[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 9, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H5082-H5083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WORLD WAR II WOMEN'S MEMORIAL LOCATION ACT
Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2290) to provide that the memorial to commemorate the sacrifice
and service of the women who worked on the home front to support the
efforts of the United States military during World War II may be
located on the National Mall, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2290
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 ``World War II Women's
Memorial Location Act''.
SEC. 2. LOCATION OF COMMEMORATIVE WORK.
Notwithstanding section 8908(c) of title 40, United States
Code, the commemorative work to commemorate the commitment
and service of the women who worked on the home front during
World War II authorized by section 702 of division DD of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (40 U.S.C. 8903 note;
Public Law 117-328), may be located within--
(1) Area I, as depicted on the map entitled ``Commemorative
Areas Washington, DC and Environs'', numbered 869/86501 B,
and dated June 24, 2003; or
(2) the Reserve.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the term ``Reserve'' has the meaning given
such term in section 8902(a)(3) of title 40, United States
Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Crank) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado.
General Leave
Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
extraneous material on H.R. 2290, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2290, the World War II
Women's Memorial Location Act, led by Representatives Dingell and
Fulcher.
During World War II, more than 18 million women stepped up to serve
this country on the home front. While many Americans recognize the
image of Rosie the Riveter, their work went far beyond the factory
floor. My grandmother served as a Rosie the Riveter, stepping up to
fight on the home front, as well. Women became welders, code breakers,
pilots, medical professionals, truck drivers, and community caretakers.
Their contributions were essential to the Allied victory, supporting
our troops overseas and redefining women's roles in American society.
In 2023, Congress authorized the creation of a memorial to honor the
women who worked on the home front during World War II. Under the
Commemorative Works Act, placing that memorial on The National Mall or
in the surrounding area requires an additional act of Congress. H.R.
2290 provides that authority, ensuring this memorial can be located in
a place of national prominence alongside other monuments honoring
wartime service and sacrifice.
This bill is bipartisan and straightforward. It properly recognizes
the contributions of millions of American women whose work was
essential to victory in World War II. By authorizing this memorial to
be placed on or near The National Mall, we affirm their legacy and
ensure future generations will learn from their examples of patriotism,
responsibility, and service.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2290, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of Representative Dingell's H.R. 2290, the
World War II Women's Memorial Location Act.
This legislation, as we have heard, would ensure that the service and
sacrifices of millions of American women are forever honored on The
National Mall and not erased, as we have seen efforts to do over the
course of this year.
During World War II, over 18 million women stepped forward to serve
on the home front, raising the number of women in the workforce to
nearly 40 percent between 1940 and 1945.
These women served in so many capacities: pilots, mechanics,
electricians, engineers, coders, and countless other roles. Many of
them served in my district at Naval Base Kitsap and the Puget Sound
Naval Shipyard.
Their contributions were the backbone of the war efforts, showing the
country what women could achieve. Their work reshaped the American
workforce and opened doors for future generations of women welders,
scientists, and servicemembers.
By authorizing the World War II women's memorial to be placed on or
near The National Mall, we are ensuring that the legacy of these brave
women will never be forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am
prepared to close, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1600
Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), the sponsor of the bill.
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my strong support
for H.R. 2290, the World War II Women's Memorial Location Act, which I,
as has been previously stated, introduced
[[Page H5083]]
alongside my good friend, the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher).
Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes The National Mall as the location
for the memorial, commemorating the service and sacrifice of the women
who worked on the home front during World War II.
This bill advances a decade-long effort to properly honor the more
than 18 million trailblazing women who are now known and loved as Rosie
the Riveters.
Our Rosies answered the call when our Nation needed them the most,
redefining the role of the American woman and opening the door wider
for generations to come. During World War II, women went to work in
record numbers. Yet, they are all too often the untold story of the
home front.
At Ford Motor Company's Willow Run bomber plant in Michigan, just as
an example, women made up almost half of the workforce that turned out
one complete B-24 Liberator bomber every 55 minutes. Many women worked
in jobs that no one ever thought they could do, such as riveters.
