[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 174 (Monday, December 5, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      MERCHANT MARINE OF WORLD WAR II CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 30, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for 
the bipartisan H.R. 2992, the ``Merchant Marine of World War II 
Congressional Gold Medal Act,'' introduced by my colleague, 
Congresswoman Susan Brooks of Indiana.
  I stand to recognize every service member who has dedicated his or 
her life to the protection of this nation and the world.
  The Merchant Marines of World War II were vital in the collective 
effort to defeat the Axis powers.
  Serving our military as a distributor, Merchant Marine fleets carry 
imports and exports during peacetime and become a naval auxiliary 
during wartime, delivering troops and needed war supplies and 
materials.
  Many Merchant Marines have sacrificed their lives, perishing at the 
highest rate of casualties of any service members, sometimes as high as 
1 in 24 in any given mission.
  During World War II, a total of 1,554 ships were sunk by German U-
boats, including 733 ships weighing over 1,000 gross tons.
  One hundred forty Merchant Marines have been awarded the 
Distinguished Service Medal, the Merchant Marine's highest honor, seven 
of whom were cadet graduates from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2992 which honors those civilians who 
answered the call to serve our nation in the United States Merchant 
Marines during World War II.

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