[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 146 (Monday, September 15, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8067-H8068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 28TH INFANTRY DIVISION FOR SERVING AND PROTECTING THE 
                             UNITED STATES

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 390) honoring the 28th Infantry 
Division for serving and protecting the United States, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 390

       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division was established on 
     October 11, 1879, and is recognized as the oldest, 
     continuously serving division in the Army;
       Whereas units of the 28th Infantry Division date back to 
     1747, when Benjamin Franklin organized a battalion in 
     Philadelphia;
       Whereas units of the 28th Infantry Division served in the 
     Revolutionary War, including units that served with 
     distinction in the Continental Army under General George 
     Washington;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division was integral to the 
     success of World War I campaigns in the European theater, 
     including those in Champagne, Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, 
     Oise Marne, Lorraine, and Mesuse-Argone;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division earned the title of 
     ``Iron Division'' by General John J. Pershing for its valiant 
     efforts during World War I;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division contributed to military 
     operations in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-
     Alsace, and Central Europe during World War II;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division's perseverance through 
     the harsh winter of 1944-1945 on the western front led to a 
     decisive victory in the Battle for the Huertgen Forest, the 
     longest single battle engaged by the Army;
       Whereas soon after the Battle of the Huertgen Forest, the 
     28th Infantry Division withstood the onslaught of the main 
     thrust of the last great German offensive during the Battle 
     of the Bulge, giving time for reinforcements to arrive and 
     defeat the Germans;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division was activated again in 
     1950 to serve in Germany;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division was folded into the Army 
     Selective Reserve Force during the Vietnam War;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division aided relief efforts 
     throughout the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Agnes in 
     1972;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division was called into action 
     during the partial meltdown of the nuclear reactor of Three 
     Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in 1979;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division contributed to 
     international coalition forces to facilitate efforts in 
     Operation Desert Storm;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division has been part of 
     peacekeeping missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Republic of 
     Kosova, and the Sinai Peninsula;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division has deployed troops for 
     Operation Noble Eagle, securing high-profile infrastructure 
     targets in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division has deployed troops to 
     Operation Enduring Freedom, which ousted the Taliban regime 
     in Afghanistan;
       Whereas in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 28th Infantry 
     Division played a crucial role in the search for weapons of 
     mass destruction, the invasion of Iraq, the security in post-
     invasion Iraq, the training of an Iraqi police force, 
     securing transport convoys, and the safe detainment of 
     suspected terrorists;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division has over 2,600 soldiers 
     who are missing in action from World War I and World War II;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division has 127 units in 90 
     armories in 75 cities across the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania;
       Whereas the 28th Infantry Division has been sent to aid 
     portions of our Nation affected by harsh winter storms, 
     flooding, violent windstorms, and other severe weather 
     emergencies; and
       Whereas 10 recipients of the Medal of Honor, 4 recipients 
     of the Legion of Merit, and 258 recipients of the Silver Star 
     have been members of the 28th Infantry Division: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress honors the 28th Infantry Division 
     for serving and protecting the United States and directs the 
     Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit an enrolled 
     copy of this resolution to the Adjutant General of the 
     Pennsylvania National Guard for appropriate display.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) each 
will control 20 minutes
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
390, honoring the 28th Infantry Division. I join my colleagues in 
recognition of the brave men and women who have answered the call of 
duty and contributed in so many ways to our Nation's safety and 
security.
  The history of the 28th Infantry Division is truly remarkable and a 
testament to the dedication and sacrifice of those who have served in 
the division. Officially established way back in 1879, the 28th 
Infantry Division is one of the oldest divisions in the Army. Its roots 
trace back to the Revolutionary War era to units in Benjamin Franklin's 
battalion of Associators in Philadelphia, as well as General George 
Washington's Continental Army.
  In World War I, the 28th Infantry Division fought in six major 
campaigns: Champagne, Champagne-Marne, Oise-Marne, Lorraine, and Meuse-
Argonne. They paid greatly for their efforts, losing over 14,000 men. 
Recognizing its tough and relentless fighting prowess,

[[Page H8068]]

