[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7220-H7222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1830
LET EVERYONE GET INVOLVED IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIONAL SERVICE ACT
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 504) to amend title 36, United States Code, to authorize The
American Legion to determine the requirements for membership in The
American Legion, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 504
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 ``Let Everyone Get Involved in
Opportunities for National Service Act'' or the ``LEGION
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Since the end of World War II, the Federal Government
has designated specific periods of war, the dates of which
are important for qualification for certain benefits or
membership in veterans organizations established by Congress.
(2) In between those recognized periods of war, during so-
called peacetime eras, the United States military has been
involved in not fewer than 12 known eras, which are
unrecognized by the United States Government as periods of
war, resulting in numerous United States personnel combat
casualties.
(3) Those 12 unrecognized war eras occurred at the
direction of the then President of the United States, with
full knowledge and consent of the then Congress.
(4) The first of those 12 unrecognized war eras involving
active United States military personnel was the Greek Civil
War, fought in Greece from 1946 to 1949 between the army of
the Government of Greece, supported by active military
personal of the United States and the United Kingdom, and the
Democratic Army of Greece, the military branch of the
Communist Party of Greece.
(5) During the Greek Civil War, one member of the Armed
Forces of the United States sacrificed his life in service to
the United States, and five others suffered non-combat
deaths.
(6) The second of those unrecognized war eras involving
active United States military personnel was the Chinese Civil
War, which occurred during the aftermath of World War II.
(7) During the Chinese Civil War, the United States
military equipped, trained, transported, and supplied the
Kuomintang-led Government of the Republic of China with
approximately $4,430,000,000 in its resistance to the
Communist Party of China.
(8) During the Chinese Civil War, 14 members of the Armed
Forces of the United States sacrificed their lives in service
to the United States, 150 non-combatants of the United States
lost their lives in the war, and 51 were wounded, resulting
in 215 United States military casualties.
(9) The third unrecognized war era involving active United
States military personnel is known as the Cold War.
(10) The Cold War was a period spanning from approximately
1947 until 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed.
(11) Although no direct large-scale military fighting
occurred between the militaries of the United States and the
Soviet Union, active United States military personnel served
in multiple regional conflicts during the Cold War, resulting
in the deaths of not fewer than 32 members of the Armed
Forces who sacrificed their lives in service to the United
States and not fewer than 12 additional casualties.
(12) The fourth unrecognized war era involving active
United States military personnel is known as the China Cold
War.
(13) The China Cold War started when the Kuomintang-led
Government of the Republic of China retreated to the island
of Taiwan and lasted until 1972, after President Richard
Nixon conducted a landmark state visit to China.
(14) During the military operations of the China Cold War,
not fewer than 16 members of the Armed Forces of the United
States sacrificed their lives in service to the United
States.
(15) The fifth unrecognized war era involving active United
States military personnel was the Lebanon Crisis of 1958,
which involved more than 14,000 United States personnel and
resulted in the death of one member of the Armed Forces who
sacrificed his life in service to the United States and five
non-combat deaths.
(16) The sixth unrecognized war era involving active United
States military personnel was the Bay of Pigs invasion in
April 1961.
(17) The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed military
invasion of Cuba undertaken by a United States military group
sponsored by the Central Intelligence Agency that resulted in
not fewer than one death of a member of the Armed Forces who
sacrificed his life in service to the United States and 19
non-combat deaths.
(18) The seventh unrecognized war era involving active
United States military personnel was the Cuban Missile
Crisis, which took place between October 16 and October 28,
1962.
(19) The Cuban Missile Crisis directly related to homeland
protection against the deployment of a Soviet ballistic
missile in Cuba.
(20) During the Cuban Missile Crisis, one member of the
Armed Forces sacrificed his life in service to the United
States and 19 others died as non-combatants.
(21) The eighth unrecognized war era involving active
United States military personnel was the Dominican Civil War
in 1965.
(22) Operations during the Dominican Civil War resulted in
the deaths of 27 members of the Armed Forces who sacrificed
their lives in service to the United States, 20 non-combat-
related deaths, and 283 wounded.
(23) The ninth unrecognized war era involving active United
States military personnel was the Iran Hostage Crisis, which
lasted from November 4, 1979, through January 20, 1981.
(24) The Iran Hostage Crisis involved military intervention
by the United States which resulted in the deaths of 8
members of the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in
service to United States.
(25) The tenth unrecognized war era involving active United
States military personnel was the Salvadoran Civil War.
(26) The Salvadoran Civil War lasted more than 12 years,
through the terms of two Presidential administrations of the
United States, and resulted in the deaths of 22 members of
the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in service to the
United States, 15 non-combat deaths, and 35 other casualties.
[[Page H7221]]
(27) The 11th unrecognized war era involving active United
States military personnel started on April 5, 1986, when the
La Belle discotheque in West Berlin, Germany, was bombed,
killing two United States soldiers and wounding 79 other
members of the Armed Forces, which triggered what became
known as the Libyan Conflict.
(28) The military operations of the Libyan Conflict
included numerous air strikes by United States military
forces and resulted in the deaths of two members of the Armed
Forces who sacrificed their lives in service to the United
States.
(29) The Libyan Conflict led to the 12th unrecognized war
era involving active United States military personnel, known
collectively as the Persian Gulf Conflicts, which lasted from
July 24, 1987, through September 26, 1988.
