[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2769-H2774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE VETERANS WHO SERVED DURING WORLD WAR II, THE AMERICANS 
 WHO SUPPORTED THE WAR, AND CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF THE NATIONAL 
                         WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 409), recognizing with 
humble gratitude the more than 16,000,000 veterans who served in the 
United States Armed Forces during World War II and the Americans who 
supported the war effort on the home front and celebrating the 
completion of the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall 
in the District of Columbia.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 409

       Whereas the National World War II Memorial on the National 
     Mall in the District of Columbia will be the first national 
     memorial to both recognize the courage, bravery, and 
     unselfish dedication of the members of the United States 
     Armed Forces who served in World War II and those who served 
     on the home front and acknowledge the commitment and 
     achievement of the entire American people in that conflict;
        Whereas World War II veteran Roger Durbin of Berkey, Ohio, 
     first proposed the construction of a National World War II 
     memorial, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of

[[Page H2770]]

     Ohio introduced legislation to establish the memorial in the 
     District of Columbia to honor members of the Armed Forces who 
     served in World War II and to commemorate the participation 
     of the United States in that war;
       Whereas, in Public Law 103-32 (107 Stat. 90; 40 U.S.C. 8903 
     note), approved May 25, 1993, Congress authorized the 
     American Battle Monuments Commission, an independent Federal 
     agency, to design and construct the memorial;
       Whereas the location selected as the site for the memorial, 
     the Rainbow Pool site on the National Mall at the east end of 
     the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the 
     Washington Monument, was dedicated on November 11, 1995;
       Whereas, in an open competition, the American Battle 
     Monuments Commission selected Friedrich St. Florian as the 
     design architect for the memorial, and his final 
     architectural design was approved by the Commission of Fine 
     Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the 
     Secretary of Interior;
       Whereas the late Representative Bob Stump of Arizona, who 
     served as Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
     the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives, sponsored several measures to expedite the 
     funding and construction of the memorial, which were enacted 
     as sections 601, 602, and 603 of Public Law 106-117 and 
     Public Law 107-11;
       Whereas after eight years of planning, six years of public 
     deliberation, and four years of fund raising, construction 
     began on the memorial in September 2001;
       Whereas the memorial would not have been possible without 
     the efforts and dedication of National Chairman Senator 
     Robert J. Dole and National Co-Chairman Frederick W. Smith, 
     who were instrumental in raising over $194,000,000 for the 
     construction of the memorial;
       Whereas these generous contributions came from hundreds of 
     thousands of individual Americans, as well as corporations, 
     foundations, veterans groups, fraternal and professional 
     organizations, States, communities, and schools;
       Whereas actor Tom Hanks, the Advertising Council, and the 
     History Channel played a key role in increasing public 
     awareness of the heroic achievements of American World War II 
     veterans and the war effort and in raising support for the 
     memorial;
       Whereas President George W. Bush will formally dedicate the 
     memorial on May 29, 2004;
       Whereas the memorial will be a monument to the selfless 
     sacrifice and undaunted courage of the members of the United 
     States Armed Forces who served in World War II and a place of 
     remembrance to honor the more than 400,000 American 
     servicemen and servicewomen who died in that conflict 
     defending the United States; and
       Whereas the memorial will be a source of inspiration for 
     current and future generations of Americans, giving visitors 
     to the memorial a new appreciation for the accomplishments of 
     America's World War II generation, which united in the quest 
     to free the world from tyranny: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes with humble gratitude 
     the more than 16,000,000 veterans who served in the United 
     States Armed Forces during World War II and the Americans who 
     supported the war effort on the home front and celebrates the 
     completion of the National World War II Memorial on the 
     National Mall in the District of Columbia.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran), the prime sponsor of 
the resolution.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman very much for 
yielding me this time and for his leadership not only on this issue 
today, the previous one, but all the many things he does on behalf of 
our country's veterans. I am delighted to join him as a member of his 
committee here today on a resolution that I introduced, H. Con. Res. 
409, which recognizes the men and women who served during World War II, 
those who died defending our freedom, and the millions of Americans who 
supported the effort on the home front.
  This resolution also celebrates the completion of the National World 
War II Memorial here in our Nation's Capital, on the Mall between the 
Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, which will be dedicated 
on May 29. Veterans who served in World War II and their families have 
made a tremendous sacrifice for this country, and I am proud to be 
involved in honoring those men and women with this memorial.
  I am also proud to be from a State that has been home to many 
prominent members of our military, including the gentleman just 
described in the previous bill, Mr. Colmery, who was a Kansan, and who 
wrote out the GI Bill of Rights on a napkin here in Washington, D.C. 
But also two that come to mind today, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, 
from Abilene, Kansas, and Senator Robert J. Dole of Russell, Kansas.
  General Eisenhower rose quickly through the ranks of the military, 
and during World War II he achieved the rank of a five-star general. He 
served as the Commander of Allied Forces in our landing in North Africa 
in November of 1942, and on D-Day he served as Supreme Allied Commander 
of our troops that began the battle for Europe. General Eisenhower's 
dedication and sacrifice made a significant difference and brought 
about the freedoms that we enjoy today as Americans.
  A soldier from Russell, Kansas, Second Lieutenant Bob Dole, also 
fought for freedom and served under General Eisenhower's command. 
Second Lieutenant Dole served in World War II in the Allied liberation 
of Northern Italy and was twice wounded and decorated for heroic 
achievements.
  Both General Eisenhower and Senator Dole achieved greatness on the 
battlefield and in public service. Senator Dole is recognized in this 
resolution for his contribution in making the National World War II 
Memorial possible. Through his fundraising efforts as the national 
chairman, Senator Dole played a crucial role in raising more than $195 
million in private money pledges to construct this memorial.
  All in all, Kansas is proud to be home of approximately 40,000 World 
War II veterans, and I am honored to be here today to pay tribute to 
them and to recognize the contribution they made for me and my family 
and for all those Americans who fought for our great country.

