[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H8807-H8811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1830
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT VETERANS DAY CONTINUE 
                     TO BE OBSERVED ON NOVEMBER 11

  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 298) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that Veterans Day should continue to be observed on 
November 11 and separate from any other Federal holiday or day for 
Federal elections or national observances.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Whereas the veterans of the Armed Forces are owed a 
     tremendous debt of gratitude for their service and bravery;
       Whereas veterans play important roles in communities 
     throughout the United States;
       Whereas maintaining Veterans Day as a legal public holiday 
     separate from all other Federal holidays and days for 
     elections or national observances is the least that a 
     grateful Nation should do in recognition of its veterans; and
       Whereas November 11 is a solemn commemoration of the 
     contributions of those who have served and defended the 
     Nation, especially those who gave their lives securing the 
     freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that Veterans Day should continue to be 
     observed on November 11 and separate from any other Federal 
     holiday or day for Federal elections or national observances.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Res. 298.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 298. The message of this 
resolution is simple and straightforward. It is the sense of the House 
of Representatives that Veterans Day should be observed on November 11. 
It should be observed separate from any other Federal holiday, election 
day, or any other national observance.
  Madam Speaker, Veterans Day is the one day on which America honors 
all of those who have served in our Armed Forces. Its roots trace back 
to Armistice Day, which established November 11 as the day to honor 
veterans of World War I; but in 1954, after World War II and the Korean 
War, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day.
  For a brief period, from 1968 to 1975, Veterans Day was not observed 
on November 11. By law it was observed on a Monday in order to provide 
Federal employees with 3-day weekends, but in 1975 President Ford 
signed legislation to return the observance of Veterans Day on November 
11, where it remains to this day.
  President Ford's action supported the expressed will of the 
overwhelming majority of State legislatures, veterans service 
organizations and the American people. Yet today, there are those who 
would alter this distinct opportunity to honor our veterans by merging 
Veterans Day with other public activities such as election day.
  This would be wrong, Madam Speaker. Since our Nation's founding, some 
48 million men and women have stepped forward to defend our way of 
life. There are more than 25 million living veterans who have served in 
peace and war. More than a million died in service to America; and more 
than a million and a half have been wounded, and some very seriously.
  As we debate this resolution today, America's servicemen and women 
are fighting in Afghanistan to defend us and our way of life from the 
terrorists who attacked us on September 11. As President Bush said in 
his Veterans Day proclamation this year: ``Our Nation will always be 
grateful for the noble sacrifices made by these veterans. We can never 
adequately repay them, but we can honor and respect them for their 
service.''
  It would be a shame and a travesty, Madam Speaker, to allow the 
special meaning of Veterans Day to be submerged amid a welter of 
campaign activities. Election campaigns focus on issues that divide us. 
That is how our democratic system works. We engage in a great national 
debate over a variety of serious issues. Campaign ads flood television 
and radio. Campaign activities dominate the news, and then the American 
people vote and determine who will represent them.
  This is a great process, Madam Speaker; but we would lose something 
very special if it were combined with Veterans Day. We would lose the 
opportunity to pause and honor our veterans as a Nation united in 
gratitude for their service. Maintaining Veterans Day as a legal public 
holiday, separate from all other Federal holidays, is the least that a 
grateful Nation should do.
  I want to congratulate and thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Terry) for introducing this legislation; and, Madam Speaker, I urge all 
Members to support this important resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, as we just listened to the debate and tributes being 
paid to Representative Solomon, I think that gives us one of the 
reasons why this bill is so important; and so I rise in strong support 
for H. Res. 298, a bill expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that Veterans Day should be observed on November 11 and 
separate from any other holiday or day for Federal elections or 
national observances.
  Madam Speaker, in 1921 an unknown World War I American soldier was 
buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

[[Page H8808]]

