[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 171 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5178-H5180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOMEN WHO WORKED ON THE HOME FRONT WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL ACT
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5068) to authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front
Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of
Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5068
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 ``Women Who Worked on the Home
Front World War II Memorial Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.
(a) In General.--The Women Who Worked on the Home Front
Foundation may establish a commemorative work on Federal land
in the District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate
the commitment and service represented by women who worked on
the home front during World War II.
(b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The
establishment of the commemorative work under this section
shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United
States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works
Act'').
(c) Prohibition on the Use of Federal Funds.--
(1) In general.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any
expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under
this section.
(2) Responsibility of women who worked on the home front
foundation.--The Women Who Worked on the Home Front
Foundation shall be solely responsible for acceptance of
contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the
establishment of the commemorative work under this section.
(d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
(1) In general.--If upon payment of all expenses for the
establishment of the memorial (including the maintenance and
preservation amount required by section 8906(b)(1) of title
40, United States Code), there remains a balance of funds
received for the establishment of the commemorative work, the
Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation shall transmit
the amount of the balance to the Secretary of the Interior
for deposit in the account provided for in section 8906(b)(3)
of title 40, United States Code.
(2) On expiration of authority.--If upon expiration of the
authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of
title 40, United States Code, there remains a balance of
funds received for the establishment of the commemorative
work, the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation shall
transmit the amount of the
[[Page H5179]]
balance to a separate account with the National Park
Foundation for memorials, to be available to the Secretary of
the Interior or Administrator (as appropriate) following the
process provided in section 8906(b)(4) of title 40, United
States Code, for accounts established under section
8906(b)(2) or (3) of title 40, United States Code.
SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5068, the Women Who
Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act, introduced by
Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. H.R. 5068 would authorize the
establishment of a memorial to commemorate the nearly 19 million women
who worked on the home front during World War II.
With mass male enlistment leaving significant vacancies in the
industrial and defense industries, women across the country filled
thousands of jobs that were historically held by men to support the war
effort and to keep America running.
I am proud of the fact that my district is home to Rosie the
Riveters, which were a good example of women being able to do it.
As the men fought abroad, these women worked in defense plants, flew
military aircraft, delivered mail, and performed countless other duties
necessary to keep the home front running.
In addition to the women working on the home front, nearly 350,000
women served in uniform, both at home and abroad, directly supporting
the war effort as code breakers, as Air Force service pilots, and as
volunteers for organizations such as the Army Nurse Corps.
The work carried out by women on the home front during World War II
opened the door for women to hold more types of jobs than ever before,
and it is long past time that Congress recognized their contributions
to our Nation.
I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Norton, for
introducing this important legislation. I would also like to extend my
gratitude to Ms. Raya Kenney, who developed the idea for this memorial
when she was in fifth grade, for her tireless efforts to ensure that
the millions of women who worked on the home front during World War II
are recognized and celebrated.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5068, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1530
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5068, which would
authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to
establish a commemorative work in Washington, D.C., to recognize the
commitment and service represented by women who worked on the home
front during World War II.
These 19 million American women stepped up to support their Nation
during America's involvement in World War II. Women worked in a huge
variety of critical professional roles, including code breakers,
aircraft testing pilots and trainers, welders, steamfitters, telegraph
operators, radio and electrical engineers, crane operators, surveyors,
assembly line workers, as they replaced men who were heading off to
war.
Some 300,000 Virginians served in uniform and more than 11,000 never
returned home. For many women, the war provided increased opportunities
to serve their community, their Nation, and to aid in the war effort.
The work women did during World War II can never be fully measured,
and their impact on our national welfare for the decades that followed
should forever be enshrined in our national story.
The beneficial contribution women made during the war were felt
locally here in Virginia, as well as across the Nation.
For example, the Richmond Engineering Company employed women welders
who made bomb heads. At Newport News shipyard, women worked as crane
operators, electricians, mechanics, and more, as critical members of
the Defense production workforce.