                              {time}  1730

  I am honored to be serving in Congress with a number of World War II 
veterans, my colleagues, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Ballenger), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Hall), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton), the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Regula), a group of men who fought the battles of World War II who now 
serve with distinction in the United States Congress. I would also like 
to acknowledge the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), who with her 
foresight and commitment over many years brought about the legislation 
that establishes this memorial honoring our World War II veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I put my tennis shoes on today and walked to the World 
War II Memorial this afternoon. It is a tremendous tribute to our 
Nation's veterans. If it has the impact it had upon me this afternoon, 
it will be a fitting memorial to those who served our country so well.
  In fact, my father, another Kansan, an 89-year-old former staff 
sergeant from World War II, received a call from his son today, 
something I have never said before to my dad, Dad, I love you, I am 
proud of you, I thank you for your service to our country, you are to 
be honored as a World War II veteran at this memorial, and it means a 
lot to me and my family to know you and others, all who served like 
you, have made a difference so important to all the rest of us.
  So I am proud to sponsor H. Con. Res. 409, and I thank the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Resources for their support 
of this resolution, and I ask my colleagues and all fellow Americans to 
join me in recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of our Nation's 
veterans, the contributions they have made to protect this Nation and 
defend our way of life, and acknowledge all those who made the World 
War II memorial possible.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 409. This 
important resolution recognizes the service and sacrifice of our World 
War II veterans, the domestic contributions of Americans in support of 
the allied victory, and celebrates the completion of the National World 
War II Memorial located on the National Mall here in Washington, D.C.

[[Page H2771]]

