[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6] [House] [Pages 8886-8891] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]SUPPORTING DAY OF HONOR FOR MINORITY WORLD WAR II VETERANS Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 98) supporting the Day of Honor 2000 to honor and recognize the service of minority veterans in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. The Clerk read as follows: H.J. Res. 98 Whereas World War II was a determining event of the 20th century in that it ensured the preservation and continuation of American democracy; Whereas the United States called upon all its citizens, including the most oppressed of its citizens, to provide service and sacrifice in that war to achieve the Allied victory over Nazism and fascism; Whereas the United States citizens who served in that war, many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, included more than 1,200,000 African Americans, more than 300,000 Hispanic Americans, more than 50,000 Asian Americans, more than 20,000 Native Americans, more than 6,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and more than 3,000 Native Alaskans; Whereas because of invidious discrimination, many of the courageous military activities of these minorities were not reported and honored fully and appropriately until decades after the Allied victory in World War II; Whereas the motto of the United States, ``E Pluribus Unum'' (Out of Many, One), promotes our fundamental unity as Americans and acknowledges our diversity as our greatest strength; and Whereas the Day of Honor 2000 Project has enlisted communities across the United States to participate in celebrations to honor minority veterans of World War II on May 25, 2000, and throughout the year 2000: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress-- (1) commends the African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Native American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Native Alaskan, and other minority veterans of the United States Armed Forces who served during World War II; (2) especially honors those minority veterans who gave their lives in service to the United States during that war; (3) supports the goals and ideas of the Day of Honor 2000 in celebration and recognition of the extraordinary service of all minority veterans in the United States Armed Forces during World War II; and (4) authorizes and requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to honor these minority veterans with appropriate programs and activities. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump). General Leave Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Joint Resolution 98. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arizona? There was no objection. Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.J. Res. 98 commends minority veterans of the United States Armed Forces who served during World War II. I commend the authors of this resolution for promoting recognition of minority World War II veterans during this millennium year. Some of the groups that deserve greater public recognition for their heroic service in World War II include the Tuskegee Airmen, who flew 15,533 missions in World War II and earned 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses along with other high decorations; the 442nd Nisei Regiment of Japanese-Americans became the most decorated group of soldiers in American history. The Nisei troops overcame considerable prejudice and suspicions while writing one of the most glorious pages in American military history. Another important story is that of the Navajo code-talkers, many from my home State of Arizona. Few units had more vital duties than these Native Americans, whose unique language led logically to assigning them as communicators. The enemy was never able to break their code, an achievement which contributed greatly to our final victory. In the Pacific Theater, the 158th Regimental Combat Team, known as the Bushmasters, an Arizona National Guard Unit, was comprised of a high percentage of Hispanic and American Indian soldiers. This unit saw heavy combat in the Philippines and was referred to by General Douglas MacArthur as ``the greatest fighting combat team ever deployed for battle.'' Hopefully greater recognition of minority veterans will become a regular part of future Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations across this country, enhancing the magnitude of those two days so special to our veterans. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1230 Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I join with many of my colleagues today to honor and give thanks to America's minority veterans, the soldiers and sailors and men and women of our armed forces and, of course, my fellow Marines. More of the [[Page 8887]] world is free today than ever before, thanks in no small part for their valor and sacrifice half a century ago. We sometimes do not remember that World War II was before the armed forces were desegregated and that process really took us solidly to Vietnam. So there were many years in which the men and women of the armed forces did not serve together on an integrated basis and did not get really the breaks perhaps that the majority of Americans have received throughout the time of this desegregation. As I said, more of the world is free now because of their efforts. It is altogether fitting and appropriate that this valor and sacrifice of a half a century ago be commemorated on May 25, 2000. I particularly commend my colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), for her leadership on this issue. I thank her for the well-deserved recognition which the Day of Honor 2000 will provide America's minority veterans with the respect that they deserve. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the Committee on International Affairs. Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 98, a measure supporting a day of honor for our minority veterans of World War II. I thank our distinguished chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), for recognizing how important this issue is. As the primary sponsor of legislation to restore benefits that were once stripped away from Filipino World War II veterans by an ungrateful Congress in 1946, I am fully aware of how our Nation has shamefully treated its minority veterans in years gone by. From the Civil War through Korea, before going into action, African American soldiers had to first battle against an ingrained prejudice among white commanders that they were somehow sub-par or otherwise incapable of engaging on equal terms as their white counterparts. These veterans always proved their worthiness in battle, only to find this lesson lost on the military command staff by the time the next war broke out. Even more distressing was the fact that contributions made by African American veterans were soon forgotten or glossed over since the fighting ended. President Clinton should be commended for his initiative to award the Medal of Honor to eight black veterans who had initially been passed over for this commendation. This legislation also honors the accomplishments and contributions made by Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native American veterans. Of these groups, two specifically bear mentioning. Many Japanese American veterans served with distinction during the Pacific War. They did that despite having their loyalties questioned by many in command, as well as many having their families back home living in internment camps. Moreover, Native Americans from several tribes played a vital role as code operators during the Korean War. In this they were naturals, since the chances of any axis code-breakers being fluent in a Native American language was highly remote. Mr. Speaker, this measure is long overdue, timely, and quite appropriate as we approach Memorial Day. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to give their full, wholehearted support to this measure. Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, might I add my appreciation to the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), and as well to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member of the committee. I first want to pay tribute to them for always advocating on behalf of veterans in a unified and profound way that many across this Nation recognize. I think it is important, first of all, as we move toward honoring the first Memorial Day in the new millennium to thank all of those families whose loved ones gave the ultimate sacrifice, and we will honor them this coming week. It is important to acknowledge that the legislation that we have before us does not in any way substitute for the great appreciation that Americans have for all of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and, of course, our veterans whom we honor. I am very honored to have been able to bring to the floor of the House, with the help of some 91 cosponsors, H.J. Res. 98. I was so moved when this particular opportunity came to my attention in my district in Houston with the leadership of Dr. Smith. The ceremony honoring those many minority veterans of World War II, in particular, was a challenge to keep from feeling the emotion that was in that room of veterans who were so very proud of their service, yet asking that we bring to the attention of America that when they did return, they were not given the honor that we knew they deserved. So I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 98 that I introduced on April 12, 2000. I am delighted by the bipartisan support for this joint resolution in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. The efforts of Representatives such as the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown), the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts), the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Spence), the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), as I mentioned, the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, have all been instrumental in bringing this resolution to the floor. I personally come to the floor in honor of my uncles, Eric Jackson, Allan Jackson Bernard Bennett, Samuel Jackson, all of whom fought or served during the time of World War II, and, of course, my very special now-deceased father-in-law, Philip Ferguson Lee, who was one of the honored Tuskegee Airman. The joint resolution designates May 25, 2000, as a national Day of Honor to honor minority veterans from World War II. In fact, the resolution calls upon communities across the Nation to participate in celebrations to honor minority veterans on May 25, 2000, and throughout the year 2000. Because this recognition is long overdue, it is appropriate that we honor and celebrate the memories of the veterans that served or fought throughout the year. There are many that deserve thanks for making this day, and I again thank Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts for joining me for introducing an identical resolution in the United States Senate. That resolution passed by unanimous consent in the United States Senate on May 19, and I must say this has certainly been a wonderfully collective effort that has inspired veterans and children alike to follow the progress of this resolution through Congress. I likewise am proud by the superb grass-roots support offered by the Day of Honor 2000 Project, a nonprofit organization based in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Through Dr. William A. Smith's leadership, the project's executive director, movement for the resolution took on a life of its own. He traveled across this Nation with an enormously moving film that I hope all of America