 This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of 
Washington, became the focal point of reference for American veterans.
  On Sunday November 23, 1921, Miriam Felt, then 23 years old, wrote a 
letter to her family describing the events in Washington, DC., during 
the time of that first burial, now known as the Tomb of the Unknown 
Soldier, in Arlington National Cemetery.
  Miriam wrote: ``Well, this last week has been quite an event in 
history, and I certainly do wish you all could have been in Washington. 
It certainly is something I shall never forget. Somehow, you can talk 
about it and think about it, but the realization of the whole thing 
struck me so much more by seeing it all, and it was so impressive. Of 
course, Washington is alive with foreigners of all sorts, and I am 
turning around all the time to see something else for fear that I will 
miss something.
  ``Thursday night after work, Gertie and I went up to the Capitol to 
see the body in state there. We went up about six o'clock, thinking the 
crowd would not be so large. But at that time, the line four breast 
extended over two blocks, and by the time we had reached the Capitol 
steps and could look back at the crowd, it extended up on one side of 
the park, down another side, then the third side of it and on beyond 
the Capitol Building where we could see no farther, so I don't know how 
much longer it was. It was perfectly beautifully managed, and there was 
no crowding, and everyone, strangely enough, acted as though they 
really were there to pay respect to the memory which that body was to 
represent to the country.''
  As a postscript, Miriam Felt wrote: ``Give my love to Grandpa. Sorry 
he isn't feeling up to par. Tell him to be a good boy. Tell him too 
that some of his old 'cronies' marched to Arlington Friday and they 
looked mighty fine, I'll tell you, and I thought a lot about what he 
did for his country.''
  November 11 is a time for us to reflect on what the men and women of 
the United States military have and continue to do for the country. The 
feeling of pride and patriotism expressed in Miriam Felt's letter 
should be felt by all of us. No longer can we take the freedoms that we 
enjoy today for granted, and no longer can we take the men and women 
who fought for those freedoms for granted.
  Yes, Madam Speaker, I encourage that we hold aside this day for this 
purpose only and for no other purpose, except to honor and pay tribute 
to the men and women of this country who have given and continue to 
give the last measure of devotion that one might have so that we can 
continue to enjoy the freedoms that we so rightly deserve.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Terry), who is a prime sponsor of the legislation.
  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, certainly as Americans, especially now, we 
owe the men and women who served our country in times of war a 
tremendous debt of gratitude. Simply put, we cannot do enough to thank 
them for their contributions to our great Nation. We cannot do enough 
to honor them for their dedication to the principles of freedom and 
liberty which our families enjoy.
  To that end, we set aside one day each year, November 11, to 
recognize the contributions of American war veterans to this great 
Nation. We keep one day to be mindful of their sacrifices and the 
sacrifice of their families. Veterans Day is for them, and now the 
sanctity of that day is in jeopardy.
  Just to tell my colleagues a story, last Veterans Day, just a few 
weeks ago, I attended several ceremonies; and one of the speakers got 
up at the ceremony in our memorial park in Omaha, Nebraska, and said to 
the attendees, If Congress has their way, this will be the last time we 
meet.
  He went on to say that combining Veterans Day with election day is a 
little bit like combining Christmas and Halloween. I do not necessarily 
agree with his analogy, but the point was well taken.
  Whenever I would attend the VFW groups, American Legion clubs at 
home, this issue was always brought up about protecting the sanctity of 
the one day a year that we put aside to thank these folks; but somehow 
some folks here in Washington have been sidetracked. There was an 
election commission that perhaps one of their recommendations was 
combining Veterans Day with election day to increase voter turnout. 
Some people up here on Capitol Hill endorsed that idea. It was a 
balloon that was floated, and somehow then that became what Congress 
was going to do to these folks who sacrificed their time and their 
lives for America.
  Today, we have the opportunity then to take something that has just 
grown way out of proportion and set the record straight, that we in 
this body wish to see a day of reflection for our veterans who 
triumphed, who sacrificed; that we will pay tribute to them on that one 
day a year that we have set aside, the 11th day of the 11th month of 
each year.
  I do not, Madam Speaker, nor do the proud veterans and the proud 
Americans of the second district, wish to see this date moved or 
blended in with some other holiday or event. The fact is that Veterans 
Day holds a patriotic duty for Americans to recognize the commitment of 
American veterans to duty, honor, freedom and liberty.
  Election day is a day of civic obligation, dedicated to separate 
purposes, and combining this day with others would simply be to 
disrespect what they have done for us.
  I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for yielding me the time, and I 
thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), as 
well the sponsor of this legislation; and I rise enthusiastically to 
support this legislation.
  I come from a family of veterans, particularly having served in World 
War II; and every Veterans Day I look forward to embracing and 
celebrating with my community, with Houston and Houstonians, the 
veterans that have offered themselves for service so that I might live 
in freedom.
  It is true that veterans everywhere deserve our honor and 
appreciation. They deserve the parades and the accolades. Now more than 
ever, as we live in the shadow of September 11 and realize that we 
collectively must fight terrorism, Veterans Day must be promoted and 
celebrated because even today we have young men and women going forth 
to protect our rights.
  I have legislation, H.R. 934, which specifically indicates that the 
possibility of an election day holiday should not be on Veterans Day, 
and I rise enthusiastically to confirm the importance of voting, but 
likewise to ensure that no election holiday would take Veterans Day and 
that we would work to ensure that the sacrifice of our veterans is 
singularly honored on November 11 every year and that as we fight to 
ensure that there is opportunity for access to the voting booth that we 
can do that side by side.
  Just this past weekend, Houston, Texas, experienced a very tough 
election; and that election was that of our city leader, Mayor Lee P. 
Brown. Many of us are well aware of his leadership in Washington. We 
base the success of his victory on simply encouraging people to express 
their viewpoint in getting out to vote.