  I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) for his work on this 
resolution, as well as all of my colleagues who assisted in its 
drafting. I especially thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for 
all of her work and perseverance to ensure the establishment of the 
National World War II Memorial and for her hard work on behalf of the 
many veterans in the great State of Ohio.
  Most importantly, I thank and express my gratitude to all of the 
World War II veterans. Without their efforts and sacrifice, this world 
would be a quite different place. This resolution is indeed important 
and appropriate as we prepare to dedicated the National World War II 
Memorial. Not only does it recognize the heroic veterans of World War 
II, but it also commends the individual and collective contributions 
that American citizens have made on the homefront in support of the 
Nation's war effort. This memorial that we will soon dedicate and 
celebrate will stand before us as a reminder of the great sacrifices 
and the great triumphs of the Greatest Generation.
  I am proud and humble to represent the 17th Congressional District of 
the State of Ohio where many veterans of World War II reside. This 
resolution is for them and all of those who have fought to protect this 
great country, and I thank them.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this measure, and I urge all Members to do the 
same.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I first thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) for 
sponsoring this important resolution and for his touching remarks and 
great work on behalf of the Nation's veterans. It is appreciated by 
this chairman and many others.
  I also want to say I rise in strong support of this resolution which 
celebrates the completion of the National World War II Memorial on the 
National Mall here in Washington. More than 16 million Americans served 
in the armed forces, including my own father who saw horrific action in 
New Guinea, and he ended up in the Philippines at the end of the war. 
Very, very rarely would he even talk about it unless my brothers and I 
really prodded him for details. He finally wrote a lot of it out, which 
makes for some very disturbing but important reading for any son or 
daughter who had a father who fought in World War II.
  This great memorial will crown that achievement because certainly all 
of our fathers and mothers who participated in the war effort, whether 
here at home or abroad or in any way who were a part of that great 
effort, know that without them we would have been, unfortunately, 
perhaps saluting the Nazi salute or been part of Imperial Japan; and we 
know the terrible things that they did during World War II.
  This is a fitting tribute I think to the peacemakers, the men and 
women who answered the call and did so so gallantly. More than 400,000 
of our GIs lost their lives in World War II. As I said, virtually every 
American rose to the challenge, and that is why they are the Greatest 
Generation, as said Tom Brokaw.
  This is the first national memorial built to honor all of the 
dedicated Americans who served during World War II. It stands as a 
monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American 
people to the defense of the Nation and really the defense of the 
world, because without intervention of the United States and the great 
leadership of Presidents Roosevelt and then Truman, the world would 
have been lost to tyranny.
  Someone said freedom is not free, and nothing could have been more 
appropriately said by that generation in standing up against tyranny.
  This resolution recognizes the leadership of Bob Stump, who as 
chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
Armed Services, authored legislation to expedite the funding and 
construction of the memorial. Bob's family must certainly be proud of 
his role in expediting this memorial and his own valiant service during 
World War II.
  It also recognizes the good work of the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. 
Kaptur) in helping to bring this memorial about. In 1993, we all know 
Congress passed legislation that authorized the American Battle 
Monuments Commission, an independent Federal agency, to design and to 
construct a memorial. After years of planning, public deliberation and 
fundraising, construction began in September of 2001. Funded primarily 
with extensive private contributions, the memorial is located within 
tennis-shoe distance, according to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
Moran), at the east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln 
Memorial and the Washington Monument. This prominent location is 
commensurate with the historical importance and lasting significance of 
World War II to America and to the world.
  On May 29, nearly 59 years after the end of World War II, President 
Bush will dedicate this fitting memorial, and this ceremony may well be 
the last large gathering of World War II veterans, and it will be very 
well attended, I am sure.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) for 
sponsoring this timely resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for 
his leadership and for the gentleman's work on the previous resolution 
on Vietnam human rights today, and also those people who fought in the 
past for our freedoms that we have today.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Rodriguez).
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Ryan) for yielding me this time on this important resolution, and I 
thank the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) for deciding to do this, 
because it is extremely important.
  Mr. Speaker, for over 50 years America's Greatest Generation has been 
waiting for a memorial to call their own. Although we have many great 
monuments in our Nation's capital, we lacked a tribute to one of our 
country's most defining moments. It is with great honor that I stand 
before this body today to pay tribute to the more than 60 million 
veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War 
II. Among them was my father-in-law, Daniel Pena, and many more, 
relatives and uncles and cousins. I also pay tribute to those Americans 
who supported the war effort in the home front.
  After 8 years of planning, 6 years of public discussion, 4 years of 
fund-raising and 3 years of construction, we can finally say America's 
Greatest Generation has won their final battle to have a national 
monument commemorating their many sacrifices.
  It is estimated that our country suffers the loss of more than 1,000 
World War II veterans each day. Many of these veterans were new 
soldiers with very little fighting experience. Many of them were 
teenagers. All of them were heroes. During this time, Americans were 
willing to set aside their differences in order to defeat tyranny. The 
building of this national monument is another way for us to show 
America's Greatest Generation that their sacrifice was not done in 
vain.
  During Memorial Day weekend, the largest gathering of World War II 
veterans since 1954 is expected to visit our Nation's capital for the 
official dedication of the World War II Memorial. Similarly, veterans 
throughout the country will gather at their local VFWs and American 
Legion halls to pay respect to the local World War II veterans. As 
these gatherings occur, it is my hope that Congress continues to 
support all veterans by providing them with adequate health care and 
services. It is the least we can do for the Greatest Generation before 
us.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Evans), and a personal friend of mine.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, although no resolution or parade will ever be 
able to express our appreciation enough to our World War II veterans, 
this resolution is indeed an honorable effort.
  Mr. Speaker, the World War II era was a decisive time for our Nation 
and the world. Sixteen million American