Mr. Speaker, the Rosies taught me what a riveter was. I didn't
realize what it was until I was by that plane, and I went: Oh, that is
what a riveter is.
They were also welders, and they proved to themselves and the world
that Americans can do it.
I am blessed to have many Rosies in my life. I have gone to many
birthday parties for 100-, 102-, and 103-year-olds because we are
blessed to have a number of the original Rosies living in my area. They
have inspired me. They tell me their stories. On a cold Veterans Day
this year, when the wind chill was zero degrees, I stood outside with
those strong, resilient women with every ounce of their intellect
there, sharing the stories of what it meant to be a Rosie.
This bill will take us one critical step closer to ensuring that our
Rosies receive the recognition that they deserve.
In 2022, Congress passed bipartisan legislation authorizing the
establishment of a memorial dedicated to the Rosies. However,
additional legislation is needed to permit the memorial to be located
near the existing World War II Memorial. They are part of that whole
story.
I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation and help complete the
story of World War II in our Nation's front yard.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the World War II Women's
Memorial Location Act, which was carefully crafted to respect the
Commemorative Works Act process, honoring the legacies of our Rosies
and ensuring that the memorial may be located at a site near the
current World War II Memorial.
Ms. RANDALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague mentioned, I recently had a chance to go
to a 100th birthday celebration of one of my constituents, who was an
original Rosie, Ms. Jean Lillian Winther, whose story was part of the
fabric of our country's history at a time when women were rarely seen
in the shipbuilding trades.
Jean stepped forward with courage and determination, taking up the
torch, quite literally. She showed that women could excel as welders,
as builders, as defenders of our Nation's security, and, as I learned
at her birthday, as excellent dancers on the decks of an aircraft
carrier in between shifts.
Her work on the Essex-class carriers was vital to our Navy's success,
but her example reached even further. Jean blazed a trail for women who
came after her, proving that skills and determination know no
boundaries. Every woman who has picked up a welding torch or entered a
shipyard since has walked a little easier because of women like Jean.
Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to support this legislation to make sure
that we commemorate in a place of honor the women who helped shape our
country and helped shape the future of women in service and in the
trades for years to come.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, this bill is about ensuring that the
contributions of millions of women on the World War II home front are
remembered alongside other monuments in Washington, D.C. This bill
commemorates America's wartime service and sacrifice. H.R. 2290
guarantees that future generations will see their stories represented
in a place of national prominence.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan measure,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Speaker, today I am privileged to speak on the
bipartisan World War II Women's Memorial Location Act. World War II
required great sacrifices of every American citizen. To the great
credit and pride of our Nation, American citizens rose to the challenge
with grit and determination. With millions of men overseas, American
women--popularly known as ``Rosies'' in tribute to Rosie the Riveter--
stepped into roles traditionally held by men. These women answered the
call to service by holding down the home front, working as pilots,
engineers, electricians, mechanics, and more. 18 million women answered
the call of their Nation in its time of desperate need. The impact they
had on our country cannot be overstated. In Idaho, civilian women
worked and volunteered at the Farragut Naval Training Station located
in North Idaho, which was built shortly after the attack on Pearl
Harbor and became the second-largest naval training base in the
country. Their presence was felt across every state, in countless
shipyards, factories, farms, and ranches.
Despite their monumental contributions, we still lack an independent,
prominent memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring these patriots. There
is urgency to pass this bill so that living Rosies can see their legacy
commemorated in their lifetime and so the memorial can fold into the
broader America250 effort. The memorial's construction will be funded
entirely through private donations and won't use taxpayer dollars. The
amount of work and dedication the WWII Women's Memorial Foundation has
poured into this project clearly illustrates its importance.
Not only will this memorial honor the women of World War II, the
memorial will serve the important purpose of inspiring Americans to
embrace service to their country and contribute to our Nation's
success. I urge the passage of the World War II Women's Memorial
Location Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McClintock). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crank) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2290, 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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