                              {time}  1845

  That is all we want to do, to ensure that the improprieties and the 
injustices that eliminated people's rights to vote are corrected. We 
can do that side by side as we protect the veterans' holiday of 
November 11. So I also ask my colleagues to consider 934. H.R. 934 
protects Veterans Day, November 11, as a singular holiday, and it 
promotes the idea of an election holiday separate and apart from 
November 11.
  I am very gratified for the sponsor of this legislation, and I rise 
in enthusiastic support of this legislation. I believe that the causes 
and the purposes of H. Res. 298 are those that this body can 
collectively support as we pay tribute to our veterans yesterday, today 
and tomorrow, and then that we also acknowledge the privilege of voting 
and ensuring that people have the right to vote, and a special day to 
vote separate, but a day apart from any day we would honor our 
veterans.

[[Page H8809]]

  To our veterans I say: You are, in fact, our first responders of 
freedom and justice and equality.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen), who has sponsored such 
legislation.
  (Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding me this time, and I rise today, along with my colleague, the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), to offer House Resolution 298, a 
resolution expressing the sense of this body that Veterans Day should 
be observed as a separate, distinct national holiday, and I thank the 
gentleman from Nebraska for all of his work in the interest of so many 
Members.
  Madam Speaker, after the turmoil of last year's national election, 
President Bush rightly called for the creation of a National Commission 
on Federal Election Reform, chaired by two of his esteemed 
predecessors, President Ford and President Carter. Under their able 
leadership, this commission studied the lessons of that election and 
formulated a 13-point plan for reform. While they raised many valid 
points, I respectfully disagree with their third recommendation: that 
this Congress enact legislation to combine Election Day with Veterans 
Day.
  As we know in this House, held on the 11th day of the 11th month, a 
date which marks the armistice which ended the Great War of 1918, 
Veterans Day began as a day to honor those who fought for freedom with 
the allies in Europe during World War I. It was later expanded after 
America's participation in World War II to include those veterans. But 
it was not until after the Korean War in 1954 that November 11 became a 
day set aside to honor all those who have worn our Nation's uniform and 
who have fought and died to preserve the ideals and values we hold most 
dear.
  Now, as a way to increase voter participation and enable more public 
spaces to be used as polling sites, this commission and others have 
seized upon the idea of merging Election Day with Veterans Day. This 
idea is well intentioned but dead wrong. As a New Jersey resident and 
former national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Bob Wallace, 
wrote to me in September, ``We believe that any suggestion or 
consideration of Veterans Day serving as Election Day would 
significantly diminish Congress' original intent to honor the men and 
women who served in the Armed Forces.'' As a fellow veteran, I agree.
  Bob also said, and I quote, ``The historical significance of Veterans 
Day should remain just that, a day to solemnly honor America's veterans 
for their patriotism and willingness to sacrifice all for freedom.'' It 
could not be said better. This is the reason we have sponsored this 
legislation, and I urge the Members of this House to support it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Gilman).
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time, and I rise in strong support of this legislation expressing 
the sense of the House that Veterans Day should be observed on November 
11 and be separate from any other Federal holiday. I urge my colleagues 
to lend their strong support to this bill.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for her 
leadership in bringing the measure to the floor at this time, as well 
as the ranking minority member, the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton), for her work. I also commend the sponsors, the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) and the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Frelinghuysen), for their work on this legislation.
