is consistent with that authorized for other memorials. We hope 5 
years is not necessary.
  We support passage of H.R. 4583 and look forward to the completion of 
the memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege for me to yield such time 
as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson), a 
former Air Force officer and a distinguished man with a tremendous and

[[Page H7395]]

enviable record in the United States Air Force.
  (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments of 
the gentleman from Utah.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill does extend the authorization for the 
establishment of an Air Force memorial. It is the only service that 
does not have one, and I think it is long overdue.
  The Air Force Memorial Foundation has worked tirelessly for over 7 
years toward that goal, and historically all memorials authorized by 
Congress have required extensions to their legislation. In fact, this 
only authorizes 5 additional years for the Air Force memorial, which is 
going to be built without taxpayer dollars.
  It does not reference a specific site, and construction is subject to 
final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission and the 
Commission on Fine Arts. I think it is time to properly honor our Air 
Force Members who fought to keep America free.
  Do you remember World War II veterans? I do. Those guys were called 
America's greatest society, its greatest generation. It is the guys who 
flew those early airplanes, those P-40s in China, the P-51s in Europe, 
the B-17s, the B-24s, the B-25s, the B-26s, the Air Force that got us 
on track after World War II; and it is your Air Force today that did 
the things in the Middle East and in Kosovo that made America great and 
has kept it there throughout the years.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is only proper that we honor our Air Force 
members who fought and have fought and will continue to fight to keep 
America free. Please vote to give America's pilots the honor they so 
deserve.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Stearns).
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation, and 
I commend the gentleman from Utah (Chairman Hansen) for his leadership 
on this issue.
  The bill, of course, as mentioned earlier, authorizes the Air Force 
Memorial Foundation for an additional 5 years to accomplish its 
mission. Frankly, it is a mission that is long overdue. I think it has 
been pointed out, the Air Force is the only branch of America's Armed 
Forces without a memorial in the Nation's Capital. Could this be? The 
time has come for this city to dedicate a memorial in honor of the 
commitment and sacrifice of the men and women of the United States Air 
Force, and I think it is long overdue.
  It will not only honor the millions of patriotic men and women who 
have distinguished themselves in the United States Air Force, but its 
predecessors, such as the Army Air Corps, which we should also 
remember.
  The memorial will also salute the vast technological achievements 
that have been made by the Air Force, which has made it the most 
formidable air power in the world. This has had a profound impact on 
the transformation of this entire world over the last century.
  From biplanes to the B-2 Stealth Bomber, the Air Force has evolved 
from a fledgling aeronautical division of the United States Signal 
Corps to a powerful 21st century expeditionary aerospace force.
  So we are beholden to honor the aviation pioneers of yesterday, the 
technological achievements of today, and the distinguished service of 
those men and women in blue.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans deserve to learn about Captain Eddie 
Rickenbacker. I do not know if a lot of people know about him today, 
but he would be recognized, the first U.S. trained ace pilot; Colonel 
Billy Mitchell, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his 
foresight in aviation; General Hap Arnold, the architect of U.S. air 
power; Captain Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the sound barrier; 
the Tuskegee Airmen, African American pilots and personnel of the 332nd 
Fighter Group, which earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for an escort 
mission to Berlin in 1945; the Women's Auxiliary Corps in World War II, 
which included women pilots; and the Air Force's first graduated female 
pilot class of 1977. These are the things that Americans should know 
about and that this memorial would point out.
  As with other armed service memorials, the Air Force Memorial would 
not only honor those who have served and those who continue to serve, 
but I think in the end it would inspire future generations to serve 
this country with pride.
  I urge the adoption of this legislation.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce my 
enthusiastic support for HR 4583, a measure that should have broad 
bipartisan support. This is one of many legislative initiatives that 
should be supported by those who honor those who sacrificed so much for 
their nation.
  In December 1993, President Clinton signed legislation (PL 103-165) 
authorizing the Air Force Memorial to establish an Air Force Memorial 
in the District of Columbia or its environs. However, under the 
Commemorative Works Act, legislative authority for a commemorative work 
expires after seven years if no construction permits have been issued. 
Due to legal delays, no such permits have been issued, although all 
pending lawsuits have been resolved and work is ready to commence. We 
cannot allow this work to be left unfinished.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill has a simple purpose. It extends to December 
2, 2005, the authorization for the Air Force Memorial Foundation to 
establish a memorial in the District of Columbia. It simply authorizes 
the necessary funds to make the memorial a reality--a goal we all 
share. This is something that all Americans would benefit from as 
tourists or residents of the remarkable location known as the District 
of Columbia.
  Like some of my colleagues, I have worked to ensure that our veterans 
are recognized and commended for their contributions. Our veterans 
deserve our strong support because they have shown honor, humility, and 
human decency that is unparalleled. That is why I was so honored and 
excited to sponsor legislation recognizing the efforts and sacrifices 
of those veterans who either served or fought during World War II.
  The joint resolution (H.J. Resolution 98) designates May 25, 2000, as 
a national Day of Honor to honor minority veterans from World War II. 
An identical resolution--S.J. Resolution 44--as introduced by my 
colleague U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy. It was wonderful to see the 
excitement shared by veterans around the nation when President Clinton 
signed the legislation into law in the Oval Office in May. The 
resolution calls upon communities across the nation to participate in 
celebrations to honor minority veterans on May 25, 2000, and throughout 
the year 2000.
  I have learned that these celebrations have continued all over the 
country in several cities since the legislation became law. Over one 
hundred and twenty cities across America have held or are planning to 
hold a Day of Honor observance. The number increases weekly.
  Because this recognition is long overdue, it is appropriate that we 
honor and celebrate the memories of the veterans who served or fought 
throughout the year. The Day of Honor celebrations are a part of a 
number of initiatives to honor our veterans. Today, we have an 
opportunity to extend our continued appreciation to a large segment of 
veterans from the Air Force that make us all so proud to be Americans.
  Establishing an Air Force Memorial in the District of Columbia is 
entirely beneficial to the entire nation and needs our strong continued 
support to make sure that the job is well done. For these reasons, I 
urge my colleagues to vote for HR 4583. This is the very least we must 
do for our veterans.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 4583.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. HANSEN. 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.

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