(30) The Persian Gulf Conflicts involved United States
military missions to protect Kuwaiti-owned oil tankers which
represented the largest United States naval convoy operation
since World War II.
(31) The Persian Gulf Conflicts resulted in numerous
military operations and the deaths of not fewer than 39
members of the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in
service to the United States and 31 wounded.
(32) Since the armistice that ended the hostilities of the
Korean War on January 31, 1955, nearly 100 active United
States military personnel have sacrificed their lives in
service to the United States in South Korea, and more than
132 people of the United States have been wounded in-country.
(33) Since January 1, 1947, through all of the unrecognized
war eras involving active United States military personnel,
not fewer than 778 combat and non-combat members of the Armed
Forces have sacrificed their lives in service to the United
States and not fewer than 797 have been wounded.
(34) Since January 1, 1947, the unrecognized war eras
involving active United States military personnel who were
wounded and killed serving their country were administered
under orders from the commander in chief and with the consent
of Congress, proving that the United States has been
conducting deadly wartime service to protect the country
consistently since December 7, 1941.
(35) Eligibility for membership in The American Legion is
determined by Congress through the establishment of specific
dates of declared and officially recognized hostilities in
which United States military personnel are on active service.
(36) The American Legion provides invaluable services to
its members and supports the community of veterans who
sacrificed in service of the United States.
(37) Membership in The American Legion allows veterans to
engage in public service activities, such as supporting Boys
and Girls State and Nation, youth mentorship programs, and
benefit assistance, career fairs, and employment assistance
for veterans.
(38) The American Legion has gone on record as supporting
the 12 unrecognized war eras involving active United States
military personnel since the beginning of World War II.
(39) The American Legion has aided, assisted, and comforted
the families of the men and women who were called to serve or
volunteered to serve during all of the unrecognized war eras
and continues to provide support to veterans of those eras.
(40) The American Legion has commended the heroic actions
of all military personnel who risked their lives in defense
of freedom during each of the unrecognized war eras involving
active United States military personnel.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that,
in accordance with the history, tradition, and purposes of
The American Legion, it is fair, proper, and reasonable that
the privilege of membership in The American Legion should be
extended to all military personnel who served on active
military duty during all of the unrecognized war eras
involving active United States military personnel.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE AMERICAN LEGION.
Section 21703 of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``during any period
from--'' and all that follows through the end of clause (vii)
and inserting the following: ``during--
``(i) the period from April 6, 1917, through November 11,
1918; or
``(ii) any time after December 7, 1941; or''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``or time'' after ``a
period''; and
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or time'' after ``that
period''.
SEC. 4. NONDISCRIMINATION WITH RESPECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR HOLDING A STAFF POSITION IN THE AMERICAN
LEGION.
(a) In General.--Chapter 217 of title 36, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 21704 the
following new section:
``Sec. 21704A. Nondiscrimination
``The requirements for holding a staff position in the
corporation may not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 21704 the following new item:
``21704A. Nondiscrimination.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Correa) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cline)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 504, the Let Everyone Get
Involved Opportunities for National Service Act, or the LEGION Act.
This bipartisan bill will expand the eligibility for American Legion
membership to include honorably discharged veterans who have served in
unrecognized conflicts.
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919. Since then,
The American Legion has grown to become the Nation's largest veteran
service organization, with more than 2 million members. In Orange
County alone, The American Legion is home to nearly 8,000 members.
For millions of veterans The Legion has offered a community of
support. Sadly, not all veterans are eligible to join The American
Legion. Currently, only veterans who serve during periods of declared
hostilities are eligible.
Over the past decades, military personnel have served during at least
12 unofficial combat operations. They also deserve to be members of The
Legion, and this bill will allow veterans who have honorably served in
our Armed Forces during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Libyan conflict,
and other recognized conflicts to join The Legion.
I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of S. 504, the LEGION Act, and I want to
thank my colleague, the gentleman from California, for his leadership
on this issue. I am proud to stand here today in support of our
Nation's veterans.
One hundred years ago, Congress chartered The American Legion because
it recognized, as our veterans returned home from World War I, we must
provide for them. The American Legion has advocated for our veterans,
servicemembers, and their communities ever since.
In the last century, The American Legion has grown to nearly 2
million members around the world. The group is headquartered in
Indianapolis, Indiana, and has 13,000 offices, including one in every
State, advocating to State and Federal officials.
The American Legion now provides thousands of dollars in scholarships
to help students attend college, and grants for the study, prevention,
and treatment of various diseases.
They have also been at the forefront of the fight to improve mental
health services for all, but particularly for our troops who struggle
as they return home.
Beyond The American Legion's rich national history, it has held a
special place in my home State of Virginia for many decades. The
American Legion Department of Virginia was also chartered in 1919, with
91 local posts and several thousand members. In the intervening
century, it has grown to 212 posts and over 33,000 Legionnaires, and it
provides a variety of services to veterans and their families.
Today's legislation makes necessary amendments to The American Legion
charter to include all existing members and opens it to all future
members of the Armed Forces who are honorably discharged, separated, or
continue to serve. It provides future flexibility to enable The
American Legion to continue to provide opportunities for our servicemen
and -women. It also enables The American Legion to serve the next
generation.
I would like to thank Congressman Correa again for his partnership on
this legislation and his support of The American Legion and our
servicemen and -women.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
[[Page H7222]]
Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support of
this process, and, once again, I ask for their support of this
legislation.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 504.
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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