[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 186 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H8173-H8174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CHANGES IN MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF AMERICA, 
                                  INC.

  Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 1541) to revise the Federal charter for the Blue Star Mothers 
of America, Inc. to reflect a change in eligibility requirements for 
membership.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1541

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. MODIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP TERMS.

       Section 30504 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking the text preceding subparagraph (A) and 
     inserting ``she is a mother (meaning a woman who filled the 
     role of birthmother, adoptive mother, step-mother, foster-
     mother, grandmother, or legal guardian) of a person who--''; 
     and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``in World War II or 
     the Korean hostilities''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or is a citizen of the 
     United States living outside the United States'' before the 
     period at the end.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Gohmert) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous materials on S. 1541, currently under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The Blue Star Mothers of America was established during World War II 
and federally chartered in 1960. The organization's 5,000 members and 
225 chapters provide support for our men and women in uniform and 
assist veterans' organizations. According to their charter, the Blue 
Star Mothers also care for unsupported mothers.
  Membership in the Blue Star Mothers is open to a mother, an adoptive 
mother or stepmother who lives in the U.S. of a child who serves in the 
Armed Forces or has served in the Armed Forces during World War II or 
the Korean War.

[[Page H8174]]

  Wendy Hoffman, the national president of the Blue Star Mothers, has 
sent a letter to the committee and requests that their charter be 
amended consistent with the resolution passed at their national 
convention. She stated the following:
  ``As mothers of American servicemembers and veterans, we recognize 
changing family dynamics and have found it extremely important to 
include other `mothers' who have played a part in raising military 
heroes and also those mothers who are not residents of the U.S.''
  The Blue Star Mothers have also opened membership to mothers of 
children who have served in the military at any time. This bill makes 
the changes to the charter requested by the Blue Star Mothers. Our 
colleague Scott Tipton introduced the House version of the bill, H.R. 
2815, and the Judiciary Committee approved Mr. Tipton's bill by voice 
vote.
  This commonsense bill opens eligibility to ``a woman who filled the 
role of birth mother, adoptive mother, stepmother, foster-mother, 
grandmother, or legal guardian'' to a current member of the Armed 
Forces or to a child who has served at any time. To be eligible, the 
mother will not have to reside in the United States as long as she is a 
U.S. citizen.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill to help enable the Blue 
Star Mothers to continue their wonderful work.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  S. 1541, the Senate version of H.R. 2815, is another bipartisan bill 
to revise the Federal charter of the Blue Star Mothers of America. The 
revisions implemented by the legislation once again reflect minor 
changes recently made to the organization's membership eligibility 
requirements.
  The Blue Star Mothers of America, representing the mothers of 
military servicemen and -women, has been a federally chartered 
organization since 1960. The existing charter restricts member in three 
ways:
  A, members must be birth mothers, adoptive mothers, or certain 
stepmothers;
  B, members must be U.S. citizens currently living in the country; and
  C, the corresponding serviceman or -woman must be currently serving 
in the Armed Forces or must have served in World War II or the Korean 
War.
  Last year, at the organization's national convention, the group 
adopted a resolution expanding these eligibility criteria. A conforming 
amendment to the Federal charter is needed in order make these changes 
operable.
  S. 1541, the Senate bill, was introduced by Senator Michael Bennet of 
Colorado. Its House companion was introduced by Representative Scott 
Tipton, also of Colorado.
  The legislation makes three minor revisions to the organization's 
charter:
  First, to expand the membership eligibility requirements to include 
foster mothers, grandmothers, female legal guardians, and all 
stepmothers;
  Second, it expands membership to U.S. citizens living abroad;
  Third, it expands eligibility to servicemen and -women who served in 
prior conflicts other than World War II and the Korean War.
  Our men and women in the military need all the support we can offer, 
so I applaud this effort by the Blue Star Mothers to provide the circle 
of support that the organization can provide. They do much to remember 
our servicepeople, and I appreciate their efforts. I support these 
changes, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, this is also another very bipartisan 
bill.
  The Blue Star Mothers is a wonderful group. I have met with them and 
I have wept with them. I've prayed for them and am grateful to them for 
their work. I'm grateful for my mother, who passed away in 1991, as the 
mother of a servicemember and my stepmother as well, now.
  What they're asking for makes perfect sense, and I would encourage my 
colleagues to support this resolution as the Blue Star Mothers have 
requested.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, S. 1541.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________