[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 10, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4738-H4741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




UNITED STATES ARMY RANGERS VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II CONGRESSIONAL GOLD 
                               MEDAL ACT

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (S. 1872) to award a Congressional Gold Medal, 
collectively, to the United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War 
II in recognition of their extraordinary service during World War II.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1872

       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 ``United States Army Rangers 
     Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act--
       (1) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
     Treasury; and
       (2) the term ``United States Army Rangers Veteran of World 
     War II'' means any individual who--
       (A) served in the Armed Forces--
       (i) honorably;
       (ii) in an active duty status; and
       (iii) at any time during the period beginning on June 19, 
     1942, and ending on September 2, 1945; and
       (B) was assigned to a Ranger Battalion of the Army at any 
     time during the period described in subparagraph (A)(iii).

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) In World War II, the Army formed 6 Ranger Battalions 
     and 1 provisional battalion. All members of the Ranger 
     Battalions were volunteers. The initial concept of Ranger 
     units drew from the British method of using highly trained 
     ``commando'' units and the military tradition of the United 
     States of utilizing light infantry for scouting and raiding 
     operations.
       (2) The Ranger Battalions of World War II consisted of--
       (A) the 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion, which was activated 
     on June 19, 1942, in Northern Ireland;
       (B) the 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion, which was activated 
     on April 1, 1943, at Camp Forrest, Tennessee;
       (C) the 3d Ranger Infantry Battalion, which was--
       (i) activated as provisional on May 21, 1943, in North 
     Africa; and
       (ii) constituted on July 21, 1943, and concurrently 
     consolidated with the provisional unit described in clause 
     (i);
       (D) the 4th Ranger Infantry Battalion, which was--
       (i) activated as provisional on May 29, 1943, in North 
     Africa; and
       (ii) constituted on July 21, 1943, and concurrently 
     consolidated with the provisional unit described in clause 
     (i);
       (E) the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion, which was activated 
     on September 1, 1943, at Camp Forrest, Tennessee;
       (F) the 6th Ranger Infantry Battalion, which was--
       (i) originally activated on January 20, 1941, at Fort 
     Lewis, Washington, as the 98th Field Artillery Battalion; and
       (ii) converted and redesignated on September 26, 1944, as 
     the 6th Ranger Infantry Battalion; and
       (G) the 29th Ranger Infantry Battalion, a provisional Army 
     National Guard unit that was--
       (i) activated on December 20, 1942, at Tidworth Barracks, 
     England; and
       (ii) disbanded on October 18, 1943.
       (3) The first combat operations of Army Rangers occurred on 
     August 19, 1942, when 50 Rangers took part in the British-
     Canadian raid on the French coastal town of Dieppe.
       (4) The 1st Ranger Battalion, under the leadership of Major 
     William O. Darby, was used in full strength during the 
     landings at Arsew, Algeria, during the North African 
     campaign. Due to the success of the Rangers in several 
     difficult battles, particularly at El Guettar in March and 
     April of 1943, 2 additional Ranger Battalions were organized 
     in North Africa.
       (5) During the North African campaign, the 1st Ranger 
     Battalion was awarded battle honors for its actions in 
     Tunisia. On March 20, 1943, the Battalion penetrated enemy 
     lines and captured the position Djebel el Ank in a nighttime 
     attack, taking more than 200 prisoners. Two days later, the 
     battalion was attacked by the 10th Panzer division of the 
     German Afrika Korps and, despite heavy losses, continued to 
     defend its position. The following day, the 1st Battalion 
     counterattacked to clear high ground overlooking the 
     positions held by the Armed Forces. These actions 
     demonstrated the ability of the Rangers to fight in difficult 
     terrain and the courage to endure despite being outnumbered 
     and exposed to heavy enemy fire.
       (6) The 29th provisional Ranger Battalion was formed from 
     volunteers drawn from the 29th Infantry Division stationed in 
     England in the fall of 1942. The Battalion was activated on 
     December 20, 1942, and accompanied British commandos on 3 
     small-scale raids in Norway. Nineteen members of the 29th 
     Ranger Battalion conducted a raid on a German radar site in 
     France on the night of September 3, 1943. After that raid, 
     the 29th Ranger Battalion was disbanded because new Ranger 
     units, the 2d and 5th Battalions, were being formed.
       (7) During the summer and fall of 1943, the 1st, 3d, and 
     4th Ranger Battalions were heavily involved in the campaign 
     in Sicily and the landings in Italy. The 1st and 4th Ranger 
     Battalions conducted a night amphibious landing in Sicily and 
     secured the landing beaches for the main force. The 3d 
     Battalion landed separately at Licata, Sicily, and was able 
     to silence gun positions on an 82-foot cliff overlooking the 
     invasion beaches.

