[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 71 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H3310-H3313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1610
HONORING AMERICAN VETERANS ACT OF 2011
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1627) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in
Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1627
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 ``Honoring American Veterans
Act of 2011''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF MONUMENTS IN
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
Section 2409(b) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``Under'' and inserting ``(1) Under'';
(2) by inserting after ``Secretary of the Army'' the
following: ``and subject to paragraph (2)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(2)(A) Except for a monument containing or marking
interred remains, no monument (or similar structure, as
determined by the Secretary of the Army in regulations) may
be placed in Arlington National Cemetery except pursuant to
the provisions of this subsection.
``(B) A monument may be placed in Arlington National
Cemetery if the monument commemorates--
``(i) the service in the Armed Forces of the individual, or
group of individuals, whose memory is to be honored by the
monument; or
``(ii) a particular military event.
``(C) No monument may be placed in Arlington National
Cemetery until the end of the 25-year period beginning--
``(i) in the case of the commemoration of service under
subparagraph (B)(i), on the last day of the period of service
so commemorated; and
``(ii) in the case of the commemoration of a particular
military event under subparagraph (B)(ii), on the last day of
the period of the event.
``(D) A monument may be placed only in those sections of
Arlington National Cemetery designated by the Secretary of
the Army for such placement and only on land the Secretary
determines is not suitable for burial.
``(E) A monument may only be placed in Arlington National
Cemetery if an appropriate non-governmental entity has agreed
to act as a sponsoring organization to coordinate the
placement of the monument and--
``(i) the construction and placement of the monument are
paid for only using funds from private sources;
``(ii) the Secretary of the Army consults with the
Commission of Fine Arts before approving the design of the
monument; and
``(iii) the sponsoring organization provides for an
independent study on the availability and suitability of
alternative locations for the proposed monument outside of
Arlington National Cemetery.
``(3)(A) The Secretary of the Army may waive the
requirement under paragraph (2)(C) in a case in which the
monument would commemorate a group of individuals who the
Secretary determines--
``(i) has made valuable contributions to the Armed Forces
that have been ongoing and perpetual for longer than 25 years
and are expected to continue on indefinitely; and
``(ii) has provided service that is of such a character
that the failure to place a monument to the group in
Arlington National Cemetery would present a manifest
injustice.
``(B) If the Secretary waives such requirement under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall--
``(i) make available on an Internet website notification of
the waiver and the rationale for the waiver; and
``(ii) submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of
the House of Representatives written notice of the waiver and
the rationale for the waiver.
``(4) The Secretary of the Army shall provide notice to the
Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives of any monument proposed to be placed in
Arlington National Cemetery. During the 60-day period
beginning on the date on which such notice is received,
Congress may pass a joint resolution of disapproval of the
placement of the monument. The proposed monument may not be
placed in Arlington National Cemetery until the later of--
``(A) if Congress does not pass a joint resolution of
disapproval of the placement of the monument, the date that
is 60 days after the date on which notice is received under
this paragraph; or
``(B) if Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval
of the placement of the monument, and the President signs a
veto of such resolution, the earlier of--
``(i) the date on which either House of Congress votes and
fails to override the veto of the President; or
``(ii) the date that is 30 session days after the date on
which Congress received the veto and objections of the
president.''.
SEC. 3. CODIFICATION OF PROHIBITION AGAINST RESERVATION OF
GRAVESITES AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
(a) In General.--Chapter 24 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 2410 the
following new section:
``Sec. 2410A. Arlington National Cemetery: other
administrative matters
``(a) One Gravesite Per Family.--(1) Not more than one
gravesite may be provided at Arlington National Cemetery to a
veteran or member of the Armed Forces who is eligible for
interment at such cemetery and the family members of such
veteran or member who are also eligible for interment at such
cemetery.
``(2) The Secretary may waive the requirement under
paragraph (1) in extreme circumstances, as determined by the
Secretary. If the Secretary waives such requirement under
this paragraph, the Secretary shall submit notice of the
waiver to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of
the House of Representatives.
``(b) Prohibition Against Reservation of Gravesites.--A
gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery may not be reserved
for an individual before the death of such individual.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of chapter 24 of such title is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 2410 the following new
item:
``2410A. Arlington National Cemetery: other administrative matters.''.
(c) Applicability.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
section 2410A of such title, as added by subsection (a),
shall apply with respect to all interments at Arlington
National Cemetery after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(2) Exception.--Subsection (b) of such section, as so
added, shall not apply with respect to the interment of an
individual for whom a written request for a reserved
gravesite was submitted to the Secretary of the Army before
January 1, 1962, and subsequently approved.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army shall
submit to Congress a report on reservations made for
interment at Arlington National Cemetery.
