[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 69 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3028-H3030]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED 
       WITH THE DEDICATION OF THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 423) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for activities associated with the dedication of the 
National World War II Memorial.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 423

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR 
                   NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL DEDICATION.

       The Capitol Grounds may be used for a public event 
     providing additional space in conjunction with the dedication 
     of the National World War II Memorial on May 29, 2004, or on 
     such other date as the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate may jointly designate.

     SEC. 2. CONDITIONS.

       The event to be carried out under this resolution shall be 
     free of admission charge to the public and arranged not to 
     interfere with the needs of Congress, under conditions to be 
     prescribed by the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol 
     Police Board.

     SEC. 3. STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT.

       For the purposes of this resolution, the Architect of the 
     Capitol is authorized to erect on Capitol Grounds such stage, 
     sound amplification devices, and other related structures and 
     equipment as may be required for the event to be carried out 
     under this resolution.

     SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

       The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board 
     are authorized to make any such additional arrangements that 
     may be required to carry out the event under this resolution.

     SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

       The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of 
     the restrictions contained in section 4 of the Act of July 
     31, 1946 (40 U.S.C. 5104(c); 60 Stat. 718), concerning sales, 
     advertisements, displays, and solicitations on the Capitol 
     Grounds, as well as other restrictions applicable to the 
     Capitol Grounds, with respect to the event to be carried out 
     under this resolution.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice 
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 423, introduced by the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), permits the use of the Capitol 
grounds for an overflow audience from the National World War II 
Memorial dedication ceremony.
  This ceremony, which will occur at the National World War II 
Memorial, dedicates the memorial in honor of hundreds of thousands of 
men and women that gave their lives in the cause of freedom from 1941 
through 1945.
  Mr. Speaker, much has been said and written about the Greatest 
Generation, about the economy and country they built when they returned 
from the war. We are honored to have a number of those veterans serving 
in this body, and I am certainly personally grateful to have been able 
to work with each and every one of them. It is important that we as 
Congress do all we can to facilitate this very important ceremony,

[[Page H3029]]

