[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 38 (Monday, March 4, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1633-S1634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING THE HONORARY APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT J. DOLE TO THE GRADE OF 
                      COLONEL IN THE REGULAR ARMY

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of 
S. 252 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 252) to authorize the honorary appointment of 
     Robert J. Dole to the grade of colonel in the regular Army.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged and the Senate 
proceeded to consider the measure.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered 
read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be 
considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 252) was ordered for a third reading, was read the third 
time, and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 252

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Robert J. Dole, also known as Bob Dole, was born July 
     22, 1923, in Russell, Kansas.
       (2) As a student at the University of Kansas, Bob Dole 
     enrolled in the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps in 1942. He was 
     called to active duty the following year and served during 
     World War II. While deployed to Italy as an infantry 
     lieutenant in the 10th Mountain Division, he was seriously 
     wounded in combat and was twice cited for acts of heroism 
     under fire. He finished his military service with two Purple 
     Hearts and two awards of the Bronze Star Medal with ``V'' 
     device for valor. He was also awarded the American Campaign 
     medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 
     and the World War II Victory medal. He resigned his Army 
     commission at the grade of captain.
       (3) Bob Dole served in the House of Representatives from 
     1961 to 1969. He served in the Senate from 1969 until 1996. 
     His service was previously recognized by both the Legislative 
     Branch of the United States Government, through the 
     Congressional Gold Medal, and the Executive Branch of the 
     United States Government, through the Presidential Medal of 
     Freedom.
       (4) Separate from the actions underlying the honors 
     previously bestowed upon him, Bob Dole also made direct 
     contributions to the Department of Defense and the veterans 
     of United States military service, including through the 
     following:
       (A) Bob Dole sponsored or co-sponsored bills in Congress to 
     improve veterans benefits, to improve accountability of 
     missing members of the Armed Forces, to establish the Persian 
     Gulf War Veterans Health Registry, to recognize women 
     veterans, and to provide relief from certain inequities for 
     National Guard technician service in connection with civil 
     service retirement.
       (B) Bob Dole served as the National Chairman of the WWII 
     Memorial Campaign, co-chair of the Families of Freedom 
     Scholarship Fund, and co-chair of the Presidential Commission 
     on the Care of America's Returning Wounded Warriors.

[[Page S1634]]

       (5) In 2018, an Army advisory panel reviewed the 
     comprehensive record of Bob Dole's service to the Armed 
     Forces, veterans, and the national security of the United 
     States. The panel, recognizing Bob Dole's unique 
     contributions to the Department of Defense and veterans, 
     recommended the honorary promotion of Bob Dole to the grade 
     of colonel in the Army.
       (6) Acting under provisions of section 1563 of title 10, 
     United States Code, the Secretary of the Army endorsed the 
     recommendation of the advisory panel for an honorary 
     promotion of Bob Dole and forwarded it to Congress for 
     further action.

     SEC. 2. HONORARY APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT J. DOLE TO THE GRADE 
                   OF COLONEL IN THE REGULAR ARMY.

       (a) Honorary Appointment.--The honorary appointment of 
     Robert J. Dole, of Kansas, to the grade of colonel in the 
     regular Army is hereby authorized.
       (b) Additional Benefits Not To Accrue.--The honorary 
     appointment of Robert J. Dole to the grade of colonel in the 
     regular Army under subsection (a) shall not affect pay or 
     other benefits from the United States to which Robert J. Dole 
     is otherwise entitled based upon his military service or 
     affect any benefits to which any other person may become 
     entitled based on his military service.

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