[[Page H4739]]

       (8) During the invasion of Italy, the 1st and 4th Ranger 
     Battalions landed at Maiori with the mission of seizing the 
     high ground and protecting the flank of the remainder of the 
     main landing by the United States. Enemy forces in the area 
     were estimated to outnumber the Rangers by approximately 8 to 
     1. Despite these odds, the Rangers took the position and held 
     off 7 enemy counterattacks.
       (9) After the invasion of Italy, Rangers continued to be 
     used, often in night attacks, to seize key terrain ahead of 
     the advancing Allied forces. At the Anzio beachhead, the 
     majority of the 1st, 3d, and 4th Ranger Battalions sustained 
     heavy casualties after being cut off behind German lines. The 
     Rangers had planned to infiltrate German positions under the 
     cover of darkness and make a dawn attack on a critical road 
     junction but were pinned down by enemy tanks and an elite 
     German paratrooper unit. After 12 hours of desperate fighting 
     and a failed relief attempt, the majority of the Ranger force 
     was killed, wounded, or captured. Only 6 Rangers from the 1st 
     and 3d Battalions, out of more than 767 men, returned to 
     friendly lines. The 4th Battalion, which had been in reserve, 
     also suffered 60 killed and 120 wounded out of 550 men. These 
     3 battalions were inactivated and the survivors were 
     transferred to other units.
       (10) In the United States, and later in Scotland, the 2d 
     and 5th Ranger Battalions were formed to undertake operations 
     in Western Europe. Those Battalions were engaged on D-Day, 
     assaulting German positions at the Pointe du Hoc coastal 
     battery, and remained in combat through September of 1944. 
     Specifically, Rangers in the 2d Battalion, under the command 
     of Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder--
       (A) overcame mines, machine gun fire, and enemy artillery 
     while scaling the 100-foot high cliffs at Pointe du Hoc;
       (B) held against intense German efforts to retake the 
     position; and
       (C) after reaching the top of the cliffs, moved inland 
     roughly 1 mile and sustained heavy casualties while searching 
     for, and ultimately destroying, a German heavy artillery 
     battery.
       (11) During June, July, and August of 1944, the 2d and 5th 
     Ranger Battalions were engaged in the campaign in Brest, 
     which included close-range fighting in hedgerows and numerous 
     villages. Later, in operations in Western Germany, the 
     Battalions were frequently used to attack in darkness and 
     gain vital positions to pave the way for the main Army 
     attacks.
       (12) During the final drive into Germany in late February 
     and early March 1945, the 5th Ranger Battalion was cited for 
     battle honors for outstanding performance. Under the cover of 
     darkness, the unit drove into German lines and blocked the 
     main German supply route in the sector. The Germans attacked 
     the position of the Rangers from both sides, resulting in 
     heavy Ranger casualties during 5 days of fighting. As a 
     result of the actions of the Rangers, the main Army attack 
     was able to overcome German defenses more easily, occupy the 
     vital city of Trier, and reach the Rhine River.
       (13) The 6th Ranger Battalion operated in the Pacific. In 
     the most notable exploit of the 6th Ranger Battalion, in 
     January and February of 1945, the Battalion formed the 
     nucleus of a rescue force that liberated more than 500 Allied 
     prisoners, including prisoners from the United States, from 
     the Cabanatuan prisoner of war camp in the Philippines. With 
     the help of local Filipino guerillas, the Rangers, led by 
     Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Mucci, demonstrated extraordinary 
     heroism by infiltrating Japanese-held territory to reach the 
     prisoners of war and prevent them from being killed by the 
     Japanese. After a 25-mile march at night through the jungle, 
     the unit killed all Japanese sentries with no loss of life of 
     the prisoners of war. The unit successfully returned to 
     American lines having lost only 2 soldiers killed and having 
     another 2 wounded.
       (14) The 1st Ranger Infantry Battalion--
       (A) participated in the campaigns of--
       (i) Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead);
       (ii) Tunisia;
       (iii) Sicily (with arrowhead);
       (iv) Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead);
       (v) Anzio (with arrowhead); and
       (vi) Rome-Arno; and
       (B) for its contributions, received--
       (i) the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) and streamer 
     embroidered with ``EL GUETTAR''; and
       (ii) the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) and streamer 
     embroidered with ``SALERNO''.
       (15) The 2d Ranger Infantry Battalion--
       (A) participated in the campaigns of--
       (i) Normandy (with arrowhead);
       (ii) Northern France;
       (iii) Rhineland;
       (iv) Ardennes-Alsace; and
       (v) Central Europe; and
       (B) for its contributions, received--
       (i) the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) and streamer 
     embroidered with ``POINTE DU HOE''; and
       (ii) the French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, 
     World War II, and streamer embroidered with ``POINTE DU 
     HOE''.
       (16) The 3d Ranger Infantry Battalion--
       (A) participated in the campaigns of--
       (i) Sicily (with arrowhead);
       (ii) Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead);
       (iii) Anzio (with arrowhead); and
       (iv) Rome-Arno; and
       (B) for its contributions, received the Presidential Unit 
     Citation (Army) and streamer embroidered with ``SALERNO''.
       (17) The 4th Ranger Infantry Battalion--
       (A) participated in the campaigns of--
       (i) Sicily (with arrowhead);
       (ii) Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead);
       (iii) Anzio (with arrowhead); and
       (iv) Rome-Arno; and
       (B) for its contributions, received the Presidential Unit 
     Citation (Army) and streamer embroidered with ``SALERNO''.
       (18) The 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion--
       (A) participated in the campaigns of--
       (i) Normandy (with arrowhead);
       (ii) Northern France;
       (iii) Rhineland;
       (iv) Ardennes-Alsace; and
       (v) Central Europe; and
       (B) for its contributions, received--
       (i) the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) and streamer 
     embroidered with ``NORMANDY BEACHHEAD'';
       (ii) the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) and streamer 
     embroidered with ``SAAR RIVER AREA''; and
       (iii) the French Croix de Guerre with Silver-Gilt Star, 
     World War II, and streamer embroidered with ``NORMANDY''.
       (19) The 6th Ranger Infantry Battalion--
       (A) participated in the campaigns of--
       (i) New Guinea;
       (ii) Leyte (with arrowhead); and
       (iii) Luzon; and
       (B) for its contributions, received--
       (i) the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) and streamer 
     embroidered with ``CEBU, LUZON''; and
       (ii) the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and streamer 
     embroidered with ``17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945''.
       (20) The United States will be forever indebted to the 
     United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II, whose 
     bravery and sacrifice in combat contributed greatly to the 
     military success of the United States and the allies of the 
     United States.

     SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Award Authorized.--The President pro tempore of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 
     make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of 
     Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design to the 
     United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War II, in 
     recognition of their dedicated service during World War II.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award 
     described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall strike the 
     gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, 
     to be determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Smithsonian Institution.--
       (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in 
     honor of the United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War 
     II, the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian 
     Institution, where the medal shall be--
       (A) available for display, as appropriate; and
       (B) made available for research.
       (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal 
     received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, 
     particularly at other locations associated with--
       (A) the United States Army Rangers Veterans of World War 
     II; or
       (B) World War II.
       (d) Duplicate Medals.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may strike and sell 
     duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under this 
     section, at a price sufficient to cover the cost of the 
     medals, including the cost of labor, materials, dies, use of 
     machinery, and overhead expenses.
       (2) Proceeds of sales.--The amounts received from the sale 
     of duplicate medals under paragraph (1) shall be deposited in 
     the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
       (e) Authority to Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to 
     be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise 
     Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of 
     the medals struck under this Act.

     SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDAL.

       (a) National Medal.--The gold medal struck under section 4 
     shall be a national medal for the purposes of chapter 51 of 
     title 31, United States Code.
       (b) Numismatic Items.--For the purposes of section 5134 of 
     title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under section 
     4 shall be considered to be numismatic items.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Garcia) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend 
their remarks and insert extraneous material thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Today, I rise in strong support of S. 1872, the Army Rangers Veterans 
of

[[Page H4740]]

