[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3604-H3609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
5-STAR GENERALS COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT
Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1177) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to
mint coins in recognition of five United States Army 5-Star Generals,
George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Henry ``Hap''
Arnold, and Omar Bradley, alumni of the United States Army Command and
General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to coincide with the
celebration of the 132nd Anniversary of the founding of the United
States Army Command and General Staff College, as amended.
[[Page H3605]]
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1177
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``5-Star Generals
Commemorative Coin Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States Army Command and General Staff
College, founded in 1881, has in its many evolutionary forms,
served this country consistently and well for 127 years.
(2) The Command and General Staff College has played a
decisive role in the education and training of officers,
particularly in their field grade years of service, in times
of war and peace, since its establishment.
(3) The Command and General Staff College has had a
salutatory effect on many fields of battle by providing its
officer student bodies the necessary skills of battle
management, leadership development, and the most modern and
effective command and staff action procedures, all of which
have been key to this Nations' success in its many conflicts
which, thereby, have preserved its freedoms and way of life.
(4) The Command and General Staff College, the Nations'
oldest military staff college, does not have a commemorative
coin cast in celebrating its long and honorable history,
displaying its heritage, and serving as a reminder to the
holder of such coins the service to the Nation its graduates
have provided in war and peace.
(5) The United States Army Command and General Staff
College is the Nation's largest and oldest military staff
college, continuing to educate officers from all United
States branches of military services, select members of our
civil government, and officers from many friendly and allied
nations from around the globe. Located in the middle of the
American heartland, will continue to serve as a beacon of
light to the proposition of intellectual curiosity and
professional military excellence in the development of its
students, and serve as a link to American citizenry grateful
for the sacrifices, some in the fullest measure of duty and
devotion to the Nation, made by the graduates of its Command
and Staff College.
(6) The Command and General Staff College Foundation, Inc.
(in this Act referred to as the ``Foundation'') is dedicated
to promoting excellence in the faculty and students of the
United States Army Command and General Staff College. Seeking
new ways to educate and remind our citizens regarding the
capable and selfless service of our military officers, and to
imbue in them a sense of pride in those who bear the burden
of military leadership in our Nation's wars and in times of
peace.
(7) The Foundation is a nongovernmental, member-based, and
publicly supported nonprofit organization that is entirely
dependent on funds from members, donations, and grants for
its functions and supports exclusively the United States Army
Command and General Staff College.
(8) The Foundation uses funding to provide the Margin of
Excellence to the programs and activities of the College in
support of the educational needs of the Nation's field grade
officer corps, and the faculty and staff attendant thereto.
(9) In 2006, the Secretary of the Army accepted the first
Foundation gift to the College in support of the Command and
General Staff College.
(10) The Foundation is actively engaged in the initial
stages of its first capital campaign to support the Command
and General Staff College.
(11) The five 5-Star Generals who attended or taught at the
Command and General Staff College; include Douglas MacArthur,
George C. Marshall, Henry ``Hap'' Arnold, Dwight D.
Eisenhower, and Omar N. Bradley.
(12) Douglas macarthur, general of the army.--
(A) General MacArthur was a distinguished soldier, scholar,
and strategist who gave sixty-one years of service to his
country.
(B) He commanded the 42d Division in World War I, and later
served as the Chief of the Army General Staff. Prior to
retirement, he was the Military Advisor to the Commonwealth
of the Philippines.
(C) In 1941, he was recalled to active duty as Commanding
General, United States Army Far East.
(D) He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic
defense of the Philippines.
(E) After being ordered to depart the Philippines by the
President, he inspired the world with his statement, ``I
shall return.''.
(F) Forces under his command defeated those of the Empire
of Japan.
(G) After accepting the Japanese surrender, he directed the
highly successful reconstruction of the Japanese nation, and
served as the first commander of United Nations Forces during
the Korean War.
(H) General MacArthur, son of General Arthur MacArthur,
spent time as a child at Ft. Leavenworth and later in his
career, he taught as a Captain in the Field Engineering
School, and served as the adjutant, quartermaster, and
commanding officer of the 3d Engineer Battalion (later
reflagged as the 2d Engineer Battalion).
(13) George c. marshall, general of the army.--
(A) General George C. Marshall entered the Army from the
Virginia Military Institute in 1902.
