[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 160 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H6996-H6997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS NATIONAL MEMORIAL ACT
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 320) to designate a Distinguished Flying Cross
National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside,
California.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 320
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 ``Distinguished Flying Cross
National Memorial Act''.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS NATIONAL
MEMORIAL IN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The most reliable statistics regarding the number of
members of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the
Distinguished Flying Cross indicate that 126,318 members of
the Armed Forces received the medal during World War II,
approximately 21,000 members received the medal during the
Korean conflict, and 21,647 members received the medal during
the Vietnam War. Since the end of the Vietnam War, more than
203 Armed Forces members have received the medal in times of
conflict.
(2) The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis,
Missouri, burned down in 1973, and thus many more recipients
of the Distinguished Flying Cross may be undocumented.
Currently, the Department of Defense continues to locate and
identify members of the Armed Forces who have received the
medal and are undocumented.
(3) The United States currently lacks a national memorial
dedicated to the bravery and sacrifice of those members of
the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by heroic
deeds performed in aerial flight.
(4) An appropriate memorial to current and former members
of the Armed Forces is under construction at March Field Air
Museum in Riverside, California.
(5) This memorial will honor all those members of the Armed
Forces who have distinguished themselves in aerial flight,
whether documentation of such members who earned the
Distinguished Flying Cross exists or not.
(b) Designation.--The memorial to members of the Armed
Forces who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross,
located at March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California,
is hereby designated as the Distinguished Flying Cross
National Memorial.
(c) Effect of Designation.--The national memorial
designated by this section is not a unit of the National Park
System, and the designation of the national memorial shall
not be construed to require or permit Federal funds to be
expended for any purpose related to the national memorial.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs.
Napolitano) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.
General Leave
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Alaska?
There was no objection.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking Congressman Calvert for
introducing this bill to designate a memorial in honor of the over
150,000 current and former members of the Armed Forces who have been
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The new memorial was dedicated on October 27, 2010, at March Field
Air Museum in Riverside, California. With the legislation, the memorial
will be designated as the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial.
This designation honors these patriots and does not require or permit
the expenditure of any Federal dollars.
I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mrs. NAPOLITANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, the recipients of the Distinguished
Flying
[[Page H6997]]
Cross include Captain Charles Lindbergh, Commander Richard Byrd, Amelia
Earhart, and Captain Mark Kelly. You might know who Captain Mark Kelly
is because he had his medal pinned on him by his wife--our dear
colleague, Representative Gabby Giffords. All of the men and women who
have received this medal are American heroes, and the March Field Air
Museum is to be commended for its efforts to establish a memorial
honoring these individuals.
On our side, we would likely support some Federal funding for this
project, but in knowing our status on our budgetary problems, our
friends on the other side have written the bill to prohibit Federal
support. Nevertheless, we do wholeheartedly support H.R. 320.
I commend my friend and colleague Ken Calvert, from my home State of
California, for introducing this piece of legislation to recognize all
our heroes.
With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume
to the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. I rise in support of H.R. 320, a bill to designate a
national Distinguished Flying Cross memorial in Riverside, California.
I thank my friends Mr. Young and Mrs. Napolitano for managing the
bill today.
I am honored to represent the Inland Empire Chapter of the
Distinguished Flying Cross Society, which is the primary sponsor of
this memorial. The memorial honors all current and former members of
the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
In the 111th Congress, I introduced H.R. 2788, which passed the House
unanimously; and today, I stand again in support of H.R. 320, which
would designate a memorial at March Field Air Museum as the
Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial. The legislation is
supported by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, the Military
Officers Association of America, the Air Force Association, the Air
Force Sergeants Association, the Association of Naval Aviation, the
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, and the China-Burma-India
Veterans Association.
I would like to point out the language in the bill specifically
states that the designation shall not be construed to require or permit
Federal funds to be expended for any purpose related to the national
memorial. Funds have been and will continue to be raised through
private means for these purposes.
