[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5043-H5045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     GOLD STAR FAMILIES VOICES ACT

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4511) to amend the Veterans' Oral History Project Act to 
allow the collection of video and audio recordings of biographical 
histories by immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces 
who died as a result of their service during a period of war.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4511

       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 ``Gold Star Families Voices 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. COLLECTION OF VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS OF 
                   BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORIES BY IMMEDIATE FAMILY 
                   MEMBERS OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO DIED 
                   AS A RESULT OF THEIR SERVICE DURING A PERIOD OF 
                   WAR.

       (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 3(a) of the 
     Veterans' Oral History Project Act (20 U.S.C. 2142(a)(1)) is 
     amended to read as follows:
       ``(1) to collect video and audio recordings of--
       ``(A) personal histories and testimonials of veterans of 
     the Armed Forces who served during a period of war; and
       ``(B) biographical histories by immediate family members of 
     members of the Armed Forces who became missing in action or 
     died as a result of their service during a period of war;''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3 of the Veterans' Oral 
     History Project Act (20 U.S.C. 2142) is further amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(d) Definition of Immediate Family Member.--For purposes 
     of subsection (a), the term `immediate family member' means a 
     parent, spouse, sibling, or child.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Harper) and the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. 
Esty) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material in the Record on the consideration of the 
bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4511, the Gold Star Families 
Voices Act.
  The Gold Star Families Voices Act expands the Library of Congress' 
Veterans History Project that was created by Congress in the year 2000. 
Now in its 16th year, the Veterans History Project carries out the 
mission to collect, preserve, and make accessible America's war 
veterans' accounts of events that occurred during our Nation's military 
conflicts. These recordings are publicly available so that we may all 
benefit from their experience as well as offer future generations a 
valuable tool to

[[Page H5044]]

learn and better understand the realities of war.
  Over the years, the Veterans History Project has collected, recorded 
interviews, as well as memoirs and original photographs, letters, maps, 
and other documents noting the historical events from conflicts dating 
back to World War I to recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. In 
February of this year, the project collected their 100,000 veteran 
account.
  Currently, Veterans History Project submissions are limited to 
firsthand veterans' accounts. Because of this, the project 
unintentionally does not collect accounts and histories of 
servicemembers who did not return from action.
  Championed by Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey's Fourth 
District, this bill will make an important update, allowing the 
immediate family members of veterans who died as a result of their 
wartime service or were missing in action to provide stories on behalf 
of their relatives.
  The measure before us was reported unanimously out of the Committee 
on House Administration and has received the support of American Gold 
Star Mothers, Inc., a group of mothers who have lost a son or daughter 
while they served on behalf of their country.
  Stemming from World War I, the families displayed a flag with a blue 
star to represent each immediate family member who was serving in the 
Armed Forces. Those whose immediate family members died while serving 
in the war replaced those blue stars with a gold star to honor their 
loved one's sacrifice while they were defending our Nation and the 
cause of freedom.
  Following World War I, a group of mothers banded together in their 
grief and formed the American Gold Star Mothers in 1928. Their 
organization has expanded nationally, and other groups have formed to 
support Gold Star Families and Gold Star Spouses.
  Our Armed Forces and Nation as a whole recognizes not only the fallen 
men and women who don the uniform and stand in defense of our democracy 
and liberty, but together, we also honor the families of those brave 
men and women who have given so much of themselves to our Nation.
  It is also fitting that the House consider passage of this bill 
honoring the memory of those fallen during the month of September. 
While we keep those that serve and have served, as well as their 
families, in our hearts each and every day, our Nation also annually 
observes the last Sunday of September as Gold Star Mothers and Gold 
Star Families Day.
  Honoring their sacrifice is just one reason why it is important to 
update the Veterans History Project to include voices of those fallen 
through our Gold Star families.
  Our Gold Star families will be able to tell our Nation about their 
family member's individual experiences and path that led them to answer 
the call to service within our Nation's military branches. These family 
members will be able to tell us the stories that their loved ones sent 
home through a letter or a phone call describing their experiences and 
daily life while serving.
  So many brave men and women have stood up and responded each time our 
Nation called, and so many more made the ultimate sacrifice. Preserving 
the legacies of all those who have contributed to our Nation's defense 
is a cornerstone of what it means to be an American. As a country, we 
are continually strengthened because of the legacies our servicemembers 
left behind for future generations.
  This important addition will only enhance the Veterans History 
Project, the Library of Congress' overall mission, and the countless 
current and future individuals who will benefit from access to these 
cherished memories, as well as our servicemen and -women's sobering 
accounts discussing the price of war.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4511, Gold Star Families 
Voices Act.
  I would like to thank my friend, Congressman Chris Smith, for his 
leadership on many veterans' issues and in support of military 
families, and my friend, Congressman Harper, for his help today in 
ensuring that we pass this important bill to recognize Gold Star 
families.
  Not long after I was sworn into office, I went to a Memorial Day 
breakfast in Waterbury, Connecticut, home of many veterans. Every year, 
they have a Gold Star Families breakfast. At that breakfast, I met a 
number of families, some who lost loved ones 50 years ago and still 
carry in their hearts every day the pain of that loss.
  One of the people I met was Joe Nolan. Joe served proudly in Vietnam. 
His son, a gifted linguist--in 1999, a college graduate--snuck off to a 
recruiting station in Philadelphia and signed up to serve. Remember, 
this is prior to 9/11. He felt that call, like his father had. He 
served. Tragically, bravely, he lost his life in the Battle of Fallujah 
in 2004 defending this country.
  Joe came to me and said: ``You know, Elizabeth, we have this 
wonderful program for Gold Star Mothers, but I am a dad. And I miss my 
son every day.''
  That is why I joined with colleagues in this Chamber and we 
reintroduced the Gold Star Fathers Act, which the President signed into 
law, to recognize that fathers and mothers of sons and daughters bleed 
and cry when their children are lost.
  So today we have an opportunity to recognize some of those families. 
One of them is Mary Kight. Mary Kight, also from Waterbury, 
Connecticut, is the proud head of the Gold Star Mothers organization in 
Connecticut. Her son, Michael, was a helicopter pilot. He flew a Huey 
in Vietnam. She was devastated when he died, and particularly hurt 
because it was such a difficult time in the war. She said she felt like 
her son's sacrifice meant nothing.
  Our Nation's commitment--what we are doing today to recognize her son 
and give her the opportunity to tell her story--is so important. She 
has come to embrace the Gold Star Families organization. It has helped 
her and others to celebrate the lives of their loved ones. Actually, 
last year she went up in a Huey. She went up in a Huey, much as she 
does not like to fly, but she thought about her son Michael, and she 
was quoted as saying, ``I felt closer to him.'' He died while trying to 
evacuate wounded soldiers on the battlefield in Vietnam.