(B) During a long career of public service, he
distinguished himself as a leader, tactician, strategist,
statesman, and, truly, as the ``Organizer of Victory.''
(C) In World War I, he was regarded as one of the most
talented staff officers in the United States Army.
(D) After that war, and throughout the many long and
challenging duties of the interwar years, he was appointed
United States Army Chief of the General Staff in 1939.
(E) During World War II, he achieved recognition as one of
America's greatest military leaders.
(F) As chief strategist of that global war, he materially
assisted in directing the Allied Powers to victory.
(G) In 1947 he was appointed Secretary of State for the
United States and his outstanding career as a statesman
proved equal to his brilliant military career.
(H) He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his conception
and implementation of the European Recovery Program, and,
subsequently, he served as the Secretary of Defense for 1
year.
(I) General Marshall's service at Ft. Leavenworth included
graduation from the United States Army School of the Line in
1907, the United States Army Staff College in 1908, followed
by instructor duty at Ft. Leavenworth from in 1909 and 1910.
(14) Henry h. arnold, general of the army.--
(A) General ``Hap'' Arnold is the only officer in the
history of our country to earn the ranks of General of the
Army and General of the Air Force.
(B) General Arnold, a graduate of West Point in 1907,
received his pilot training in 1911 from the Wright brothers
in Dayton, Ohio.
(C) He became one of our Nation's strongest advocates for
air power, and personally held numerous records and trophies
for flying achievements, to include the first delivery of
United States mail by air.
(D) Accomplishments in and from the air in the World Wars,
particularly in World War II, were heavily influenced by his
genius.
(E) As a result of General Arnold's contributions, massed
air power gave a third dimension to battles of World War II,
swept the skies of the enemy, and denied him mobility on the
ground.
(F) One of General Arnold's citations reads in part: ``From
conception to execution, General Arnold's leadership guided
the mightiest air force in history.''
(G) General Arnold's service at Ft. Leavenworth was as a
student at the Command and General Staff College, 1928-1929.
(15) Dwight d. eisenhower, general of the army.--
(A) General Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1915, began a career
of distinguished public service reaching the highest
positions of military and civil leadership in the United
States.
(B) During World War II, as Commander in Chief, Allied
Expeditionary Force, he led the invasion of North Africa and
defeated the German force on that continent.
(C) In 1944, as Supreme Allied Commander, Allied
Expeditionary Force, he was instructed: ``You will enter the
continent of Europe, and, in conjunction with other United
Nations, undertake operations aimed at the heart of Germany
and the destruction of her armed forces.''
(D) In accomplishing this mission, he commanded the largest
combination of land, sea and air forces in history.
(E) Following World War II, he was instrumental in the
development of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
(F) After his brilliant military career he was elected 34th
President of the United States.
(G) His service at Ft. Leavenworth was 1917-1918 as a
tactical instructor officer for a course for lieutenants and
in 1925-1926 as a student at the Command and General Staff
College from which he was the honor graduate of his class.
(16) Omar n. bradley, general of the army.--
(A) Throughout his distinguished military career, General
Omar N. Bradley was recognized as an exceptional leader,
tactician, and educator.
(B) As Commandant of the Infantry School, he developed the
officer candidate program through which more than 45,000
combat leaders of World War II were commissioned.
(C) During the war, he successfully commanded a division,
corps, army, and army group. While commanding II Corps, he
was instrumental in defeating German forces in North Africa
and Sicily.
(D) His successful career as a field commander reached a
peak when, as commander of the 12th Army Group, he greatly
assisted in the liberation of Europe.
(E) This group contained the largest number of American to
ever serve under one commander. He became the Army Chief of
Staff in 1948 and the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff in 1949.
(F) General Bradley's service at Ft. Leavenworth was as a
student at the Command and General Staff College, 1928-1929.
SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.
(a) Denominations.--In recognition and celebration of the
5-Star Generals attendance and graduation from the Command
and General Staff College, and notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of
[[Page H3606]]
the Treasury (hereafter in this act referred to as the
``Secretary'') shall mint and issue the following coins:
(1) $5 gold coins.--Not more than 100,000 $5 coins, which
shall--
(A) weigh 8.359 grams;
(B) have diameter of 0.850 inches; and
(C) contain 90 percent gold and 10 percent alloy.