The Distinguished Flying Cross recipients have received this
prestigious medal for their heroism and extraordinary achievement while
participating in aerial flight while serving in any capacity with the
U.S. Armed Forces. There are many well-known people who have played a
vital role in the history of military aviation and have received the
award. As was previously mentioned, this renowned group includes
Captain Charles L. Lindbergh, former President George H. W. Bush,
Brigadier General Jimmy Doolittle, General Curtis LeMay, Senator
McCain, Jimmy Stewart, and Admiral Jim Stockdale--just to name a few.
The March Air Reserve Base, which hosts the C-17As of the 452nd Air
Mobility Wing is adjacent to the location of the memorial at the March
Field Air Museum. Visitors are able to witness active operational air
units provide support for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is
an appropriate setting that honors the many aviators who have
distinguished themselves by deeds performed in aerial flight.
{time} 1650
I would like to thank those who worked tirelessly to ensure this
memorial is built and is properly designated in honor of the
distinguished aviators that have served this great Nation. In
particular, I'd like to recognize Jim Champlin; his late wife, Trish;
Distinguished Flying Cross Society president, Chuck Sweeney; and the
society's historian, Dr. Barry Lanman, who have been instrumental in
this effort.
Again, I hope you'll join me in supporting the designation of the
National Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial at the March Field Air
Museum and support H.R. 320.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I just want to urge both sides to
support H.R. 320, but at the same time I'd also like to thank our
majority and our minority, not only our Members, but also the staff
that have done a very wonderful job in helping us put this stuff
together and putting up with us.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 320, ``Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act,'' which
designates a Distinguish Flying Cross National Memorial at the March
Field Air Museum in Riverside, California. Recipients of the
Distinguished Flying Cross are awarded to any officer of enlisted
member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or
herself in support of operations by ``heroism or extraordinary
achievement while participating in an aerial flight.''
The March Field Air Museum serves as the appropriate location for
such a prestigious honor. Its home sits on the March Air Force Base.
March Air Force Base dates back to a time when the United States was
rushing to build up its military forces in anticipation of entering
World War I. It continued to be used as a pilot training center and as
well as an operational base throughout World War II. March Air Force
Base was a part of outstanding achievements in test flights and other
contributions to the science of aviation. For over seventy years, March
has been a key component in the advance of aviation and in the growth
of the modern Air Force.
The March Field Air Museum is representative of American ingenuity in
aviation. The museum hosts a collection of military and vintage
aircraft that presents an extraordinary look at the history of aviation
and the use of aviation in modern warfare. The museum tells the story
of how aircraft were first used in warfare and how they have become a
vital part of our nation's military power.
As all of our military, we hold a special place in our hearts for
those pilots who operated those aircraft. These aviators supported our
ground troops from the air during times of war. This honor will bestow
the nation's gratitude upon those who are so deserving of recognition.
I am happy to share in this opportunity with my colleagues to place in
our nation's history the recognition of these heroes of the skies. Our
nation is better for the heroism of these brave men and women.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for
H.R. 320, the Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial Act.
I want to thank my colleague from southern California, Mr. Calvert,
for sponsoring this bill and championing this cause to recognize some
of our nation's greatest aviators.
March Air Field Museum, located in California's Inland Empire, at the
site of the March Air Reserve Base, is a place for Americans to learn
and celebrate our nation's great aviation and military histories.
It is appropriate then, that this museum serve as a sight for the
United States to officially recognize the heroic service of over
165,000 Americans who have received the Distinguished Flying Cross.
The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to a member of the Armed
Forces who distinguishes himself or herself with heroism or
extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.
March Air Force Bace, March Air Reserve Base, and now March Air Field
Museum have all been vital parts of the fabric of our community in
California's Inland Empire.
I urge all my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 320 and help ensure
California's Inland Empire will forever serve as home to the
Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 320.
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. YOUNG of Alaska. 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, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
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