  Stephen Reich, also another proud son of my district--another 
helicopter pilot--lost his life in 2005. He was attempting to extract a 
SEAL team and died in Afghanistan.
  These are only three families of the tens of thousands in this 
country. Their sacrifice, as much or more than anyone else, deserves to 
be recorded in the Library of Congress to remind us of the price of 
freedom, to remind us that we owe them a debt of gratitude.
  I am sure my friend, Congressman Harper, like myself, have conducted 
some of these Veterans History Project interviews. They are really 
meaningful and they are really important. The history of this country 
is not only about Presidents and generals and admirals. It is written 
in the blood of the men and women who served this country, and 
especially those who never returned.
  So I am delighted today to join with colleagues and urge all my 
colleagues to join in not only supporting this legislation, but to make 
a commitment to go out and find those Gold Star families in your 
district and make sure they have the opportunity to tell their loved 
one's story as part of this country's great history.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, 
Mr. Harper, and Ms. Esty for their strong support for the bill. Ms. 
Esty is one of the cosponsors of the bill. I also want to thank 
Chairwoman Miller for her leadership and good work in shepherding this 
important bill through the committee and Ranking Member Brady for his 
support of the initiative.
  I also appreciate the work of the committee staff, including Brad 
Walvort and Bob Sensenbrenner, and my legislative director, Cate 
Benedetti, and especially Majority Leader McCarthy and Kelly Dixon for 
posting the bill for consideration this afternoon.
  I do rise in strong support and urge my colleagues to support the 
Gold Star

[[Page H5045]]

Families Voices Act, legislation designed to ensure that immediate 
family members of servicemembers who are killed or missing in action or 
have died as a result of their service participate in the Library of 
Congress' Veterans History Project.
  Congress created the project, as Mr. Harper pointed out, to collect 
and catalog stories of American war veterans. We did this in 2000 to 
help preserve their memories so that current and future generations may 
hear and better appreciate the realities of war and the sacrifices 
borne by those who served in uniform.
  The project is designed to turn their memories into our history to 
memorialize the lives of heroes whose selfless sacrifice has 
contributed, and continues to contribute, to our freedom and liberty 
and our collective understanding of who we are as a Nation.
  It has been a great success. In fact, earlier this year, the Library 
announced that it reached a milestone, with 100,000 veteran stories 
archived. There are now more than 100,000 testimonies of veterans who 
served in military engagements since World War I in our permanent 
record.
  However, conspicuously missing from the rich project's history are 
the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Currently--which this 
bill will correct--the project accepts only firsthand accounts of 
living veterans, unintentionally leaving out the men and women who did 
not return from the battlefield and can no longer speak for themselves.
  Mr. Speaker, this issue was first brought to my attention by Vietnam 
veteran Terry Fearon and the New Jersey Gold Star Mothers organization. 
Its president, Judi Tapper, the proud mother of Petty Officer First 
Class David Tapper, a Navy SEAL who was killed in Afghanistan on August 
20, 2003, recently told me: ``Never in history has there been a forum 
to replace our heroes' silenced voices.''

