[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H1652-H1654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE 
                  NATIONAL GUARD OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1339) to amend title 32, United States Code, the body of 
laws of the United States dealing with the National Guard, to recognize 
the City of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National 
Guard of the United States, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1339

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

     SECTION 1. OFFICIAL DESIGNATION OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, AS 
                   THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF THE 
                   UNITED STATES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In 1629, Captain John Endicott organized the first 
     militia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Salem.
       (2) The colonists had adopted the English militia system, 
     which required all males between the ages of 16 and 60 to 
     possess arms and participate in the defense of the community.
       (3) In 1636, the Massachusetts General Court ordered the 
     organization of three militia regiments, designated as the 
     North, South, and East regiments.
       (4) These regiments drilled once a week and provided guard 
     details each evening to sound the alarm in case of attack.
       (5) The East Regiment, the predecessor of the 101st 
     Engineer Battalion, assembled as a regiment for the first 
     time in 1637 on the Salem Common, marking the beginning of 
     the Massachusetts National Guard and the National Guard of 
     the United States.
       (6) Since 1785, Salem's own Second Corps of Cadets (101st 
     and 102nd Field Artillery) has celebrated the anniversary of 
     that first muster.
       (7) As the policy contained in section 102 of title 32, 
     United States Code, clearly expresses, the National Guard 
     continues its historic mission of providing units for the 
     first line defense of the United States and current missions 
     throughout the world.
       (8) The designation of the City of Salem, Massachusetts, as 
     the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States 
     will contribute positively to tourism and economic 
     development in the city, create jobs, and instill pride in 
     both the local and State communities.
       (b) Designation of Salem, Massachusetts, as National Guard 
     Birthplace.--In light of the findings made in subsection (a), 
     the City of Salem, Massachusetts, is hereby designated as the 
     Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States.
       (c) Responsibilities.--
       (1) Military ceremonial support.--The Chief of the National 
     Guard Bureau, in conjunction with the Secretary of the Army, 
     the Secretary of the Air Force, the Council of Governors, and 
     the Adjutant General of the State of Massachusetts, shall 
     provide military ceremonial support at the dedication of any 
     monument, plaque, or other form of official recognition 
     placed in Salem, Massachusetts, celebrating the designation 
     of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National 
     Guard of the United States.
       (2) Funding source.--Federal funds may not be used to 
     design, procure, prepare, install, or maintain any monument, 
     plaque, or other form of official recognition placed in 
     Salem, Massachusetts, celebrating the designation of Salem, 
     Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the 
     United States, but the Adjutant General of the State of 
     Massachusetts may accept and expend contributions of non-
     Federal funds for this purpose.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) and the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. 
Tsongas) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
insert extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?