[[Page H2772]]

men and women served in uniform, and many more came together at home to 
support the war effort. The men and women of the Greatest Generation, 
along with our allies around the world, stood up and turned back 
fascist tyranny and extremism in Japan.
  The World War II memorial soon to be dedicated on the National Mall 
in Washington, D.C. will be the culmination of many efforts. Its 
dedication will provide us an opportunity to revisit the history and 
sacrifices that our World War II veterans made, the civilian home-front 
efforts, celebrate the American spirit and high ideals. I support this 
resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall).
  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Con. Res. 409, a 
resolution in recognition of the veterans of World War II and celebrate 
the completion of the National World War II Memorial.
  As one of the 12 Members of Congress who is a veteran of World War 
II, I am proud and pleased that our Nation will be dedicating this 
World War II memorial on May 29. The memorial is a beautiful and solemn 
tribute to the 16 million men and women who served, the 400,000 
Americans who died, and the millions who supported the war effort at 
home.
  Ours has been called the Greatest Generation, but in reality our 
parents were the great ones because they survived two wars and a 
depression, and understood the importance of work and sacrifice. They 
instilled in the World War II generation a sense of duty that mobilized 
our country into action and ultimate victory.
  While we are engaged in wars overseas, it is fitting I think to pause 
and remember the selfless sacrifice and the courage of the members of 
the United States armed services. Like the men and women currently 
serving, soldiers' valiant efforts in World War II helped secure the 
freedoms we enjoy today and secured America's leadership throughout the 
world.
  This will be a monument not only for the World War II generation, but 
also for our children and our grandchildren. I am hopeful that 
Americans will visit this site for years to come and take time to honor 
those throughout the ages who answered the call to duty. They did not 
seek war, but rather yearned for peace and for liberty.