(2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include the following:
(A) The number of requests for reservation of a gravesite
at Arlington National Cemetery that were submitted to the
Secretary of the Army before January 1, 1962.
(B) The number of gravesites at such cemetery that, on the
day before the date of the enactment of this Act, were
reserved in response to such requests.
(C) The number of such gravesites that, on the day before
the date of the enactment of this Act, were unoccupied.
(D) A list of all reservations for gravesites at such
cemetery that were extended by individuals responsible for
management of such cemetery in response to requests for such
reservations made on or after January 1, 1962.
(E) A description of the measures that the Secretary is
taking to improve the accountability and transparency of the
management of gravesite reservations at Arlington National
Cemetery.
(F) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have for
legislative action as the Secretary considers necessary to
improve such accountability and transparency.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE PROVISION OF A
MEMORIAL MARKER ON CHAPLAINS HILL TO HONOR THE
MEMORY OF THE JEWISH CHAPLAINS WHO DIED WHILE
ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) 13 Jewish chaplains have died while on active duty in
the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2) Army Chaplain Rabbi Alexander Goode died on February 3,
1943, when then U.S.S. Dorchester was sunk by German
torpedoes off the coast of Greenland.
(3) Chaplain Goode received the Four Chaplains' Medal for
Heroism and the Distinguished
[[Page H3311]]
Service Cross for his heroic efforts to save the lives of
those onboard the Dorchester.
(4) Army Chaplain Rabbi Irving Tepper was killed in action
in France on August 13, 1944.
(5) Chaplain Tepper also saw combat in Morocco, Tunisia,
and Sicily while attached to an infantry combat team in the
Ninth Division.
(6) Army Chaplain Rabbi Louis Werfel died on December 24,
1944, at the young age of 27, in a plane crash while en route
to conduct Chanukah services.
(7) Chaplain Werfel was known as ``The Flying Rabbi''
because his duties required traveling great distances by
plane to serve Army personnel of Jewish faith at outlying
posts.
(8) Army Chaplain Rabbi Meir Engel died at the Naval
Hospital in Saigon, Vietnam, on December 16, 1964, after
faithfully serving his country during World War II, the
Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
(9) Army Chaplain Rabbi Morton Singer died on December 17,
1968, in a plane crash while on a mission in Vietnam to
conduct Chanukah services.
(10) Army Chaplain Rabbi Herman Rosen died in service of
his faith and his country on June 18, 1943.
(11) His son, Air Force Chaplain Solomon Rosen, also died
in service of his faith and his country on November 2, 1948.
(12) Army Chaplain Rabbi Nachman Arnoff died in service of
his faith and his country on May 9, 1946.
(13) Army Chaplain Rabbi Frank Goldenberg died in service
of his faith and his country on May 22, 1946.
(14) Army Chaplain Rabbi Henry Goody died in service of his
faith and his country on October 19, 1943.
(15) Army Chaplain Rabbi Samuel Hurwitz died in service of
his faith and his country on December 9, 1943.
(16) Air Force Chaplain Rabbi Samuel Rosen died in service
of his faith and his country on May 13, 1955.
(17) Air Force Chaplain Rabbi David Sobel died in service
of his faith and his country on March 7, 1974.
(18) Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery
memorializes the names of 242 chaplains who perished while
serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United
States.
(19) None of the 13 Jewish chaplains who have died while
serving on active duty are memorialized on Chaplains Hill.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that an
appropriate site on Chaplains Hill in Arlington National
Cemetery should be provided for a memorial marker, to be paid
for with private funds, to honor the memory of the Jewish
chaplains who died while on active duty in the Armed Forces
of the United States, so long as the Secretary of the Army
has exclusive authority to approve the design and site of the
memorial marker.
SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE
OF MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
WHO ARE SERVING IN, OR HAVE SERVED IN,
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPERATION IRAQI
FREEDOM, AND OPERATION NEW DAWN.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) More than 2,000,000 members of the Armed Forces have
deployed to the theaters of war since the commencement of
Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and
Operation New Dawn.
(2) Hundreds of thousands of such members have deployed for
multiple tours of duty, leaving their homes, their families,
and in many cases, their civilian jobs.
(3) More than 5,500 members of the Armed Forces have made
the ultimate sacrifice for the United States while serving in
Iraq or Afghanistan.
