[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.

                          ____________________