                              {time}  1745

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) who initiated this whole process.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio very much 
for yielding time and am pleased to join with him, the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Moran) and all the other Members of this body who have 
sponsored this wonderful resolution to officially now recognize the 
contributions of the American people to the victory of liberty over 
tyranny in World War II.
  Of course, there will be major Memorial Day celebrations in our 
country on May 29, indeed the entire week prior, and during that 
weekend to especially commemorate this Memorial's dedication. I come to 
the floor this evening to pay honor and tribute to the 16 million 
Americans who literally bequeathed freedom to us, as well as to all 
those who served on the home front. If you go down to the memorial 
today, which has taken 17 years to complete, it is really very poignant 
to talk to family members who are strolling through the plaza. I met a 
family last week, a son pushing his father, a World War II veteran, in 
a wheelchair. All the memories and all of the history come rushing at 
us. This idea began in 1987 in a place called Jerusalem Township, in 
the Trustees hall, at the Annual Lucas Township Trustees' fish fry when 
a wonderful veteran by the name of Roger Durbin approached me. 
Actually, he shouted at me across the room and said, ``Congresswoman 
Kaptur, Why is there no World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. where 
I can bring my grandchildren so they understand the reasons that we 
fought and how the world was changed? From that moment until May 29, 
now nearly two decades later, every effort was put forward to properly 
represent the enormous contribution of the 20th century in bequeathing 
freedom to the next generation.
  This memorial will sit between the Washington Monument, representing 
the founding of our Republic in the 18th century, and the Lincoln 
Memorial, representing the preservation of the Union in the 19th. This 
sits between them is a beautiful, reflective, peaceful expression, 
including waterfalls and 4,000 stars, each representing 100 of those 
who lost their lives for us and for the cause of freedom. As the 
tourists have begun coming through, now they tell me at the rate of 
5,000 per day, it will be one of the most visited memorials. It is also 
the most important memorial in our nation's Capital representing the 
20th century's most profound achievement. It is located where it 
belongs, right there on our Mall of Democracy.
  And so we prepare for these great patriotic celebrations. Our deepest 
regret as we celebrate this moment is that so many of those who fought 
and those who served on the homefront will not be there with us. I also 
know that every single veteran or their family members who will come 
here on May 29 will first think not of themselves but of their comrades 
and their family members and their friends who are not here, and who 
will not be able to be here.
  I just want the American people to know that as we pass this 
resolution today, I want to acknowledge the presence in our Chamber 
today of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) and the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Smith), both involved in the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs from the very beginning of our service here. I want to 
acknowledge Congressman Sonny Montgomery and Congressman Bob Stump. Bob 
has passed. Sonny I know will be with us. Both were key chairs of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs when we passed the two key parts of 
legislation that made this memorial possible. It took 10 Congresses to 
get this job done, two decades to get this job done right. Other 
members who helped in their capacities as committee chairs were Bill 
Clay of Missouri who is retired, Henry Gonzalez of Texas who has 
passed, and Esteban Torres of California, who assisted us on the bill 
related to the coinage, that is, the minting of three coins that raised 
the initial $7 million to help us begin the architectural and 
engineering studies. Speaker Jim Wright and Congressman Jack Brooks, 
both war veterans themselves when we first introduced this legislation 
back during the 1980s. And in the other body Senators John Glenn, now 
retired, and Senator Strom Thurmond who has passed, and of course 
Senators Bob Dole and John Warner.
  All of these individuals were a part of those early years. Let me 
mention also Congressman John Grotberg of Illinois, who preceded the 
current Speaker in this institution, and was so important in helping us 
bridge the partisan line here to expedite these bills' passage. To his 
wife and to his family, I wish to assure that he is mentioned 
respectfully in our proceedings here today.
  I also wanted to mention to all veterans who may be listening, and to 
their families, that as part of this memorial, in fact right adjacent 
to it, there is going to be in perpetuity, run by our Department of 
Interior, a veterans' legacy section where you can place the name of 
your loved one, whether they served in battle or here on the home 
front. So families can take that information and help record for 
history of what their loved one did doing World War II. When you enter 
the site, there is a facility being operated by the Department of 
Interior with three computer terminals now where families of our 
country can tell the whole story of America's participation.
  This has taken a long time. But we look forward to the moment on May 
29 when this entire Nation will say ``Our thank you to the most 
unselfish generation in American history . . . a grateful Nation 
remembers.''
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Evans).
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the gentlewoman 
from Ohio for her work on this legislation. It was 20 years ago. We 
were both freshmen. She has stuck with this issue and pounded away. I 
am so proud of her

[[Page H2773]]

and what she represents. It really tells me what kind of job she is 
doing as a Congresswoman. I thank the gentlewoman. Just so all the 
veterans in our country know that she made it happen more than anybody 
else.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. EVANS. I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, let me just say that the gentleman from 
Illinois is a combat veteran. I am not. I have many in my family who 
have been, including those who served in World War II. I have the 
highest respect for the gentleman from Illinois. If anyone represents 
perseverance and honesty and integrity in this institution, it is he. 
It is my privilege to serve with him.
  Mr. EVANS. I thank the gentlewoman.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. I 
would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) chairman 
of the Committee on Resources, which also has jurisdiction, for 
allowing this resolution to be considered on the floor in such a timely 
fashion.
  I include the following letter from the Committee on Resources as 
part of the Record.
                                         House of Representatives,