(4) Tens of thousands of additional members of the Armed
Forces have been seriously wounded in the line of duty while
serving in these theaters of war.
(5) These members of the Armed Forces have answered the
Nation's call to duty, serving bravely and nobly and, in most
cases, without fanfare or acclaim.
(6) These members of the Armed Forces have personified the
virtues of patriotism, service, duty, courage, and sacrifice.
(7) All Americans recognize the service and sacrifices made
by these members of the Armed Forces and their families.
(b) Sense of Congress.--Congress--
(1) honors the members of the Armed Forces who are serving
in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and
Operation New Dawn and the members and veterans who have
previously served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation
Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn; and
(2) calls on all Americans to reflect on the service of
these members and veterans and to hold them in a special
place of honor now and in the future.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1627, as amended, a bill to
provide for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in
Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1627, as amended, is a bipartisan bill that contains several
provisions related to Arlington National Cemetery which were originally
included in H.R. 1627, H.R. 1441, H. Con. Res. 12, and H. Con. Res. 45.
H.R. 1441, introduced by Mr. Runyan, codifies regulations and
policies that bar reservations for burial or interment at Arlington
National Cemetery made on or after January 1, 1962. There was broad
support for this legislation at the committee's legislative hearing,
and we have included two changes that Arlington management raised with
the original text of the bill.
The bill, as amended, also includes additional transparency to the
process of waivers for new monuments at Arlington. Under the process
set up in the bill, as amended, whenever the Secretary of the Army
approves a monument in compliance with the criteria set forth in the
bill, Congress must immediately be notified of the decision. Congress
then has 60 days to pass a resolution opposing the Secretary's
position. This provides a clear check and balance on the Secretary's
decision while removing the added time that it usually takes for
Congress to pass a resolution in support of the waiver, as required by
the current process.
The bill, as amended, also includes H. Con. Res. 12, which expresses
the sense of Congress that an appropriate site on Chaplains Hill in
Arlington National Cemetery be provided for a memorial marker to honor
the memory of Jewish chaplains who died while on active duty. The honor
of this monument for these brave servicemembers is long overdue, and I
am especially glad we were able to pass this resolution during the
month of May, which is Jewish American Heritage Month.
Finally, the bill as amended includes H. Con. Res. 45, which I
introduced, honoring the service and sacrifice of the members of the
United States Armed Forces who are serving in, or who have served in,
Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New
Dawn. As we observe Memorial Day next week, I believe it is very
appropriate to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of these veterans
and servicemembers from our most recent conflicts.
I urge all Members to support H.R. 1627, as amended.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I too rise in support of this piece of legislation, Honoring American
Veterans Act of 2011. It is a very important, very sacred
responsibility with the placement of monuments and how Arlington
National Cemetery and our national cemeteries work. It is very clear in
the prohibition of the reservation of grave sites at Arlington
National. It also makes clear that only one grave site per family is
permitted for burial.
Again, I am proud of serving on this committee and am proud of the
chairman and the subcommittee chairman's work. There was a little bit
of controversy as we talked through this issue of Arlington monuments,
but I am very pleased the way this worked out. I think the compromise,
working with the Senate and making sure that happens is in the right
interest of the veterans' groups; it is in the right interest of those
families who have their loved ones interred at Arlington.
I think once we develop that commission, it keeps Congress in the
loop, strikes that proper balance of the original bill, we are going to
have a really great piece of legislation, and that is exactly the way
it is supposed to work.
This piece of legislation does honor the memory of those Jewish
chaplains at Arlington by establishing a memorial marker on Chaplains
Hill, and rightly so, to honor those who died while on active duty, and
pays tribute to all of our servicemembers serving in Operation Enduring
Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.
I think it is, again, absolutely appropriate that this piece of
legislation is coming up the week before Memorial Day, and I believe
the committee is doing the work we were sent to do.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance
[[Page H3312]]
and Memorial Affairs, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).
Mr. RUNYAN. I thank Chairman Miller.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1627, as amended, a
bill containing several provisions regarding Arlington National
Cemetery.
H.R. 1627, as amended and introduced by Chairman Miller, alters the
requirements for the placement of certain monuments within Arlington
National Cemetery. It would limit the erection of monuments not
containing interred remains. These changes bring the requirements in
better accord with the primary purpose of the cemetery: to honor our
fallen servicemembers.
H.R. 1441, which I have introduced and included in H.R. 1627, as
amended, would codify the regulations and policies barring reservations
for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.