(2) $1 silver coins.--Not more than 500,000 $1 coins, which
shall--
(A) weigh 26.73 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(C) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
(3) Half dollar clad coins.--Not more than 750,000 half
dollar coins which shall--
(A) weigh 11.34 grams;
(B) have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and
(C) be minted to the specifications for half dollar coins
contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be
legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United
States Code.
(c) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and
5136 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under
this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 4. DESIGN OF COINS.
(a) Design Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this
Act shall include the portraits of Generals George C.
Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry
``Hap'' Arnold and Omar N. Bradley.
(2) Designations and inscriptions.--On each coin minted
under this Act there shall be--
(A) a designation of the face value of the coin;
(B) an inscription of the year ``2013''; and
(C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We
Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus
Unum''.
(b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this
Act shall--
(1) be selected by the Secretary after consultation with
the Command and General Staff College Foundation, and the
Commission of Fine Arts; and
(2) be reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
SEC. 5. ISSUANCE OF COINS.
(a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be
issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Mint Facilities.--For each of the three coins minted
under this Act, at least one facility will be used to strike
proof quality coins, while at least one other facility will
be used to strike the uncirculated quality coins.
(c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins
minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning
on January 1, 2013.
SEC. 6. SALE OF COINS.
(a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under this Act shall be
sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
(1) the face value of the coins;
(2) the surcharge provided in section 7(a) with respect to
such coins; and
(3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including
labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses,
marketing, and shipping).
(b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the
coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid Orders.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders
for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of
such coins.
(2) Discount.--Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders
under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
SEC. 7. SURCHARGES.
(a) In General.--All sales of coins minted under this Act
shall include a surcharge as follows:
(1) A surcharge of $35 per coin for the $5 coin.
(2) A surcharge of $10 per coin for the $1 coin.
(3) A surcharge of $5 per coin for the half dollar coin.
(b) Distribution.--Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31,
United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary
from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be
promptly paid by the Secretary to the Command and General
Staff College Foundation to help finance its support of the
Command and General Staff College.
(c) Audits.--The Command and General Staff College
Foundation shall be subject to the audit requirements of
section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with
regard to the amounts received by the Foundation under
subsection (b).
(d) Limitation.--Notwithstanding subsection(a), no
surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under
this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the
time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result
in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during
such year to exceed the annual commemorative coin program
issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31,
United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment
of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue
guidance to carry out this subsection.
SEC. 8. BUDGET COMPLIANCE.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the House of
Representatives, provided that such statement has been
submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kansas (Mr. Moore) and the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Jenkins) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kansas.
General Leave
Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on this legislation and to insert any extraneous material
thereon.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1177, the 5-
Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act. I was pleased to introduce this
bipartisan legislation last year with my colleagues from Kansas,
Representatives Lynn Jenkins, Todd Tiahrt, and Jerry Moran. I
appreciate their work in helping to find cosponsors. The legislation
now has 300 Republican and Democratic cosponsors, including a very
special one of our colleagues that we learned had a very strong
connection to this bill after we filed it. I'll discuss his connection
in a moment.
H.R. 1177 will authorize the U.S. Treasury to mint a series of
commemorative $5 and $1 and half-dollar coins bearing the likeness of
five U.S. generals who served during World War II. The coins would
honor these 5-star generals:
General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was the Supreme Allied Commander in
Europe during World War II, and later President of the United States;
General George Marshall, who was the Army Chief of Staff during World
War II, and later Secretary of State and Defense Secretary;
General Douglas MacArthur, who led Allied forces to victory in the
Pacific theater during World War II, and later led Allied forces in the
Korean War;
General Henry Arnold, who commanded the Army Air Corps in Europe and
remains the only person ever to hold the title of General of the Air
Force; and
General Omar Bradley, who commanded Allied forces on their march to
victory in North Africa and became the first person to hold the
position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
{time} 1415
All five of these 5-star generals either attended or taught at the
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College located in Leavenworth,
Kansas. The commemorative coins would be issued in 2013, and the
proceeds would be paid to the Command and General Staff College
Foundation to help finance their outstanding work in supporting the
college.