                              {time}  1615

  Enactment of this bill will help change that. It will ensure we 
record and remember the lives and sacrifices of all who have served by 
providing family members the opportunity to create a lasting narrative 
and living record of their fallen loved ones.
  This bill is endorsed by the national organization known as the 
American Gold Star Mothers, whose second vice president, Becky 
Christmas, said:

       The legislation gives our family, our children, a voice 
     that they no longer have. The Gold Star Families Voices Act 
     will ensure that the experiences and lives of all veterans, 
     including our sons and daughters who fought and died for our 
     country, are remembered, honored and preserved.

  Mr. Speaker, during my quarter of a century of service on the House 
Veterans' Affairs Committee, and as we crafted this bill, I have had 
the great privilege of working with the Gold Star Mothers. They are an 
incredibly inspiring, committed, and dedicated group of women who have 
worked tirelessly and successfully to bring about meaningful change to 
better the lives of servicemembers, veterans, and their families.
  So I urge my colleagues to pass this bill and honor the men and women 
who gave ``the last full measure of devotion'' in the service of our 
Nation by allowing their family members to tell their stories, so that 
all Americans can hear, appreciate, remember, and honor these patriots.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I ask my colleagues--urge them--to pass this bill. It is important 
that we understand the realities of war.
  This past weekend, many of us participated in parades, earlier this 
year in the Memorial Day parade, later this year in the Veterans Day 
parade. But war is not just about parades. War is also about sacrifice, 
and the Gold Star families know that better than anyone else.
  This bill gives us the opportunity to let Joe Nolan speak for his 
son, Joe; to let Mary Kight speak for her son, Michael; to let Ray and 
Sue Reich speak for their son, Stephen; and for tens of thousands of 
Americans to speak for their sons and daughters, to do what everyone in 
combat asks us when they come home, or if they do not: Don't forget us; 
please, remember.
  This bill is a way of honoring that request of everyone who wears the 
uniform. Make sure that we remember them and that we honor them.
  I am proud to cosponsor this bill, and I am very grateful to my 
colleagues for their support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor to stand here today in support of 
this legislation. The inclusion of these accounts from the loved ones 
of those who have given their lives in service to our Nation will only 
enrich the Library's Veterans History Project and our Nation's 
narrative memorializing those who have served. The Veterans History 
Project has provided a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to our 
Nation's veterans, ensuring that their actions and legacies live on for 
many generations to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4511, 
the ``Gold Star Families Voices Act,'' which allows Gold Star families 
to submit to the Veterans History Project recordings of biological 
histories of a service member who was killed in action.
  Gold Star family members are defined by law as parents, spouses, 
siblings, or children of members of the Armed Forces who died while 
serving their country.
  Current law only allows the personal histories and testimonials from 
veterans themselves be included in the Veterans History Project 
archive, which excludes the biographies of veterans who were killed in 
action during war.
  Since its passing in 2000, the Veterans History Project has collected 
the oral history records of over 100,000 veterans who have served in 
armed conflicts since World War I.
  Extending the opportunity to participate in the Veterans History 
Project to Gold Star families would result in nearly 1,000 new 
collections for the Project.
  These veterans sacrificed more than can be imagined in order to 
protect the freedoms and rights that we take for granted every day.
  Not only did these veterans miss birthdays, anniversaries, and many 
other holidays to defend the country they loved, but the veterans of 
these Gold Star families made the ultimate sacrifice by giving what 
President Lincoln called the ``last full measure of devotion'' so that 
their nation might remain free.
  These brave souls left behind relatives, friends, and loved ones who 
continue on with memories of the loved and lost to comfort them and, in 
Lincoln's words, ``the solemn pride that is theirs in having laid so 
costly a sacrifice on the altar of freedom.''
  This legislation provides Gold Star families a voice.
  H.R. 4511 gives Gold Star families the opportunity to share that 
pride with the nation by telling the story of their fallen loved ones 
and in doing so ensure these heroes live on not only in the memories of 
family members but also in the national memory through the Veteran's 
History Project.
  I ask all Members to join me in supporting H.R. 4511, the Gold Star 
Families Voices Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4511.
  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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