After being informed by a constituent of potential problems of past
mismanagement at the cemetery, including lax oversight, damaged graves,
and improper burials, I met with Mr. Patrick Hallinan, superintendent
of Arlington National Cemetery, and Ms. Kathryn Condon, executive
director of the Army National Cemeteries Program, in March, who helped
me to quickly address and resolve the concerns of my constituent. H.R.
1627 will give Mr. Hallinan and Ms. Condon valuable tools to further
aid them in their stewardship of some of the Nation's most sacred
ground.
The space at Arlington National Cemetery is very limited, so we must
plan accordingly. These provisions ensure that our Nation's most
revered cemetery will remain open to all eligible veterans, regardless
of rank or position, while maintaining its current pristine and
peaceful setting for the interment of our fallen servicemembers.
The bill, as amended, also includes H. Con. Res. 12, which expresses
the same sense of Congress that a monument should be placed to honor
Jewish chaplains. As an original cosponsor of this resolution, I am
thankful that we were able to include it in this bill.
Finally, the bill, as amended, includes H. Con. Res. 45, which
Chairman Miller introduced to honor the commitment and dedication of
our Armed Forces who are serving, or have served, in Operation Enduring
Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.
Over 2 million members of the armed services have been deployed to
theaters of war since the commencement of Operation Enduring Freedom,
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. As Chairman Miller
noted, it is especially fitting that we honor our servicemembers as
Memorial Day approaches.
I want to thank my friend, Mr. McNerney of California, the ranking
member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorials, for
his bipartisan leadership in moving this bill forward.
I urge all Members to support H.R. 1627, as amended.
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Loebsack).
Mr. LOEBSACK. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1627, which contains
legislation that Congressman Runyan and I introduced to end the
practice of backroom deals and reservations at Arlington National
Cemetery.
It codifies what has been Army policy since 1962--that every eligible
servicemember should be buried at Arlington without regard for rank or
status. Unfortunately, Army policy has gone unheeded for over 40 years,
and past supervisors of the cemetery have allowed these deals to
continue. The bill, therefore, requires a full accounting of the off-
the-books deals that have been made in the past.
Arlington National Cemetery, as we all know, is our Nation's most
hallowed ground. The promise we make to those who wear our Nation's
uniform and to their families is that our Nation will honor and
remember their service, that we will never forget that freedom is not
free.
As Memorial Day approaches, as everyone today has mentioned, I
strongly believe we should honor all those who have served by putting
an end to reservations at Arlington once and for all.
{time} 1620
I would especially like to thank Congressman Runyan for allowing me
to work with him on H.R. 1441 and on the larger bill, H.R. 1627. I want
to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Mr. Filner for their support as
well.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner).
Mr. WEINER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
I also want to express my appreciation to Chairman Miller, Ranking
Member Filner, Chairman Runyan of the subcommittee, and our colleague
Congressman McNerney.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1627, which contains
authorization language from a bill that I sponsored, House Concurrent
Resolution 12, to designate a plot of land at Arlington Cemetery to be
used for a memorial honoring the Jewish chaplains of our Armed
Services.
Jewish chaplains have served our country for 149 years. In fact,
there are 32 currently on active duty today, yet they still do not have
a place with their Protestant and Catholic counterparts on Chaplains
Hill in Arlington Cemetery. Today, all that is standing between
Arlington Cemetery and a memorial for Jewish chaplains is the passage
of this bill in the House and Senate.
I, frankly, am not the one who thought of creating a memorial for
Jewish chaplains. In fact, like many Jewish Americans and veterans
nationwide, I was surprised to learn that no such memorial existed at
Arlington Cemetery. A citizen named Ken Kraetzer, who is the vice
commander of the Sons of the American Legion for New York State and who
is joining us here today, noted the absence of a monument for Jewish
chaplains while he was researching the stories of the four immortal
chaplains who died while giving final rites on board the USS Dorchester
in 1943.
For those who are unfamiliar with the story, as I was, a convoy of
three ships passed through ``torpedo alley'' off the coast of Greenland
at about 1 a.m. on February 3, 1943. A German U-boat fired three
torpedoes, one of which hit the Dorchester--a U.S. Army troop ship with
more than 900 men on board. The four chaplains on board--two Protestant
pastors, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi--were among the first on
deck, calming the men and handing out lifejackets. When they ran out of
lifejackets, without regard to faith or race, they took off their own
and placed them on waiting soldiers. Approximately 18 minutes from the
explosion, the ship went down. By witnesses, they were last seen
standing arm-in-arm on the hull of the ship, each praying in his own
way for the care of the men. Almost 700 died that day, making it the
third largest loss at sea of its kind for the United States during
World War II.