Finally, the colleague of ours who I mentioned earlier and who has a
very special connection to this bill is my good friend from Iowa,
Congressman Leonard Boswell. Like the 5-star generals we honor with
this bill, Congressman Boswell attended the Command and General Staff
College as a student after his first Vietnam tour in 1968, and later
served as an instructor at the end of his service career in 1974. He
was recently inducted into the Fort Leavenworth Hall of Fame, and after
learning about our bill, worked harder than all of us in rounding up
the necessary cosponsors to move this bill forward.
I want to dedicate this bill to Congressman Leonard Boswell's long
and distinguished service to our country. To honor Congressman Boswell,
our Nation's 5-star generals, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff
College, and all of our servicemen and -women who sacrifice so much to
defend our country, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this
legislation.
[[Page H3607]]
Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, May 17, 2010.
Hon. Barney Frank,
Chairman, Financial Services Committee, Rayburn House Office
Building, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Frank, I am writing regarding H.R. 1177, the
5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act.
As you know, the Committee on Ways and Means maintains
jurisdiction over bills that raise revenue. H.R. 1177
contains a provision that establishes a surcharge for the
sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the bill,
and thus falls within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Ways and Means.
However, as part of our ongoing understanding regarding
commemorative coin bills and in order to expedite this bill
for floor consideration, the Committee will forgo action.
This is being done with the understanding that it does not in
any way prejudice the Committee with respect to the
appointment of conferees or its jurisdictional prerogatives
on this bill or similar legislation in the future.
I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming
this understanding with respect to H.R. 1177, and would ask
that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be
included in the Record.
Sincerely,
Sander M. Levin,
Chairman.
____
Committee on Financial Services,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, May 17, 2010.
Hon. Sander M. Levin,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing in response to your letter
regarding H.R. 1177, the ``5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin
Act,'' which was introduced in the House and referred to the
Committee on Financial Services on February 25, 2009. It is
my understanding that this bill will be scheduled for floor
consideration shortly.
I wish to confirm our mutual understanding on this bill. As
you know, section 7 of the bill establishes a surcharge for
the sale of commemorative coins that are minted under the
bill. I acknowledge your committee's jurisdictional interest
in such surcharges as revenue matters. However, I appreciate
your willingness to forego committee action on H.R. 1177 in
order to allow the bill to come to the floor expeditiously. I
agree that your decision to forego further action on this
bill will not prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with
respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this or similar
legislation. I would support your request for conferees on
those provisions within your jurisdiction should this bill be
the subject of a House-Senate conference.
I will include this exchange of letters in the
Congressional Record when this bill is considered by the
House. Thank you again for your assistance.
Barney Frank,
Chairman.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1177, the 5-Star
Generals Commemorative Coin Act, and I commend the gentleman from
Kansas, Representative Moore, for introducing this legislation. The
Command and General Staff College was founded at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, in 1881. It is an educational center for excellence, and one of
the most prominent leaders in military education and training. The
school is the intellectual center of the Army. And in addition to
training U.S. military officers, allied nations from around the world
send their military officers to train at the staff college.
In fact, over the past 129 years, more than 90,000 U.S. military
officers and 7,000 foreign military officers from 153 countries have
graduated from the staff college, including Generals Colin Powell and
David Petraeus. And upon graduation from the staff college, the
majority of the international students attain the rank of general
within their respective countries.
This legislation will direct the Secretary of the Treasury to mint
coins in recognition of the five men who have achieved the rank of
General of the Army, including Generals George Marshall, Douglas
MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower, Henry ``Hap'' Arnold, and Omar Bradley.
These five generals led our forces to victory in World War II, but they
also taught or studied at the staff college.
The proceeds from the 5-star generals commemorative coin will help
fund the Command and General Staff College Foundation to ensure
military officers will be able to train there for years to come. The
staff college is critical in the education and training of our military
officers during times of war and peace. At a time when our Nation is
working to extend the hand of friendship to nations abroad, there is no
better place to fulfill that mission than at the staff college because
of the first rate intercultural exchange that the students experience.