                                       Committee on Resources,

                                      Washington, DC, May 5, 2004.
     Hon. Christopher H. Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Cannon House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I understand that the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs wishes to schedule for rapid Floor 
     consideration H. Con. Res. 409, recognizing with humble 
     gratitude the more than 16,000,000 veterans who served in the 
     United States Armed Forces during World War II and the 
     Americans who supported the war effort on the home front and 
     celebrating the completion of the National World War II 
     Memorial on the National Mall in the District of Columbia. 
     This bill was referred primarily to your committee and 
     additionally to the Committee on Resources.
       I have reviewed the legislation and have no objection to 
     its consideration. In fact, I have asked the author to add me 
     as a cosponsor before the bill is voted on by the House of 
     Representatives. Therefore, I have no objection to the 
     Committee on Resources being discharged from further 
     consideration of the bill. Of course, this action should not 
     be construed as waiving the Committee on Resources' 
     jurisdiction over the bill or as precedent for other bills. 
     In addition, if a conference on H. Con. Res. 409 should 
     become necessary, I ask that you support my request to have 
     the Committee on Resources be represented on the conference. 
     Finally, because no bill report will be prepared on the 
     legislation, I ask that you include this letter and any reply 
     in the Congressional Record during consideration of H. Con. 
     Res. 409.
       I congratulate you and Mr. Moran for producing a timely and 
     thoughtful bill and I look forward to working with you again 
     on other matters of mutual interest.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Richard W. Pombo,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds just to say 
that as a Member of this body who arrived here at 29 years old, a 
member of the generation or two to follow the greatest generation, I 
would just like to thank all of the veterans who gave us this great 
system that we have, where young men and young women from all over this 
country can run for office and get voted on by their community to come 
down here and represent their views. We have a tremendous system here 
that was achieved by great sacrifice from those who came before us. 
Again, I thank everyone who has brought forth this particular 
resolution and the World War II Memorial that we will be celebrating 
here in the next few weeks.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 409, which 
recognizes the 16 million Americans who served in the Armed Forces 
during World War II and the millions more who supported them at home. 
As the dedication of the National World War II Memorial and the 60th 
anniversary of D-Day approach, our country will rightfully be thinking 
of those Americans who bravely gave or risked their lives to a great 
cause.
  I remain in awe of this generation, of men who accepted the call to 
travel around the world to spend years fighting in the Asian and 
Pacific theaters, and of women who kept the country running by assuming 
jobs in factories, growing victory gardens, and serving overseas in the 
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and other capacities.
  It has been my good fortune to spend some time with veterans and 
their families in my home district of western Wisconsin, and I always 
enjoy hearing their stories of wartime. In fact, it was the experience 
of listening to my uncle, a World War II veteran, that inspired me to 
introduce legislation creating the Veterans Oral History Project. 
Almost 4 years after becoming public law, the Veterans History Project 
at the Library of Congress has collected 16,000 stories and is working 
at a feverish pace to collect more everyday. This living legacy is 
testament to the millions of Americans who sacrificed so much during 
World War II.
  Now, almost 60 years after the end of the war, a monument has at last 
been built in our Nation's Capital that pays tribute to the generation 
that fought and won World War II. The monument, set in the middle of 
the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, 
will remind all visitors to the city that World War II was the defining 
event of the 20th century and the seminal point for what is often and 
aptly called ``the Greatest Generation.''
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 409 resolves that 
Congress recognizes with humble gratitude the more than 16 million 
veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War 
II and the Americans who supported the war effort on the home front and 
celebrates the completion of the National World War II Memorial on the 
National Mall in the District of Columbia.
  The National World War II Memorial on the National Mall in the 
District of Columbia will be the first national memorial to both 
recognize the courage, bravery, and unselfish dedication of the members 
of the United States Armed Forces who served in World War II and those 
who served on the home front and acknowledge the commitment and 
achievement of the entire American people in that conflict. Many of my 
family and friends that served in World War II suggested to me some 
kind of a National World War II memorial. I join with my friend 
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio who introduced legislation to 
establish the memorial in the District of Columbia to honor members of 
the Armed Forces who served in World War II and to commemorate the 
participation of the United States in that war.

