[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM

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                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 1, 2012

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my 
colleagues, Lynn Westmoreland and Senator Saxby Chambliss, in support 
of this legislation, which will strengthen for the future one of the 
crown jewels of southwest Georgia--the National Infantry Museum and 
Soldier Center at Fort Benning.
  The National Infantry Museum sits on a 200 acre site that serves as a 
tribute to the Infantry's legacy of valor and sacrifice. The Museum 
honors infantry soldiers--from those who crossed the icy Delaware River 
with George Washington to those serving in Afghanistan today--for their 
selfless service to our country, while preserving their stories for 
future generations.
  It also serves as a functional area for basic training graduations 
and other special and community events. Since its opening in 2009, for 
example, Infantry School classes regularly graduate on the facility's 
parade field.
  In addition, the National Infantry Museum hosted a Congressional 
Military Family Caucus Summit just over a month ago, which connected 
military families with Members of Congress, officials from the 
Department of Defense, personnel from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and various military and veteran support organizations to 
discuss pressing issues impacting America's service members and their 
families.
  In 2008, the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center 
Commemorative Coin Act was enacted to raise funds to complete the 
facility as well as create an endowment to support its maintenance. No 
taxpayer funds have been involved and the U.S. Mint even made a profit 
for the taxpayers from the coin sales.
  With the current economic challenges, however, the National Infantry 
Museum and Soldier Center hopes to direct the coin proceeds to pay down 
a portion of the $16 million in bank loans that the Foundation incurred 
in order to complete the facility as well as reduce interests costs.
  Accordingly, this legislation makes a technical change that will 
allow the coin proceeds to be used ``for the retirement of debt 
associated with building the existing National Infantry Museum and 
Soldier center and for any future capital improvements.'' It is within 
the letter and the spirit of the original measure, and it will go a 
long way toward keeping our proud Army Infantry past alive so we as 
great nation never forget the sacrifices of our brave Infantry 
soldiers.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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