Fort Leavenworth is in my congressional district, and I have spent a
great deal of time learning about the successes of the staff college
over the past 16 months. So today I would like to thank the chief
executive officer of the Command and General Staff College Foundation,
Col. Bob Ulin, who has championed this legislation from day one, and
who hopefully is watching this debate and hopeful passage of the 5-Star
Generals Commemorative Coin Act.
I would also like to thank chairman of the Command and General Staff
College Foundation, Lt. Gen. Bob Arter. The commitment of Col. Ulin and
Gen. Arter to educating and training the best and the brightest
military officers who attend the staff college, and their support and
tireless efforts to move this legislation forward, is deeply
appreciated.
It is for these reasons that I urge all of my colleagues in the House
to support this legislation to honor our Nation's military officers.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Iowa, Representative Leonard Boswell.
(Mr. BOSWELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BOSWELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
1177, the 5-Star Generals Commemorative Coin Act. I believe this
legislation is very important to not only recognize the contributions
of the Command and General Staff College to our U.S. military, but also
to ensure that the program at the college remains strong for our future
military leaders.
For over 129 years, the Command and General Staff College has
produced some of the best military leaders in the world, including the
five 5-star generals who taught or studied at the college, as
mentioned, Generals George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight
Eisenhower, Hap Arnold, Omar Bradley. I might add that Colin Powell and
David Petraeus also graduated from the school.
As Mr. Moore mentioned, I had the honor to both attend the college as
a student and then become an instructor during my military career, and
I can attest to the fact that those I served with were truly the best
in the world. Last fall I had the privilege to be the keynote speaker
at the flag ceremony for the international military students at the
school. A lot has changed from my time there, and I had the opportunity
to see the state-of-the-art training that our military personnel are
receiving.
This legislation will require the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold
coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar coins in recognition of the
five U.S. Army 5-star generals. The surcharges in the sale of such
coins will be paid to the Command and General Staff College Foundation
to help finance support for the college.
The foundation, I can report, is capably led, and I appreciate the
dynamic leadership of Ret. Col. Ulin. Some of the activities that the
foundation performs include research grants for the faculty, support
for the International Military Officer program, and support for guest
speakers, professional development and other activities.
During my career in the Army, I had the privilege to serve alongside
many great men and women. The passage of H.R. 1177 will ensure that the
Command and General Staff College remains the world-respected military
institute of higher education that it is today.
I would like to thank Mr. Moore for introducing such an important
bill, and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1177.
Ms. JENKINS. I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Kansas, Representative Tiahrt.
(Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. TIAHRT. First of all, Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Dennis
Moore for his leadership in this legislation. He has always sought
during his
[[Page H3608]]
career in Congress to find bipartisan legislation that we could work
together on. I appreciate and also want to thank Congresswoman Jenkins
for her participation and leadership in this issue as well as her time
here on the floor and in Kansas.
This is a unique bill. It's unique legislation that not only
recognizes the service and sacrifice of five United States 5-star
generals but also supports important work at the Command and General
Staff College Foundation at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
During this brief history of World War II, we had great leadership in
America. Following that time, from 1944 to 1950, we had five heroic men
who were promoted to 5-star status as generals, 5-star generals. These
men all exemplified leadership. And when faced with difficult times,
they chose to do the right thing and pursued strong goals to keep this
world safe. And leadership matters. I think that's why this bill is
important and why it matters.
In times that are challenging, whether it's a time of war or a time
of peace, we still are confronted with difficult situations, whether
it's the economy or the safety of this country, and leadership is an
important facet of finding our way through these difficult times. These
five men exemplified that kind of leadership.
I am also very pleased with how this bill was designed by Congressman
Moore to allow the revenues to go to the United States Army Command and
General Staff College Foundation. The Command and General Staff
Foundation is dedicated to supporting the mission and the people of the
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
At the Command and General Staff College we not only educate men and
women in the United States armed services, but we also have fellows who
come from other countries and learn about this country and learn about
how we protect freedom. I think it's valuable information.
But one of the side benefits from the school I experienced personally
is something I think goes on around the world. In 2001, we had two
Kansas missionaries that were taken hostage by Philippine Muslim
terrorists. At that time I went to our National Security Adviser and
requested that we have our troops rescue these missionaries, our
military go out and rescued Martin and Gracia Burnham. At that time we
had no plans to do that in this government, so I bought a commercial
airline ticket and flew to the Philippines.
