[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.
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