  In recent years, there have been a number of proposals to merge 
Veterans Day with Election Day as one Federal holiday in order to 
encourage the maximum number of voters to go to the polls. While I 
support increasing voter participation in elections, I believe that 
proposals along those lines would be an insult and disrespectful to the 
contributions and service performed by our Nation's veterans.
  For many years, we have had a unique, separate holiday for those who 
gave the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their Nation during our 
Nation's many military conflicts. It is only fitting that we continue 
to have a separate holiday for the living who served their country in 
military service.
  Madam Speaker, those who want to encourage election reform by 
establishing a new Federal holiday can be heard on that subject. 
However, the service of our veterans should not be diminished in any 
manner by having Veterans Day share its honor with another Federal 
holiday observance. November 11, the day honoring our veterans of our 
Armed Forces, should remain solely a day to honor their contributions 
and their loyalty to our Nation.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this timely 
and appropriate measure.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who chairs the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs.
  (Mr. SMITH of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today in very strong 
support of this resolution, H. Res. 298, calling for Veterans Day to 
remain a distinct Federal holiday observed every year on November 11.
  Eighty-three years ago, in a forest northeast of Paris, an armistice 
was signed that ended the fighting in World War I commencing on the 
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The war to end all 
wars was over. It had been won through the selfless service and 
sacrifice of tens of thousands of American men and women, joining 
together with millions of our British, French, and other allies.
  To commemorate this historic event, the following year, President 
Woodrow Wilson, who I would note parenthetically was a former New 
Jersey Governor, issued a proclamation declaring November 11 Armistice 
Day, saying that, and I quote, ``The reflections of Armistice Day will 
be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the 
country's service and with the gratitude for the victory.'' Following 
World War II, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day to honor all those 
men and women who served a grateful Nation.
  Madam Speaker, as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, I am unalterably opposed to any proposal that would alter or 
in any way diminish Veterans Day. In particular, I stand in opposition 
to the recommendation of the National Commission on Federal Election 
Reform that Federal elections be held concurrently with Veterans Day.
  While I, like every other Member of this House, want citizens to 
fully exercise their franchise and to vote, I do not believe diluting 
Veterans Day is a way to achieve that end. Such a change would defeat 
the purpose of reserving a day in the year to honor all men and women, 
living and deceased, who have risked their lives to defend our Nation.
  Veterans Day, especially when it is coupled with Memorial Day, the 
day we honor our war dead and those who have died who served honorably, 
are 2 days, and it is the least we can do, I would say, Madam Speaker. 
And, again, to diminish it would be wrong.
  In 1987, Madam Speaker, Congress made a similar mistake when 
legislation was approved to change the national Veterans Day observance 
from November 11 to the fourth Monday in October to create a 3-day 
weekend for Federal employees. This misguided policy was quickly 
abandoned following a national outcry from millions of Americans, 
veterans and nonveterans alike.
  Madam Speaker, Veterans Day is more than just a holiday. It is a 
continuing history lesson for all Americans. It is a reminder that 
freedom is not free; that our liberties, which are endowed by our 
Creator, must be defended against all who would remove them.
  This is a very good resolution and I urge strong support for it.