World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act. This bill honors the service 
of the men of the U.S. Army Rangers whose courageous actions in the 
European, North African, and Pacific theaters during World War II were 
essential to ensuring victory for the Allied Powers.
  At the onset of World War II, there were no U.S. Army units capable 
of performing highly specialized raiding missions like that of their 
British Commandos counterparts. To resolve this, Brigadier General 
Lucian K. Truscott, Jr., proposed the creation of Army Ranger 
Battalions to General George Marshall. These small, highly specialized, 
and independent units drew upon existing American expertise, using 
light infantry units for raids and scouting.
  Captain William O. Darby was selected as the 1st Ranger Battalion 
commander due to his experience in amphibious training and operational 
experience in both cavalry and infantry. Darby immediately went about 
recruiting volunteers, 473 of whom became the 1st Ranger Battalion.
  Thereafter, the 2nd through 6th Ranger Battalions were formed, along 
with the 29th provisional Ranger Battalion, comprised of members of the 
Army National Guard.
  The 1st Ranger Battalion was given the initial mission of taking part 
in the British and Canadian raid in Dieppe in France, making them the 
first American troops to see ground combat in Europe. Following this 
raid, the 1st Ranger Battalion operated primarily throughout North 
Africa and Italy, where they and members of the 3rd Ranger Battalion 
played a crucial role in the operational success of the Battle of 
Anzio.
  The 29th provisional Ranger Battalion participated in several smaller 
raids in Norway and France and was then disbanded due to the new 
formation of the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions, who took part in 
campaigns in France, Belgium, and Central Europe, including Alsace, 
Brest, and most famously, the invasion of Normandy on D-day.
  The 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions conducted missions across Italy, 
while the 6th Ranger Battalion engaged in combat in the Pacific 
theater, primarily in the Philippines and New Guinea. The 6th Ranger 
Battalion is best known for its part in the rescue of more than 500 
prisoners of war in the raid of the prison camp at Cabanatuan, which is 
the largest rescue operation in American history.
  Following the war, all seven Ranger Infantry Battalions received the 
Presidential Unit Citation for their extensive contributions to the 
Allied war effort, and I believe their heroism ought to be recognized 
and rewarded further still.
  I urge my colleagues to support S. 1872, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise, too, in support of S. 1872, the United States 
Army Rangers Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act. I 
thank my friend from Illinois for managing the time today and also 
thank Senators Ernst and Duckworth for their work on the Senate side in 
originating this bill and Representatives here in the House, Crow, 
Miller-Meeks, and Waltz for their work on the House companion, H.R. 
3577.
  Madam Speaker, to become an Army Ranger is a distinct honor. Those 
who have the privilege of donning the tan beret are proven warriors 
whose commitment to our freedom knows no bounds. These warriors embody 
the Ranger motto: ``Rangers Lead the Way.''
  The 75th Ranger regiment is so well-known that it is hard to believe 
that the United States had no official units organized to carry out 
such specialized missions prior to World War II.
  But when America entered the war, conventional wisdom changed, and it 
became clear that special operation units were essential to an Allied 
victory.
  The first Rangers were trailblazers, whose work influenced our 
Nation's approach to special operations across all branches of the 
military. On May 26, 1942, Brigadier General Lucian Truscott, the U.S. 
Army liaison with the British Combined Operations headquarters, 
proposed to Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall that ``we 
undertake immediately the organization of an American unit along 
British Commando lines.''
  In short order, a cable was sent from the War Department to Major 
General Russell P. Hartle, the commander of U.S. Army forces in 
Northern Ireland, to authorize the activation of the first-ever Ranger 
unit.
  The idea was to disseminate volunteer units with the British 
Commandos to become combat tested in special operation warfare and 
eventually to return to their original American units and share their 
newfound combat knowledge.