and this concurrent resolution will allow more veterans to participate, 
albeit from a distance.
  In my home State of Nevada, we have one of the fastest-growing 
veteran populations in the Nation with an increase in 30 percent with 
the veteran population in the 1990s. More than 18 percent of the 
approximately 240,000 veterans living in Nevada served during World War 
II, and I am honored to support this resolution on their behalf.
  I support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter). I rise 
in support of this resolution to authorize the use of the Capitol 
grounds for activities associated with the dedication of the World War 
II Memorial. The main dedication event is scheduled for Saturday, May 
29, during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
  The resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for public 
events in conjunction with the dedication. In 1993, President Clinton 
signed PL 103-32 to authorize the construction of a memorial in 
Washington, D.C., to all the members of the armed services who served 
in World War II. In 1995, President Clinton dedicated the site on the 
Mall and the proposed design was unveiled at the White House in 1997.
  The gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) is a leading advocate for the 
memorial and has been its staunch champion and sponsored this 
resolution.
  Consistent with any event on the Capitol grounds, this event shall be 
free of charge and open to the public. To accommodate overflow visitors 
and participants, the Architect of the Capitol is authorized to set up 
a stage and any sound equipment that may be required for the event. 
Further, the Capitol Hill Police shall enforce the traditional 
restrictions on advertising on the Capitol grounds.
  The dedication is an event long anticipated by World War II veterans 
and their families. I support the resolution and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also would like to recognize my father who served in 
World War II, what a great tribute to him and his friends and all those 
other folks that served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice, 
and to my uncle who was in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as 
she may consume to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Eddie Bernice Johnson) for yielding me this time, and I thank our dear 
colleague from Nevada (Mr. Porter) for allowing us this time on the 
floor. Also, to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), I would like 
to thank him personally and to his able assistant, Ted Van Der Meid, 
for helping us move this legislation. I also want to thank the 
gentleman from the great State of Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for making 
this moment a reality.
  I want to say, Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to bring to 
the floor H. Con. Res. 423, which authorizes the use of these Capitol 
grounds for activities associated with the dedication of the World War 
II Memorial on May 29, Memorial Day weekend, just a week from this 
Saturday.
  Mr. Speaker, the dedication ceremony for the World War II Memorial 
will mark the beginning of the end of a 20-year journey. It will mark 
the recognition by this Nation that a grateful Nation does remember the 
most unselfish generation America has ever known. And when that 
memorial is dedicated between the Washington Monument, which marks the 
founding of our Republic in the 18th century, and the Lincoln Memorial, 
which acknowledges the preservation of this Union during the 19th 
century, this memorial will represent the fulcrum of the 20th century, 
that is the victory of liberty over tyranny in a just war.
  The ceremony that will occur, including here on the Capitol grounds, 
will mark the culmination of a process that took form here in the 
people's House some 17 years ago when the original authorizing 
legislation that the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) 
referred to was first introduced by me. Many, many Members were a part 
of making this possible. It has taken 10 Congresses and three 
Presidents. And I want to place in the Record, if I might, the 
wonderful Members of this House who made this ceremony and this 
Memorial Day possible:
  Congressman Sonny Montgomery, Mississippi, now retired; Congressman 
Bob Stump, Arizona, now passed; the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Evans), currently the ranking member on the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs; Congressman Henry Gonzalez of Texas, now passed; Congressman 
Bill Clay of Missouri, retired; Congressman Esteban Torres of 
California, now retired; Congressman John Grotberg, the Speaker's 
predecessor of the great State of Illinois, now passed; and from the 
other body, in particular, Senator John Glenn, retired; and Senator 
Strom Thurmond, now passed.
  I think people tend to forget that the World War II Memorial which 
opened to the public approximately 3 weeks ago to rave reviews was a 
House idea, a House initiative, a House effort that the House kept 
alive for 2 decades.
  On Thursday we will have a ceremony here in Statuary Hall to honor 
the six World War II veterans who currently serve in our people's 
House. We will present at that time to them the two flags that were 
handmade in the Buckeye State, in the State of Ohio, as we give them 
over to the Nation. And I would like to say a special thank you to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hyde), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula), the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Houghton), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), and the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
  The legislative history behind the World War II Memorial is replete 
with struggle and controversy and occasional disappointment, but in the 
end a great victory and a magnificent tribute. There were stops and 
starts along the way, and no one knows this better than I; but in the 
end nothing could stop this powerful idea that came from the Heartland 
of America, from the Buckeye State, from the heart of one veteran named 
Roger Durbin from Berkey, Ohio, population 265, Lucas County; It is and 
idea that came from the grassroots of America. It was so meritorious 
that it eventually arrived here in our Nation's Capital and now has 
full expression on our Mall of democracy.
  As we prepare to formally dedicate the memorial on May 29, this 
resolution will facilitate the use of the Capitol grounds and 
facilities to honor the hundreds of thousands of World War II-
generation members and their families and their children and their 
grandchildren, as we dedicate that sacred soil on the Mall between the 
Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
  In our district, as in other districts around the country, plans are 
already under way by many veterans organizations including the American 
Legion for local celebrations to coincide with the May 29 dedication 
here in our Nation's Capital. There will be satellite uplinks from all 
of the celebrations here. In our home town of Toledo, Ohio, local 
organizers will hold a ceremony in Fifth Third Field, the city that is 
home to the Toledo Mud Hens baseball team. Plans are already underway. 
Our community will hold the largest parade our citizenry has ever seen.
  In Vermilion, Ohio, the local funeral director, Judy Riddle, has 
helped organize an event for the World War II veterans in that 
community. And it is an understatement to say that the funeral 
directors in Ohio raised more money than any other State to help build 
this memorial. In Wellington, Ohio, a local school teacher, Calvin 
Woods, has organized a group of students and parents to visit the 
memorial next week. They will be honoring local World War II veterans 
on the 29th as well.
  I can say this, that when Roger Durbin first walked up to me 17 years 
ago--God rest his soul, he passed in the year of 2000--this was his 
last dying wish that this memorial be completed. He did not ask for 
himself. His statement was, Congresswoman Kaptur,