The liaison office was kind enough to send with me then a Marine
colonel, Col. Regner, who is now Maj. Gen. Regner, and together we went
to the Philippines. On the day before New Year's, in 2001, we flew over
Basilan Island in the Philippines, where Martin and Gracia Burnham, the
two Kansas missionaries, were held hostage.
The next day, on New Year's Day 2002, Col. Regner and I met with
President Arroyo at the Presidential Palace. I was greeted by a cold
shoulder, if I can use that term, and it was because they really didn't
have much, I think, to expect from what they could do on behalf of
these missionaries.
But when I walked in the room, Col. Regner recognized a colonel in
the Philippine Army that he had attended school with at Fort
Leavenworth at the Command and General Staff College. They greeted each
other warmly, and the ice in the room melted. We were able to then
negotiate several things for our military to help assist the rescue
attempts for the Burnhams. And we were able to get, for example,
training for the Philippine Army, and we were able to get advisers to
travel along with the platoons that had completed their training, and
also some assets overhead to find out where they were being held
hostage.
Long story short is that Gracia Burnham is home in Rose Hill, Kansas,
safely today. Her husband Martin was killed in the rescue attempt. And
it was because our advisers were not able to be with that platoon at
the time they ran into the Philippine terrorists.
But the good news about the Command and General Staff College is that
they open doors all around the globe. This foundation is going to
support that organization. So I also want to thank Bob Ulin, the CEO of
the CGSC Foundation, for his dedication to the men and women of the
United States Army.
And again, thank you, Congressman Moore, for your leadership here.
And I want to thank the gentlewoman, Congressman Lynn Jenkins, from
Kansas for the time.
Ms. JENKINS. I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Kansas, Representative Moran.
Mr. MORAN of Kansas. I thank the gentlewoman from Kansas for yielding
to me. It's one of the rare occasions in which all four Members of the
House delegation from our State are together on the floor. And I am
honored to be here with my colleagues.
For nearly 130 years, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, has played a central role in educating
military commanders and producing world leaders. Many of this college's
alumni are the legendary names that my generation grew up reading about
and who continue to inspire us and our country today: Marshall,
MacArthur, Eisenhower, Arnold, Bradley.
The legislation we consider today, introduced by my colleague, the
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) directs the Mint to create a coin in
recognition of these 5-star generals. The proceeds will benefit the
nonprofit foundation formed in 2005 to enhance the education programs
offered at the Command and General Staff College.
Ret. Gen. Gordon Sullivan described the Command and General Staff
College as the intellectual heart of the Army. Part of what makes the
heart beat so strong in recent years is the Command and General Staff
College Foundation. Under the leadership of Ret. Col. Bob Ulin, the
foundation has successfully supported our country's oldest and largest
military staff college by offering many programs and activities to
promote excellence. This success was recently acknowledged with a
tremendous pledge by Ross Perot for two new education initiatives.
With no shortage of threats today from around our world, our country
is demanding much from those who serve us in uniform. Our
servicemembers deserve the best education and training to accomplish
these missions.
{time} 1430
The proceeds of these coins will help ensure that we meet this
commitment to America's military men and women.
I want to especially acknowledge my fellow Member from Kansas, the
Honorable Lynn Jenkins, for her work in moving this legislation
forward. I also want to thank my friend and colleague, Iowa Congressman
Leonard Boswell, who personally secured many of the bill's 300
cosponsors. Mr. Boswell is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran and a
former instructor at the college. Last week I had the pleasure of
watching him be inducted into Fort Leavenworth's Hall of Fame.
Congratulations and best regards to my colleague from Iowa (Mr.
Boswell) on this great honor.
This legislation both honors these great soldiers and alumni of the
Command and General Staff College, but also helps the college continue
its vital mission of professional military education. I urge my
colleagues' support.
Ms. JENKINS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time and
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1177 is a bipartisan measure
that honors our 5-star generals, our colleague, Representative Boswell,
and all of our servicemen and -women fighting to protect us. I urge my
colleagues to vote in favor of this bill, and I yield back my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1177, 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. MOORE of Kansas. Madam 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.
[[Page H3609]]
____________________