  Congress authorized the American Battle Monuments Commission to 
design and construct the memorial. The location selected as the site 
for the memorial, the Rainbow Pool site on the National Mall at the 
east end of the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the 
Washington Monument, was dedicated on November 11, 1995. In an open 
competition, the American Battle Monuments Commission selected 
Friedrich St. Florian as the design architect for the memorial, and his 
final architectural design was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts, 
the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Secretary of the 
Interior.
  The late Representative Bob Stump of Arizona, who served as Chairman 
of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives, sponsored several measures to 
expedite the funding and construction of the memorial, which were 
enacted. After 8 years of planning, 6 years of public deliberation, and 
4 years of fund raising, construction began on the memorial in 
September 2001.
  The memorial would not have been possible without the efforts and 
dedication of National Chairman Senator Robert J. Dole and National Co-
Chairman Frederick W. Smith, who were instrumental in raising over 
$194,000,000 for the construction of the memorial. These generous 
contributions came from hundreds of thousands of individual Americans, 
as well as corporations, foundations, veterans groups, fraternal and 
professional organizations, States, communities, and schools. Actor Tom 
Hanks, the Advertising Council, and the History Channel played a key 
role in increasing public awareness of the heroic achievements of 
American World War II veterans and the war effort and in raising 
support for the memorial. President George W. Bush will formally 
dedicate the memorial on May 29, 2004.
  The memorial will be a monument to the selfless sacrifice and 
undaunted courage of the members of the United States Armed Forces who 
served in World War II as well as a tribute to their families and most 
Americans that joined in the war effort. It is a place of remembrance 
to honor the more than 400,000 American servicemen and servicewomen who 
died in that conflict defending the United States. The memorial will be 
a source of inspiration for current and future generations of 
Americans, giving visitors to the memorial a new appreciation for the 
accomplishments of America's World War II generation, which united in 
the quest to free the world from tyranny.
  It is with great respect that I strongly support this resolution.

                Smith Announces Veterans History Project

       Washington, DC.--Congressman Nick Smith announced a special 
     initiative today,

[[Page H2774]]

     encouraging citizens to participate in the Veterans History 
     Project, which is an effort by Congress and the Library of 
     Congress to collect audio- and video-taped interviews of 
     veterans, or civilians who served in support of the war 
     effort, along with other first-hand materials such as 
     photographs, diaries, and letters.
       ``As we approach Memorial Day, I would like to invite all 
     of my constituents to get involved in the Veterans History 
     Project,'' Smith said. ``I encourage families, friends, 
     historians, teachers, senior care workers, and students to 
     participate and volunteer to interview a veteran.''
       On Monday, Congressman Smith sat down with James Cox, a 
     WWII veteran, to conduct an interview for the Veterans 
     History Project. Cox served with the famed 30th Infantry 
     Division. The 30th opened the way for General Patton's 3rd 
     Army to drive into Brittany and on to Brest, and was kept in 
     the forefront all the way into Belgium, Holland and Germany. 
     The interview is being aired on cable public service 
     channels. Congressman Smith will be interviewing someone from 
     each county in the 7th District to raise awareness about the 
     Veterans History Project.
       ``The Veterans History Project is important, not only to 
     preserve the experiences and memories of our nation's 
     veterans, but also to bring families and communities 
     together. Grandchildren should interview their grandparents, 
     students should interview community members, and veterans 
     should interview each other.''
       The Veterans History Project was enacted in October of 
     2000. Oral histories and documents collected through this 
     project will be part of the national Veterans History Project 
     Collection at the Library of Congress.
       Interview kits are available at Congressman Smith's office 
     in Battle Creek and Jackson. People who have questions about 
     the Veterans History Project should contact the Congressman's 
     office or go to the home page of Congressman Smith's Web site 
     at: www.house.gov/nicksmith, which has a link to the Veterans 
     History Project in the ``Quick Links'' section. Completed 
     interviews can then be sent to Congressman Smith's office 
     which will then be submitted to the Library of Congress.

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simmons). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
409.
  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. RYAN of Ohio. 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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