[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         NATIONAL AIRBORNE DAY

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 
301 and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 301) designating August 16, 2000, as 
     ``National Airborne Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 301) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 301

       Whereas the Parachute Test Platoon was authorized by the 
     War Department on June 25, 1940, to experiment with the 
     potential use of airborne troops;
       Whereas the Parachute Test Platoon was composed of 48 
     volunteers that began training in July, 1940;
       Whereas the Parachute Test Platoon performed the first 
     official Army parachute jump on August 16, 1940;
       Whereas the success of the Parachute Test Platoon led to 
     the formation of a large and successful airborne contingent 
     serving from World War II until the present;
       Whereas the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd, and 101st Airborne 
     Divisions and the numerous other regimental and battalion-
     sized airborne units were organized following the success of 
     the Parachute Test Platoon;
       Whereas the 501st Parachute Battalion participated 
     successfully and valiantly in achieving victory in World War 
     II;
       Whereas the airborne achievements during World War II 
     provided the basis for continuing the development of a 
     diversified force of parachute and air assault troops;
       Whereas paratroopers, glidermen, and air assault troops of 
     the United States were and are proud members of the world's 
     most exclusive and honorable fraternity, have earned and wear 
     the ``Silver Wings of Courage'', have participated in a total 
     of 93 combat jumps, and have distinguished themselves in 
     battle by earning 69 Congressional Medals of Honor, the 
     highest military decoration of the United States, and 
     hundreds of Distinguished Service Crosses and Silver Stars;
       Whereas these airborne forces have performed in important 
     military and peacekeeping operations, wherever needed, in 
     World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Sinai, the Dominican 
     Republic, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, and Bosnia; and
       Whereas the Senate joins together with the airborne 
     community to celebrate August 16, 2000 (the 60th anniversary 
     of the first official parachute jump by the Parachute Test 
     Platoon), as ``National Airborne Day'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates August 16, 2000, as ``National Airborne 
     Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on Federal, State, and local administrators and the 
     people of the United States to observe the day with 
     appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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