                              {time}  1530

  It was Truscott who bestowed the title, ``Rangers'' on these brave 
soldiers. Truscott said: ``I selected `Rangers' because few words have 
a more glamorous connotation in American military history.
  ``It was therefore fitting that the organization destined to be the 
first of American ground forces to battle Germans on the European 
Continent in World War II should be called Rangers--in compliment to 
those in American history who exemplified such high standards of 
individual courage, initiative, determination, and ruggedness, fighting 
ability and achievement.''
  In just a few weeks after Truscott's original proposal, the First 
Ranger Infantry Battalion was activated 19 June 1942. Five more Ranger 
battalions followed, as well as a provisional Army National Guard unit 
known as the 29th Ranger Battalion.
  The newly formed Ranger battalions had an immediate impact on the 
Allied war effort. The first battalion, then led by Major William O. 
Darby, was an integral part of the North Africa campaign, so much so 
that the battalion was awarded battalion honors for its actions in 
Tunisia spearheading Operation Torch.
  Bill Darby was a hero in my home State of Arkansas. Brigadier General 
Bill Darby was born and buried in Fort Smith, Arkansas. And Darby, for 
all his leadership, proudly represented that Ranger uniform and Ranger 
leadership. He was killed in action in Italy at age 34 in April 1945.
  Darby and those early Ranger units were able to overtake enemy troops 
where the Axis forces held every advantage, including that of just 
sheer numbers. Our debt can never be repaid to those who have chosen to 
wear the cloth of this Nation. But today, we can honor this very 
special group of volunteer soldiers, those very first Ranger battalions 
who, during the Second World War, set the tone for the modern Ranger 
regiments.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, 
and I am prepared to close.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time until Mr. Hill yields 
back.
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Davidson), a distinguished member of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
  Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas for 
yielding, and I thank everyone who has had a hand in taking time to 
create this bill, to create this Congressional Gold Medal, to recognize 
the limited number of World War II Army Rangers that we have still 
alive with us today, and, frankly, to honor the service of each and 
every one of them.
  The heroism and legacy of the Army Rangers go back to the 
Revolutionary War. Since we have fought, we have recognized the Ranger 
tactics and Ranger units that inspired the creation of the Rangers in 
World War II. So it is an incredible honor to have gotten the chance to 
complete the school and to serve in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
  After the Civil War, more than half a century passed without formal 
Ranger units in America. Mr. Hill just highlighted the history of how 
that was created, but from their very first engagements in North 
Africa, it was clear the difference that they could make on the 
battlefield.
  The 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions were trained in Africa by Darby. It 
is hard to think that such a young man who lost his life, gave his life 
in battle for our country, created such a legacy that has continued 
today. They began a tradition of wearing the scroll at

[[Page H4741]]

that time, and it has officially been adopted by today's Ranger 
battalions.
  The Second and Fifth Ranger Battalions participated in the D-day 
landings on Omaha Beach, Normandy, at Pointe du Hoc, and that is where 
the motto formally was coined: ``Rangers Lead the Way.''
  They conducted missions, to include scaling cliffs there, overlooking 
Omaha Beach. They destroyed German gun emplacements, and they trained 
fires on the beachhead.
  The 6th Ranger Battalion operated in the Philippines. Our colleague 
already highlighted their famed largest rescue of more than 500 POWs in 
that battle.
  The 75th Ranger Regiment owes its heritage to the China-Burma-India 
theater as Task Force Galahad on October 3, 1943. It was during the 
campaigns in the China-Burma-India theater that the regiment became 
known as Merrill's Marauders after its commander, Major General Frank 
Merrill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the 
gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. DAVIDSON. Madam Speaker, the Ranger battalions were deactivated 
at the end of World War II, and we know of all their achievements since 
then. But it is fitting that we take this Gold Medal as an opportunity 
to honor the service of our World War II Army Rangers.
  Mr. HILL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I urge that our friends across the aisle and on this side of the 
aisle support this important bill to recognize those few Army Rangers 
who are still living and recognize the work of the establishment of the 
Ranger Corps in our Nation.
  Madam Speaker, I am so grateful that Warren Davidson was here today. 
Because of Warren's work on the House Committee on Financial Services 
and in this body, truly he is the embodiment of ``Rangers Lead the 
Way.'' His reflection on the formation of the regiments makes us all 
think back to that historic anniversary of D-day and President Reagan's 
speech at Pointe du Hoc when he paid tribute to those Rangers, ``the 
boys of Pointe du Hoc.''
  Madam Speaker, there were, at that time, at the 40th anniversary, a 
whole row of Rangers, still living at Pointe du Hoc, who sat in front 
of President Reagan to hear him pay tribute to these brave men who 
scaled the cliffs at Normandy. Now, so many years later, we have lost 
so many more.

  Madam Speaker, I thank my friends in the Senate for this bill and for 
my friends in the House who worked on it. I urge all of the House to 
vote unanimously to support this Gold Medal to recognize the Greatest 
Generation of Army Rangers.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Iowa, Senator Ernst, for 
sponsoring S. 1872, along with my colleague, the gentleman from 
Colorado, Congressman Crow, for introducing its companion version in 
the House.
  The Army Rangers veterans of World War II deserve this accolade for 
their tireless courage, grit, determination, and dedication to their 
country. The heroism they demonstrated throughout the war made an 
incalculable contribution to the Allied victory. They are truly the 
embodiment of their motto: ``Rangers Lead the Way.''
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 1872, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 1872.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________