[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9084-H9086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FIRST INFANTRY RECOGNITION OF SACRIFICE IN THEATER ACT

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1088) to authorize the Society of the First Infantry 
Division to make modifications to the First Division Monument located 
on Federal land in Presidential Park in District of Columbia, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1088

       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 ``First Infantry Recognition 
     of Sacrifice in Theater Act'' or the ``FIRST Act''.

     SEC. 2. MODIFICATION TO FIRST DIVISION MONUMENT.

       (a) Authorization.--The Society of the First Infantry 
     Division (an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation 
     under section 501(a) of that code), may make modifications 
     (including construction of additional plaques and stone 
     plinths on which to put the plaques) to the First Division 
     Monument located on Federal land in President's Park in the 
     District of Columbia that was set aside for memorial purposes 
     of the First Infantry Division, in order to honor the members 
     of the First Infantry Division who paid the ultimate 
     sacrifice during United States operations, including 
     Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, 
     and Operation Enduring Freedom. The First Infantry Division 
     at the Department of the Army shall collaborate with the 
     Department of Defense to provide to the Society of the First 
     Infantry Division the list of names to be added.
       (b) Non-Application of Commemorative Works Act.--Subsection 
     (b) of section 8903 of title 40, United States Code (commonly 
     known as the ``Commemorative Works Act''), shall not apply to 
     actions taken under subsection (a) of this section.

[[Page H9085]]

       (c) Funding.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any 
     expense of the activities of the Society of the First 
     Infantry Division which are authorized by this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Huffman) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
McClintock) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).


                             General Leave

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the matter under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill introduced by Representative Marshall would 
honor the heroism of the soldiers of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry 
Division by authorizing the installation of additional plaques at the 
First Infantry Division Monument located in the National Park Services' 
President's Park just south of the White House.
  These additions would include the names of over 600 1st Infantry 
Division soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our 
Nation during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn, ensuring that these 
fallen soldiers are not forgotten.
  For over 100 years now, soldiers of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry 
Division have embodied their motto: ``No mission too difficult, no 
sacrifice too great. Duty first.''
  I am proud to rise in strong support of this bill and the brave 
soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division and I want to thank 
Representative Marshall for championing this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1088 offered by our colleague from Kansas, Dr. 
Roger Marshall, authorizes the Society of the 1st Infantry Division to 
modify the First Infantry Division Monument here in Washington, D.C.
  This society seeks to honor its members who died during combat in 
Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, 
and Operation Enduring Freedom.
  The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army has served our 
country faithfully with distinction and honor for well over a century 
now. 12,949 heroes of the ``Big Red One'' have fallen in the defense of 
our Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees. A grateful Nation 
remembers their names by inscribing them on a monument here in our 
Nation's Capital.
  Every one of them has been faithful to the Division's motto of: ``No 
mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great. Duty first.''
  It is time to update and add names to the monument to honor these 
American heroes and to serve as an inspiration and example to the 
generation whose freedom and security they gave their lives to protect.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, so I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall), the author of this bill.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California (Mr. 
McClintock) for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today humbled and a bit emotional in support of 
the First Infantry Recognition of Sacrifice in Theater Act, also known 
as the FIRST Act.
  The FIRST Act modifies the First Infantry Division Monument to 
include and honor the names of 660 brave soldiers who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice for our country during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New 
Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
  The First Infantry Division Monument, located in President's Park, 
west of the White House, was first conceived by the Society of the 1st 
Infantry Division to commemorate the lives of soldiers killed serving 
our country during World War I. Over the years, a total of 12,949 names 
of fallen soldiers have been inscribed and commemorated on this 
monument, but it will now take an act of Congress to honor the 
sacrifices of those 660 recently fallen soldiers and give their 
families a hallowed place for remembrance.
  Throughout history, when the President had decided to send troops 
into harm's way to protect American lives and uphold American values, 
he has almost always called upon the 1st Infantry Division.
  Indeed the 1st Infantry Division, more commonly known as ``The Big 
Red One,'' has a heroic and storied past. Established in 1917, the 
Division celebrated their 102nd anniversary earlier this year, and 
since 1955, has called Fort Riley, Kansas, its home.
  Over the years, the soldiers of The Big Red One have fought in World 
War I, World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam war, Operations Desert 
Shield and Desert Storm, the Balkans peacekeeping missions, the war on 
terror, and as of today, multiple operations around the globe.
  Always first into battle, the Division fired the very first American 
shots of World War I, providing the United States its first victory in 
the war to end all wars at the Battle of Cantigny, France.
  Despite suffering more than 1,000 casualties, the 1st Infantry 
Division bravely captured the village from German forces, defended it 
against repeated counterattacks, and bolstered the morale of the 
Allies. The Division returned home in September 1919 with 5 medals of 
honor.
  Next, in World War II, the 1st Infantry Division led the way during 
the Allied invasion of North Africa, leading to the defeat of the Axis 
Afrika Korps and capturing over 250,000 soldiers.
  The Division then departed for the invasion of Sicily, after a 
specific request from Lieutenant General George ``Old Blood and Guts'' 
Patton. There they faced fierce mountain combat and suffered heavy 
casualties, with some units losing over half their fighting strength.
  The 1st Infantry Division would then return to England in preparation 
for the Invasion of Normandy. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, soldiers from The 
Big Red One would once again lead the assault on German forces in 
landings at Omaha Beach. They would then go on to fight a continuous 
offensive across France and into Germany, suffering over 20,000 
casualties throughout the war.
  After the war, the 1st Infantry Division provided protection for 
occupied Germany and maintained security at the Nuremberg trials. The 
Division played a pivotal role in World War II and would return home 
with 16 members being awarded the Medal of Honor.
  The 1st Infantry Division has been active all over the world, 
assisting in combat and humanitarian missions for over 100 years. Since 
the Division's establishment, more than 13,000 soldiers of the 1st 
Infantry Division have lost their lives in battle. Today, soldiers from 
the Division stand at the ready in over 15 countries. We sleep 
peacefully here at home because they stand at the ready abroad.
  It is our duty as Members of Congress to ensure these fallen soldiers 
are not forgotten by passing the FIRST Act and allowing the inclusion 
of the names of these 660 fallen soldiers who paid the ultimate 
sacrifice.
  I am proud to represent them as they continue to exemplify their 
motto: ``No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great. Duty 
first.''
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend Congressman Marshall for that 
very moving presentation and for the impressive history that he 
recounted of the 1st Infantry Division.
  This is a great bill, an important bill, and I know we are all very 
proud to support it. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and 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. Huffman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1088, as amended.

[[Page H9086]]

  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
authorize the Society of the First Infantry Division to make 
modifications to the First Division Monument located on Federal Land in 
President's Park in the District of Columbia, and for other 
purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________