[[Page H8810]]

  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Jeff Miller), one of our newest Members of 
this august body.
  Mr. JEFF MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman 
for yielding me this time, and I rise today in support of H.R. 298.
  In respect and recognition of the contributions our servicemen and 
women have made to the cause of peace and freedom around this world, 
the laws of the United States make November 11 a Federal holiday in 
honor of every American who has served this country. While we always 
appreciate the men and women of the military, it is altogether fitting 
that we set a time aside to do so publicly. Veterans Day was 
established for this reason, and November 11 should be set aside for 
this reason alone.
  Throughout the course of American history, nearly 48 million men and 
women have stepped forward to defend our land, our people, and our 
principles. Today, there are more than 25 million living veterans who 
served our Nation, many of them willingly entering harm's way to 
preserve, protect, and defend our freedom. The strength of the United 
States is a direct result of their courageous, patriotic, and dedicated 
service for which we can never fully thank them.
  Because of their service to the United States in the cause of freedom 
and liberty, we are citizens of the greatest Nation in the history of 
the world. I thank our veterans for their dedicated service to our 
country, and I also thank their families for sharing their loved ones 
throughout the years. The excellence of our veterans is a model for men 
and women everywhere who are asked to defend our country. At this 
moment, men and women of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, Marines, 
and Coast Guard are serving around the world, and they could have no 
better example to follow or tradition to live up to.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution and to 
retain this fitting honor for all of our veterans.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  The 3 million members of the American Legion and the 100,000 members 
of the Noncommissioned Officers Association support this resolution. It 
is also supported by the 370,000 members of the Retired Officers 
Association, the 1 million members of the Disabled American Veterans, 
the 2 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the members of 
the Vietnam Veterans Association, the members of the Retired Enlisted 
Association, and the members of AMVETS.
  I do again want to thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) and 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen) for introducing this 
resolution, as well as the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), who 
chairs the Committee on Government Reform, as well as the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member, for having this 
resolution come to the floor so promptly.
  I urge all Members to stand with our Nation's veterans and their 
organizations in support of House Resolution 298.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Thank you, Madam Speaker and Congressman 
Terry, for this important resolution which expresses the sense of the 
House that Veterans Day should continue to be observed on November 11.
  Under current law, November 11 of each year is designated as Veterans 
Day, a federal holiday honoring veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. This 
important tradition began in honor of November 11, 1918--the 11th hour 
of the 11th day of the 11th month in which Americans began laying down 
their arms. In 1921, this day marked the burial of an unknown World War 
I American soldier who was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. 
Historically, similar ceremonies occurred in England and France where 
an unknown soldier was buried in each nation's highest place of honor. 
These memorial gestures all took place on November 11.
  Armistic Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through 
a Congressional resolution (44 Stat. 1982). In 1938 it became a 
national holiday by an Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U.S. Code, Sec. 87a) as ``a 
day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter 
celebrated and known as `Armistice Day.' '' Initially, set aside to 
honor veterans of World War I, in 1954, after World War II, the 83rd 
Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the world 
``Armistice'' and inserting the word ``Veterans'' in order to honor 
American veterans of all wars.
  Just this past Veterans Day, I honored America's veterans and those 
who gave their lives for America's freedom and democracy at the 
Veterans Memorial National Cemetery in Houston, Texas. There, I 
expressed our gratitude to the men and women who have given themselves 
to national service. Their sacrifice, particularly in light of the 
September 11 attacks and the ongoing war on terror, reminds us that we 
cannot take our freedoms and democracy for granted. This important day 
should be preserved and honored at all costs.
  I am a product of America's veterans and have several members of my 
own family who were veterans of World War II. For them and for all the 
veterans of this great Nation, I oppose any holiday or Election Day on 
Veterans Day. That's why, on March 7, 2001 I introduced H.R. 934 which 
ensures that Election Day never interferes with Veterans Day.
  It is because of the sacrifices made by our veterans for freedom, the 
flag, and the American people that we are today able to vote, and that 