[[Page H1653]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1339, recognizing 
the city of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National 
Guard of the United States. I would like to thank my colleague from 
Massachusetts, the Honorable John Tierney, for bringing this measure 
before the House, and I'm honored to be a cosponsor of this legislation 
with him.
  It was in 1629 that Captain John Endicott organized the first militia 
in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Salem and that all males between the 
ages of 16 and 60 participated in the defense of that community. Each 
week, this first regiment diligently practiced drill and provided guard 
detail to protect the colony throughout each night. This militia, and 
those that followed, would come to play a significant role in the 
Revolutionary War and all conflicts that have followed.
  Today, the National Guard continues its proud mission of providing 
units for the first line in defense of our great Nation at home and 
throughout the world. By designating the City of Salem, Massachusetts, 
as the Birthplace of the National Guard of the United States, we hope 
to see positive tourism and economic developments in the city, a city 
already recognized throughout the world as one of immense historical 
significance.
  But most importantly, Mr. Speaker, this resolution will instill pride 
in both the local and State communities in their rich patriotic 
heritage and properly recognizes the critically important role that the 
National Guard has played in defense of our Nation and its citizens 
since the earliest days of our Nation.
  As the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States, the 
services our National Guard has provided our country are innumerable 
and immense. I'm honored to be here today to be part of the history in 
the formal recognition of this, the National Guard's birthplace. I 
encourage my colleagues to join me in support of this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I'd like to offer my support for H.R. 1339, recognizing 
the great city of Salem, Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the 
National Guard of the United States. I'd like to thank my colleague 
from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney) for bringing this important measure, 
of which I am an original cosponsor, before the House.
  The National Guard has provided over 370 years of dedicated service 
to our country. Beginning in 1629, when the first militia was organized 
in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in Salem by Captain John Endicott, the 
National Guard has played a key role in protecting the Nation and 
responding to contingencies around the globe. The National Guard is the 
oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States.
  The patriots who founded our Nation followed English military 
tradition and organized their able-bodied male citizens into militias. 
All males between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to maintain arms 
and participate in the defense of the community. The colonial militias 
protected their countrymen from foreign invaders and helped to win the 
Revolutionary War. Following the war, our Forefathers empowered 
Congress to ``provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the 
militia.'' However, recognizing the militia's State role, the Founding 
Fathers reserved the appointment of officers and training of the 
militia to the States. Today's National Guard still remains a dual 
State-Federal force.
  The service of our Guard is just as vital today as it was in the days 
of our Forefathers. The Guard deployed more than 50,000 troops in 
support of the gulf States following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Tens of 
thousands of Guard members have served in harm's way in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. Today, the National Guard continues its historic dual 
mission, responding to State and local emergencies while ably and 
courageously serving our Nation overseas in times of war alongside 
their Active Duty and Reserve counterparts.
  So I am proud to stand here today to recognize Salem, Massachusetts, 
as a city of great historical significance in the birthplace of our 
National Guard. I urge my colleagues to stand with me in support of 
this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield as much time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), the 
author of the underlying legislation.
  Mr. TIERNEY. I thank my colleague from Massachusetts for yielding, as 
well as for taking the time to help manage this bill and for being an 
original cosponsor; and I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania, as 
well, for cosponsoring this bill and for his kind words in discussion 
of what it is and how meaningful it is not just to Salem, 
Massachusetts, but to the country as well.
  I rise in support of this bill to officially recognize Salem, 
Massachusetts, as the Birthplace of the National Guard. Salem was the 
site where our country's first military regiment mustered. This militia 
was the foundation of what would eventually become the National Guard.
  Last year, I offered a version of this legislation as an amendment to 
the Defense authorization bill, and it was approved by a voice vote. 
Unfortunately, my amendment was not included as part of the final 
conference report. So for the past several months, we've been working 
together to bring this bill to the floor.
  Next month is the 375th anniversary of that first muster on Salem 
Common, and it's being commemorated; so I'm particularly pleased that 
the House is considering this bill at this time. I want to be clear: 
consideration of this bill today is made possible because of bipartisan 
support; and just like my two colleagues here, there are a number of 
people, over 116 cosponsors from both parties, who participated in 
bringing this bill. I want to thank the majority leader, as well as the 
leadership on both sides, for his courtesy given to the staff as well 
as to me. I also want to thank the House Armed Services Committee 
chairman, Buck McKeon, as well as the ranking member, Adam Smith, and 
their staffs; and I want to note the 116 colleagues, Republicans and 
Democrats, all the Democrats on the Armed Service Committee and a 
substantial number of Republicans on that committee for their support.
  This kind of consideration is just the way this House should behave 
and should act, and I'm glad that we were able to do it on this bill.
  So today is an important day for the City of Salem and for the 
National Guard and for local residents like Larry Conway and many 
others who have been advocating for this designation for years. 
Designating Salem as the Birthplace of the National Guard will pay 
tribute to those who first organized to defend our country almost 375 
years ago, and it will also honor those men and women who continue to 
serve in the National Guard today.
  We are working closely with our Senate counterparts to ensure that 
that Chamber acts quickly in time for the 375th anniversary next month. 
I won't recount all of the details my colleagues here were so kind to 
enumerate, but I do note that the bill itself sets forth all the 
important benchmarks and the progress that we've made.
  Again, I want to thank my colleagues, and I urge all the colleagues 
to support this bipartisan bill.

                              {time}  1250

  Mr. PLATTS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to add, again, my words of thanks and 
commendation to the gentleman from Massachusetts for sponsoring this 
resolution. Because, as was reflected, in honoring the birthplace of 
the National Guard, we honor all who have served throughout our 
Nation's history.
  During my statehouse days, as well as now in Congress, I've had the 
remarkable privilege to interact with both my Air and Army National 
Guard in Pennsylvania, as well as National Guard troops from around the 
country in my many visits to Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere. These 
are remarkable, remarkable men and women, citizen soldiers through and 
through, who,

[[Page H1654]]

when called upon, respond to the call of their Nation and their fellow 
citizens, serve us so courageously.
  So, again, I'm honored to be a sponsor of this resolution, and I 
commend the gentleman for introducing it.
  I urge a ``yes'' vote in support of its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1339, 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.
  Ms. TSONGAS. 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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