[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 137 (Monday, September 12, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5279-H5280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AUTHORIZING THE AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION TO ACQUIRE, 
        OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN THE LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE MEMORIAL

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 5937) to amend title 36, United States Code, to 
authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to acquire, operate, 
and maintain the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, 
France, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5937

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY OF THE AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS 
                   COMMISSION TO ACQUIRE, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN 
                   THE LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE MEMORIAL.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 21 of title 36, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 2115. Acquisition, operation, and maintenance of 
       Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.

       ``The American Battle Monuments Commission may enter into 
     an agreement with the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial 
     Foundation to acquire, operate, and maintain the Lafayette 
     Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, France. Under such 
     an agreement, the Commission shall make necessary 
     arrangements to ensure the ongoing maintenance of the 
     memorial, including the cemetery at the memorial that 
     contains the remains of 49 aviators of the United States who 
     died during World War I.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 21 of such title is amended by adding at 
     the end of the following new item:

``2115. Acquisition, operation, and maintenance of Lafayette Escadrille 
              Memorial.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
add extraneous materials to H.R. 5937, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5937, as amended. I want to 
thank Chairman Ed Royce of the Foreign Affairs Committee and his staff 
for their assistance in expeditiously scheduling this bill.
  My bill would ensure that the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial located 
outside of Paris, France, will continue to be cared for in a manner 
that honors America's servicemembers who fought in World War I.
  Before the United States entered World War I, 269 brave American 
volunteers flew in combat missions in the French Air Service. These 
Americans were referred to as the Lafayette Escadrille after Marquis de 
Lafayette, the Frenchman who was instrumental to America's victory 
during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, 68 members of the 
Lafayette Escadrille lost their lives during the war, and the Lafayette 
Escadrille Memorial contains a crypt that serves as the final resting 
place for 49 of these brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice.
  Since 1928, the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial has been operated by 
the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Foundation. The foundation is running 
out of funds that are needed to maintain the memorial.
  H.R. 5937, as amended, would authorize the American Battle Monuments 
Commission to acquire, operate, and maintain the Lafayette Escadrille 
Memorial, which would guarantee that the memorial receives the care it 
deserves as a final resting place for Americans.
  The ABMC, a Federal agency, currently operates numerous American 
military cemeteries and memorials in foreign countries. The ABMC is 
well equipped to ensure that the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial 
continues to stand as a reminder that Americans fought all around the 
world in the name of freedom. So I would urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 5937, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H5280]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Chairman Miller's bill that would 
authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to acquire, operate, 
and maintain the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, 
France.
  This request was brought to us directly from the American Battle 
Monuments Commission in order to ensure that this memorial that honors 
the service and sacrifice of the Lafayette Flying Corps is properly 
maintained.
  The Lafayette Flying Corps was a small group of American aviators who 
volunteered to serve in the Lafayette Escadrille prior to the United 
States entering World War I. Forty-nine members of the Lafayette Flying 
Corps lost their lives in the war and are interred in the crypts below 
the memorial.
  This incredible group included ``Lucky'' Herschel McKee, who became 
their youngest ace with 12 kills, and Eugene James Bullard, the first 
African American military pilot who was subsequently made a knight of 
the Legion of Honor, France's most coveted award established by 
Napoleon Bonaparte.
  This important effort will incur no additional costs as the ABMC has 
indicated that they can maintain this important memorial within their 
existing appropriations.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in support of passage of this 
important legislation that honors the services and sacrifice of our men 
and women that defend our great Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation, H.R. 5937, as amended.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I too would urge all colleagues 
to support this piece of legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5937), as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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