I was able to introduce this legislation which provides a greatly 
needed federal Election Day. It establishes Presidential Election Day 
on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in 2004 and each 
fourth year thereafter, as a legal public holiday.
  This resolution before us today, H. Res. 298 expresses the sense of 
the House that Veterans Day should continue to be observed on November 
11, as under current law, and separate from any other federal holiday. 
This is an important message, needed to express to our Nation's 
veterans and those across this great Nation that we will forever 
remember and honor those who have served in our Armed Forces.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, November 11th is Veterans Day 
period.
  On behalf of the veterans of the U.S. Virgin Islands, who have fought 
in every one of this country's wars from the Revolutionary war forward, 
I support H. Res. 298, and commend our colleagues for introducing this 
resolution expressing the sense of the House, that this day would 
forever be set aside as the day we honor those who have so nobly served 
this country and all of us. That is as those from my district would 
have it.
  What a small concession from the country to those who have sacrificed 
and been willing to fight unto death--willing to make the ultimate 
sacrifice. But it is of great importance and significance to them.
  November 11th is Veterans Day, period. Let's not fix what ain't 
broke.
  Mrs. KELLY. Madam Speaker, I want to rise in support of this measure 
which reminds us of the importance of honoring our nation's veterans.
  In light of our current circumstances, with American soldiers now on 
hostile ground, we ought to be especially mindful of our efforts to 
acknowledge and honor those who have served our country.
  While I understand that some may see this annual day of honor also as 
a day of convenience, an already-established holiday that can be used 
for other purposes, I believe that any effort to place any other 
designations on this day is unacceptable. These are our veterans. These 
are the men and women who have put the well-being of their country 
ahead of their own. It is not asking too much to have one day a year 
dedicated solely to their efforts.
  Our veterans deserve it.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 298, expressing the sense of the House that Veterans Day 
should be observed on November 11th and separate from any other federal 
holiday.
  Veterans Day originated in 1920 and was originally named Armistice 
Day to mark the end of World War I on the 11th month, the 11th day, and 
the 11th hour of 1918. In 1954 Congress broadened the holiday by 
renaming it Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.
  In Presidential Proclamation 3071, President Dwight D. Eisenhower 
called on the nation to set aside Veterans Day to ``solemnly remember 
the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in 
the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom.'' 
He challenged the nation to ``reconsecrate ourselves to the task of 
promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been 
in vain.''
  On Veterans Day we meet that challenge and honor the 405,399 
Americans that lost their lives in World War II, the 58,198 that lost 
their lives in Vietnam, and thousands of others that lost their lives 
in all other conflicts. Despite the need to protect the purposes of 
Veterans Day, the National Commission on Federal Election Reform 
recommended that Congress enact legislation to conduct federal 
elections on Veterans Day. We must not diminish the importance of 
Veterans Day by sharing Veterans Day with any other even which distract 
our attention from the veterans who have served this country.

[[Page H8811]]

  Veterans Day is a sacred day to honor veterans for their patriotism, 
love of country and willingness to make sacrifice for our nation.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for House Resolution 298 and maintain 
the integrity of the day set aside to focus the nation's attention on 
the important sacrifices made by Veterans.
  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Resolution 298 and urge all of my colleagues to support this important 
measure. Mr. Speaker the purpose of House Resolution 298 is simple, but 
it is as profound as it is simple.
  House Resolution 298 expresses the sense of the House of 
Representatives that Veterans Day should continue to be observed on 
November 11th. In addition, Veterans Day should be observed separate 
and apart from any other Federal holiday or day for Federal elections 
or national observances. Our nation has a long-standing tradition of 
honoring our veterans on November 11th. As many know, the observance of 
Veterans Day on November 11th has historic significance. On the 11th 
hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns used to wage World War 
I were officially silenced. This day, Armistice Day, became known as 
Veterans Day as our nation recognized the sacrifice and service of all 
our Nation's veterans.
  Veterans Day should be preserved and continue to be the day our 
nation pauses to recognize all veterans. Let us retain November 11th as 
Veterans Day and honor all those who have served our nation in uniform.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 298.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. TERRY. Madam 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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