[[Page H3030]]

why is there no World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. where I can 
bring my grandchildren so they can understand the causes to which my 
life was dedicated?
  So his desire was that our grandchildren, his grandchildren, 
America's grandchildren understand. It was rather coincidental, and 
some would say divine providence, that on the day that the plaza opened 
to the general public a few weeks ago, the very first group through 
that site was from Jones Junior High School from the county of Lucas, 
his home county; and that was not planned.
  In fact, when Tim Russert was down there from NBC News, the children 
were all excited that they could see such a famous reporter. It was 
totally unplanned. I know Roger Durbin's hand was in that because he 
intended to be there for that dedication, and he always was dedicated 
to the future generations.
  Thousands of veterans and their families are making their way already 
to Washington, D.C. to attend this ceremony here on our Nation's Mall. 
The logistical challenge is daunting. And of the hundreds of thousands 
of people on the National Mall, over half of them will be World War II 
veterans and their spouses, and almost all of them will be over 80 
years of age.
  We are planning a variety of events here in our congressional offices 
for that weekend. And we are very grateful that the Speaker has 
permitted the Capitol and its grounds to be open. Along with most 
Members' offices, our office in Washington will be open to our 
constituents.

                              {time}  1445

  We are also working with the office of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Strickland) to host Ohio's veterans at the American Legion Post 8 here 
on Capitol Hill, both on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. We are 
expecting several busloads of veterans just from northwest Ohio, and 
those are the ones that we actually know about. We know some of them, 
well, they are just going to drive with their grandkids in campers and 
show up, and we are ready for them.
  This concurrent resolution is essentially a formality. But it is the 
precursor to Congress rolling out the red carpet for the greatest 
generation America has ever known--our World War II veterans and their 
families, and other members of the World War II generation who served 
on the home front, their friends and family members, and other 
Americans who will be in town for the Memorial Day weekend. It is going 
to be a very heart-rending weekend. We are looking forward to it with 
great anticipation.
  If my colleagues have been down to the site already, they cannot come 
away with a dry eye. As veterans and their families, some in 
wheelchairs, some walking with canes, some just there to reflect, come 
and touch the marble stone where perhaps where they fought is engraved. 
I watched one man go up, just touch the words Okinawa and he just stood 
there. I met a Purple Heart standing there on the plaza , and he 
thanked me. I said, sir, I was not even born. This is for you, thank 
you, because America does remember.
  I again want to deeply thank the office of the gentleman from 
Illinois (Speaker Hastert); the minority leader's office, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi); and both sides of the aisle 
of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for their help 
with this concurrent resolution; and I urge its adoption.
  God bless our veterans and God bless America. I thank the gentlewoman 
for the time.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 423 authorizes 
the use of the Capitol Grounds for activities associated with the 
dedication of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall. I'm proud 
to support this resolution and to support the dedication of the 
memorial to honor the achievements and sacrifices of our ``Greatest 
Generation.''
  In 1993, P.L. 103-32 authorized the construction of a memorial on 
Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor members of the armed 
services who served in World War II and to commemorate United States 
participation in that conflict. Further, the public law authorized the 
American Battle Monuments Commission to solicit and accept private 
contributions for the memorial. The formal dedication event for the 
memorial is scheduled for Saturday, May 29, 2004.
  The Capitol Grounds will provide additional space for this event, and 
the Architect of the Capitol is authorized to set up on the Grounds 
sound devices, related structures, and equipment as may be required to 
bring the event to a larger audience. Consistent with all events on 
Capitol Ground, the Capitol Police will enforce the ban on sales, 
advertisements, displays, and solicitations.
  The dedication will be open to the public and free of charge and is 
expected to draw many hundreds of thousands of visitors and 
participants to the Capitol. Use of the Capitol Grounds will enable our 
veterans and the general public to participate more fully in the day's 
activities and enjoy this much-deserved dedication.
  I support the resolution and urge its adoption.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further 
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
423.
  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. PORTER. 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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