While trying to locate these four famous chaplains on Chaplains Hill,
Mr. Kraetzer noticed that Rabbi Alexander Goode was the only one of the
four chaplains not distinguished by a memorial. Ken partnered with two
other veterans, Rabbi Harold Robinson and Sol Moglen, who are also in
the gallery today, to help lead fund-raising efforts. It took just a
few months, and they raised over $50,000.
They used the other memorials as a model for the new monument they
proposed for the 13 Jewish chaplains who lost their lives from 1943 to
1974. The monument, as designed, will stand 7 feet tall with a bronze
plaque mounted on a granite slab, listing all 13 names, as well as the
Jewish proverb, ``I ask not for a lighter burden but for broader
shoulders,'' and it would also have an inscription of the Star of
David. There will also be a place at the bottom for future chaplains
if, God forbid, needed.
While planning this project, Mr. Kraetzer, Rabbi Robinson and Mr.
Moglen were in touch with Arlington Cemetery. They were notified--
something that I'm sure members of the committee knew, but I did not--
that a 2001 rule requires congressional approval for all memorials at
Arlington Cemetery, which we are rectifying today with this bill. It
should be pointed out that the section of the bill that we are going to
be sponsoring mirrors Senate action. Although it's part of a
[[Page H3313]]
larger bill, it will take effect as soon as their action takes effect.
It does not need the signing of the President, according to those at
the Army.
The group quickly alerted the Jewish War Veterans of the United
States of America, the Jewish Welfare Board, the Jewish Chaplains
Council, and they finally reached out to me. I was touched by the work
of these great men, and quickly introduced a resolution to fix the
problem. Senator Schumer is the sponsor of the Senate version, S. Con.
Res. 4, which has 25 Senate sponsors. The resolution we have today is
bipartisan in nature. It has 86 cosponsors, and had been endorsed by 35
Jewish organizations and 47 Jewish War Veterans chapters before being
added to the bill.
The Jewish Federations of North America and Shelly Rood have been
working to help pass this bill to recognize the achievements of these
13 Jewish chaplains. I also want to thank Major Gretchen Gardner of
Arlington Cemetery for helping us all navigate the Army's process.
My staff has been ensured by Major Gardner and others that, if we and
the Senate pass this bill, it will satisfy the requirements of 32 CFR
553.22(1) of the Code of Federal Regulations, which governs the
monuments at Arlington Cemetery.
Finally, surviving members of the chaplains have been involved in
this process. I want to particularly recognize David and Rafael Engel,
who are the sons of Meir Engel, and their children, Jonathan and Yael,
who are here with us today, as well as Vera Silberberg, the daughter of
Morton Singer.
I am very grateful that we are one step closer to raising this
monument and to properly honoring the brave Jewish chaplains who serve
our country today. There can be no better way to celebrate Jewish
Heritage Month. I look forward to the ceremony at Arlington Cemetery
that will follow this vote.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.
Mr. WEINER. Mr. Chairman and my colleagues, if it would be
appropriate, I would like to now list the names of the 13 fallen
chaplains who will be honored on this memorial should this become law:
Captain Nachman Arnoff of the United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel
Meir Engel of the United States Army, First Lieutenant Frank Goldenberg
of the United States Army, Lieutenant Alexander Goode of the United
States Army, Lieutenant Henry Goody of the United States Army, Major
Samuel Hurwitz of the United States Army, First Lieutenant Herman Rosen
of the United States Army, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Rosen of the
United States Air Force, First Lieutenant Solomon Rosen of the United
States Army, Captain Morton Singer of the United States Army, Captain
David Sobel of the United States Air Force, Captain Irving Tepper of
the United States Army, and First Lieutenant Louis Werfel of the United
States Army.
May God bless their souls, and may we remember them and honor them
with a memorial at Arlington Cemetery.
I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this, and I thank my
colleagues for their indulgence.
Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from
referencing persons occupying the gallery.
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. We are certainly proud of this piece of
legislation, Madam Speaker, and we are in full support of it. I would
like to thank the gentleman from New York for his unflinching and
unwavering work to get this done for all the right reasons.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I too want to thank my good friend from New
York (Mr. Weiner) for his fine work on this piece of legislation. I am
proud to have it in the bill today at this particular time of the year,
in the month of May.
General Leave
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1627, as
amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1627, 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. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________