In recent years, Congress also has established the Rosie the Riveter
National Historical Park in California to further highlight the work of
these incredible patriots during the war. Authorizing this
commemorative work in our Nation's capital is another fitting tribute
to the brave, strong, multitalented, intelligent women who helped us
win the war.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from
the District of Columbia.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Grijalva for taking the Women Who Worked
on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act through committee and
bringing it to the floor. I appreciate that he allowed me to sit in and
ask questions, and he conducted a hearing and pressed it forward
quickly.
Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill would authorize the establishment
of a memorial on Federal land here in the District of Columbia
commemorating the efforts of 18 million American women who kept the
home front running during World War II. Women are dramatically
underrepresented in our memorials.
A 17-year-old constituent of mine, Raya Kenney, the founder of the
Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation--yes, her own
foundation--came up with the idea to honor the women on the home front
who supported the World War II effort. Raya wondered why the women on
the home front, whose efforts were so instrumental in maintaining the
stability of the country during World War II, have not received much
recognition for their contributions compared to the men who fought
bravely in World War II.
This bill would authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front
Foundation to establish a memorial to honor these women. The memorial
is designed to be interactive and to educate visitors on the important
roles women played during World War II. No Federal funds would be
required.
Between 1940 and 1945, the percentage of women in the workforce
increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent. And by 1945, one in
four married women worked outside the home. The work done by women on
the home front opened doors for women in the workplace generally and
had a profound effect on the job market going forward, and even up to
today.
As a result of their efforts, women on the home front redefined many
occupations that were especially considered men's work.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and all the leadership on the
Committee on Natural Resources, again, for making this a reality. I
thank my colleague, Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton, for the work that she
did.
Mr. Speaker, as we are talking about this bill, several years ago
with my then-Republican colleague, Candace Miller, we did the first
honor flight of the Rosie the Riveters. We went to the World War II
Memorial, and it was incredible. But to have a place to take them will
be very special, and I hope we are able to do it while some of them can
appreciate what we are doing.
This bipartisan legislation will honor the 18 million American women
who
[[Page H5180]]
played a key role in our Nation's war effort during World War II
through their efforts on the home front.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor and a senior member of
the House of Representatives, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5068,
the ``Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act,''
which would authorize the establishment of a memorial on federal land
in the District of Columbia, commemorating the efforts of the 18
million American women who kept the home front running during World War
II.
I would like to thank Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for
introducing this important piece of legislation.
It is no secret that women are dramatically underrepresented when it
comes to our memorials.
Despite being instrumental in maintaining the stability of the
country during World War II, the women of World War II have not
received much recognition for their contributions.
This bill would change that by authorizing the Women Who Worked on
the Home Front Foundation to establish a memorial to honor these women.
The memorial is designed to be interactive and to educate visitors on
the crucial roles women played during World War II.
For instance, millions of American women took jobs to support their
families and the country at large during World War II, forever
redefining what ``women's work'' looked like.
In fact, more than 10,000 women served behind the scenes of World War
II as codebreakers.
Women were also trained to fly military aircraft so that male pilots
could leave for combat duty overseas.
More than 1,100 female civilian volunteers flew nearly every type of
military aircraft as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)
program.
WASPs flew planes from factories to bases, transported cargo and
participated in simulation strafing and target missions.
Between 1940 and 1945, the percentage of women in the workforce
increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and, by 1945, one in
four married women worked outside of the home.
The work done by women on the home front had a profound effect on the
job market going forward.
As the nation continues to mourn the loss of the `Notorious RBG', an
unmatched constitutional scholar and Supreme Court Justice who
irrevocably advanced the women's movement, I can think of no better way
to honor her legacy than by voting for this bill to commemorate the
women whose sacrifices and decisions to enter the workforce during
World War II also helped to change perceptions about gender roles in
society.
We, as Members of Congress, have a duty to recognize and celebrate
these revolutionary patriots for their service to this country.
As a proud leader of this bill, I encourage my fellow colleagues to
vote in favor of H.R. 5068.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5068, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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