General of the Armies John J. Pershing labeled the 28th Infantry 
Division the Iron Division.
  During the Second World War, the division fought some of the fiercest 
battles in the European theater. Perhaps most notably during the Battle 
of the Bulge, the 28th Infantry Division held its ground against 
overwhelming German forces until Allied reinforcements arrived. Their 
sacrifice will never be forgotten, and the importance of their victory 
as a turning point in World War II remains etched in the history of 
this division.
  Today, the 28th Infantry Division is an active National Guard 
division, with armories in towns and cities across the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division have served and 
are currently serving abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan, and were also 
recently deployed in Bosnia and Kosovo as part of the NATO peacekeeping 
missions. Since September 11, over 10,000 soldiers of the division have 
deployed overseas.
  The men and women of the 28th Infantry Division serve their community 
selflessly while balancing full-time careers and families. Through the 
years, their names and faces have changed, but the commitment and the 
dedication with which they serve our Nation remains the hallmark of the 
28th Infantry Division.
  So I am very proud to join my colleagues in honoring these men and 
women, past and present, and to express my sincere gratitude for their 
sacrifice to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Nation. And I 
urge my colleagues to vote for the adoption of this resolution that 
recognizes our citizen soldiers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 390, as 
amended, which honors the 28th Infantry Division for serving and 
protecting the United States of America.
  I am honored to pay tribute to the current and former members of the 
28th Infantry Division, the Keystone Division, who have steadfastly and 
courageously defended and served this great country on our own shores 
and in distant lands.

                              {time}  1545

  With roots that date back to the Continental Army, the 28th Infantry 
Division fought valiantly in several campaigns during World War I, 
earning the title ``Iron Division'' from General John J. Pershing.
  Again, during World War II, victory was won in hard-fought battles in 
places like the Huertgen Forest on the western front and in the Battle 
of the Bulge because of the tenacity and the perseverance of the brave 
soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division. These battles earned them 
another title, Bloody Buckets, this time given to them by German forces 
because of the fury of the 28th Infantry Division assaults.
  More recently, the 28th Infantry Division has participated in 
Operation Desert Storm, deployed troops to oust the Taliban in 
Afghanistan, and has played a vital role in the successes of Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. Closer to home, Mr. Speaker, the Division has responded 
in the aftermath of natural disasters to provide aid and comfort to 
fellow Americans during hurricanes, blizzards and devastating floods.
  It is important to note that the soldiers of the Division have 
distinguished themselves by earning 10 Medals of Honor, four Legions of 
Merit, and 258 Silver Stars for their outstanding service to the 
Nation.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the valiant service of the 28th Infantry Division 
has not come without enormous sacrifice. Throughout its history, the 
members of the Division have paid the price to ensure our freedom. 
Still today there are over 2,600 soldiers from the 28th Infantry 
Division missing in action in both world wars of the 20th century.
  Mr. Speaker, if I did not also pay tribute today to the incredible 
families of these brave soldiers, who waited at home while their loved 
ones answered our Nation's call, I would be remiss. The entire Nation 
owes the soldiers and veterans of the 28th Infantry Division and their 
families a debt of gratitude. We are all proud of their service. 
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I want to make a few brief remarks 
on the issue of energy because we seem to discuss that. And I have no 
further speakers at that point and I will be prepared to yield back to 
my friend from Guam.
  Mr. Speaker, I think today in the discussion of three bills we've 
seen a terrifically orderly process of cooperation between the two 
sides as we have come together to honor and recognize Americans who 
have distinguished themselves in service to our country and in service 
to one another. And it's been a process that I think ought to epitomize 
all of our openings. Our problem, unfortunately, is we don't always 
have that process in this House.
  We've known for many, many years that we had a very serious energy 
crisis. I believe former Secretary of the Treasury, John Connelly, 
first pointed that out as long ago as 1970 when we were importing about 
24 percent of petroleum from overseas. Former President Carter called 
it the moral equivalent of war that we confront and deal with this 
crisis in the late 1970s. And there certainly have been fitful efforts 
by both sides of the aisle, Mr. Speaker, to try and come to grips with 
this problem over the years, but we all know we have not done it 
successfully. And I think perhaps that's because we have not done it 
together.
  I would point to the efforts of two of our colleagues on both sides 
of the aisle, Mr. Abercrombie from Hawaii and Mr. Peterson from 
Pennsylvania, who have tried to work together to formulate a bipartisan 
solution to parts of this vexing problem as an example that all of us 
on both sides ought to follow, Mr. Speaker. I think if we did, we would 
do better. And I think we could come up with legislation that would 
genuinely make a difference because nothing is more important, aside 
from our physical security, than our economic security. And I think we 
all recognize we're at the point, Mr. Speaker, that that security is 
threatened by an overdependence on foreign energy.
  We can go a long way, we can do a lot together. Sometimes when we 
work together we do do extraordinary things. So I would challenge the 
House that in the coming week, when we discuss this important issue, 
that that's, indeed, how we proceed, we bring bills to the floor, we 
have open debate, and we try to find common ground with one another.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, again I would like to go on record to 
thank my co-manager of the bill, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Cole).
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 390, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  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.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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