[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 4, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4295-H4296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING THE IMMENSE GRATITUDE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR 
 THE ACTS OF HEROISM, VALOR, AND SACRIFICES MADE BY THE MEMBERS OF THE 
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND ALLIED ARMED FORCES WHO PARTICIPATED IN 
     THE JUNE 6, 1944, AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT NORMANDY, FRANCE, AND 
  COMMENDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND BRAVERY IN AN 
           OPERATION THAT HELPED BRING AN END TO WORLD WAR II

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H. 
Res. 413 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 413

       Whereas June 6, 2019, marks the 75th anniversary of the day 
     the United States launched the assault at Normandy, France, 
     alongside troops of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Free 
     France, known as ``Operation Overlord'';
       Whereas the D-Day landing was the largest single amphibious 
     assault in history;
       Whereas an attack by Nazi E-boats during a series of large-
     scale rehearsals conducted in preparation for D-Day, known as 
     Exercise Tiger, resulted in at least 749 American servicemen 
     deaths;
       Whereas soldiers of 6 divisions, including 3 from the 
     United States, 2 from the United Kingdom with troops from 
     Free France, and 1 from Canada, stormed ashore in 5 main 
     landing areas on beaches in Normandy, code-named ``Utah'', 
     ``Omaha'', ``Gold'', ``Juno'', and ``Sword'';
       Whereas approximately 10,000 Allied casualties were 
     incurred on the first day of the landing, with more than 
     6,000 being members of the United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas over the course of Operation Overlord, the Allies 
     managed to land more than 2,000,000 men in Northern France 
     and suffered nearly 230,000 casualties;
       Whereas military and civilians on the home front and abroad 
     made significant contributions and sacrifices toward the 
     success of Operation Overlord, including more than 19,000 
     French civilian casualties during the Normandy campaign;
       Whereas the Allied assault and following operations were 
     supported by ships, aircraft, and troops from Australia, 
     Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Free Norway, Greece, the 
     Netherlands, New Zealand, and the Polish Armed Forces in the 
     West;
       Whereas the arrival of United States forces in Europe and 
     the ultimate success of the Normandy campaign, albeit at 
     tremendous cost, ultimately turned the tide for the Allies 
     and led to victory over Adolf Hitler, the Nazi regime, and of 
     one of the most evil ideologies the world has ever seen;
       Whereas the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in 
     Normandy, France, is the final resting place for more than 
     9,000 Americans who gave their lives to the cause of 
     liberating Europe from Nazi tyranny;
       Whereas the advanced age of the last remaining veterans of 
     World War II and the Normandy landings, and the gradual 
     disappearance of any living memory of the events, make it 
     necessary to increase educational activities intended to 
     impart these critical moments in history, particularly to 
     younger generations;
       Whereas the significant material remains of the Normandy 
     landings found on the Normandy beaches and at the bottom of 
     the sea in the territorial waters of France, such as 
     shipwrecks and various items of military equipment, bear 
     witness to the remarkable and unique nature of the material 
     resources used by the Allied forces to execute the Normandy 
     landings;
       Whereas the 5 Normandy beaches and a number of sites on the 
     Normandy coast, including Pointe du Hoc and various 
     paratrooper drop zones, were the scene of the D-Day landings 
     and constitute a unique piece of world heritage and a symbol 
     of peace and freedom; and
       Whereas the world owes a debt of gratitude to the members 
     of the ``Greatest Generation'', who assumed the task of 
     freeing the world from Nazi and Fascist regimes and restoring 
     liberty in Europe: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the amphibious 
     landing by the Allies on June 6, 1944, at Normandy, France 
     and this seminal moment in American history that has shaped 
     security and prosperity;
       (2) recognizes this decisive point in history that led to 
     world leadership which now rests upon the shoulders of a free 
     people, committed to modern liberal democracy, and all its 
     tenets;
       (3) recognizes the importance of World War II history and 
     D-Day as symbols of the costs of freedom, the perils of 
     fascism, and the indispensable nature of the global alliances 
     and partnerships of the United States, through which the 
     United States and its allies together stand ready to defeat 
     any foe;

[[Page H4296]]

       (4) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the members of 
     the United States Armed Forces and allied armed forces who 
     participated in the D-Day operations, and other military and 
     nonmilitary personnel, at home and abroad, who contributed to 
     the success of Operation Overlord and turned the tide of war 
     against the Nazis and the Axis Powers during World War II;
       (5) expresses gratitude and appreciation to the young 
     people of the United States, France, the United Kingdom, 
     Canada, and all our allies for their efforts to celebrate the 
     75th anniversary of the Normandy landings, preserve the 
     historical significance of D-Day, and ensure that future 
     generations know of the acts of heroism and sacrifice carried 
     out by Allied troops who gave their lives in the name of 
     freedom;
       (6) calls for expanding educational efforts to ensure that 
     the lessons of World War II and the sacrifices made in 
     pursuit of freedom are never forgotten;
       (7) recognizes the efforts of France and the people of 
     Normandy to preserve for future generations the unique world 
     heritage represented by the Normandy beaches and offshore 
     sunken ship remains by inscribing those beaches and remains 
     on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
     Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List;
       (8) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     recognizing the remaining living veterans of the Normandy 
     campaign; and
       (9) calls on the people of the United States to observe the 
     75th anniversary of the Normandy landings with appropriate 
     ceremonies and programs to honor the sacrifices made by those 
     who liberated Europe.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________