will get a chance to see. His involvement in this effort reflects a greater sense of unity among Americans, that we must make amends for the past and we must do it together. Mr. Speaker, the resolution is another way of saying that we have not forgotten those who fought or served in World War II, while simultaneously discriminated against while at home. The resolution brings closure to the families of many veterans, and none of us can underestimate that phenomenon for each individual. The Day of Honor 2000 project helped enlist the support of countless Americans to make this resolution possible. Without its support, the resolution would have probably never come to fruition. [[Page 8888]] Our goal is that the Nation will heal and will have an opportunity to pause on May 25 and throughout the year to express our gratitude to the multicultural, multiracial veterans of all minority groups who served the Nation so well. When we look to the harrowing days of World War II, we remember and revere the acts of courage and personal sacrifice that each of our veterans gave to their Nation to achieve the allied victory over Nazism and Fascism. In the 1940s, minority were utilized in the allied operations, just as any other American. In fact, it is well known how many of them rose to the occasion of volunteering and seeking out the opportunity to serve in the United States military. They wanted to go and fight for their beloved America. During the war effort, at least 1.2 million African American citizens either served or sacrificed their lives. In addition, more than 300,000 Hispanic Americans, more than 50,000 Asians, more than 20,000 Native Americans, more than 6,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and more than 3,000 Native Alaskans also served their country in protecting democracy and freedom. Despite the invidious discrimination that most minority veterans were subjected to at home, they fought honorably along with all other Americans, including other nations. As we have noted in the honor that President Clinton has given to some even in these last years, we realize that some were serving and gave much of their life to this country by sacrificing their health and subjecting themselves to injuries and yet were not honored when they returned. An African American was obliged to answer a call to duty, indeed possibly sacrificing his life, yet he or she enjoyed separate, but in many times unequal, status back at home. Too often, when basic issues of equality and respect for their service in the war arose, Jim Crow and racial discrimination replied with a resounding ``no.'' This is a sad, but very real, chapter of our history. This all happened, of course, before the emergence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in America. As a Nation, we have long since recognized the unfair treatment of minorities as a travesty of justice. The enactment of fundamental civil rights laws by Congress over the past half century has remedied the worst of these injustices, and this has given us some hope. I have hope, we all have hope for America as we move together in the 21st century. But, as we all know, we have yet to give adequate recognition to the service, struggles, and sacrifices of the veterans, all of the brave veterans. For many of these minority veterans, the memories of World War II never disappear. When we lose a loved one, whether it is a mother, father, sibling, child, or friend, we often sense that we lose a part of ourselves. For each of us, the loss of life, whether expected or not, is not easily surmountable. Minority veterans had to overcome a great deal after the war. They not only came back to a Nation that did not treat them equally, but they were never recognized for the uniqueness of their efforts. Like many of us, they adapted to changes or were the engines of social change, but they have suffered and sacrificed so much that few of us will ever understand. Veterans are dying at a rate of more than 1,000 a day. It is specially important, therefore, for Congress and the administration to do their part now to pay tribute to these men and women who served so valiantly in World War II. The minority veterans from World War II represent a significant part of what is being called America's Greatest Generation. They are American heroes that deserve recognition for this efforts. For this reason, the resolution specifically asks President Clinton to issue a proclamation ``calling upon the people of the United States to honor these minority veterans with appropriate programs and activities,'' and I ask my colleagues to do so in their respective districts. Winston Churchill once said that it is important for all of us to build wisely and surely, not for the moment, but for the years to come. I am so very gratified that my freedom was based upon the fact that these veterans served and many sacrificed their lives. Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to join us in supporting this resolution, both H.J. Res. 98 and H.J. Res. 44. Might I just add for a moment a note of thanks to so many of our staff that helped this come to the fruition that it has come. Oliver Kellman, Mark Carrie, and Earl Smith, in my office worked long and hard on this legislation. Also, the wonderful staff that worked with the many members, Carl Commenator, chief counsel and staff director of veterans affairs; Michael Durishin of the Democratic staff; Jeannine McNally, Debbie Smith, Minda Fife, Stoval White, Rene Davidson, Linda Shealy, Craig Metz, Nick Martinelli, all of whom made this very possible, I thank them all. Again, I ask my colleagues to please support this very important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 98 that I introduced on April 12, 2000. I am delighted by the bipartisan support for this joint resolution in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. The efforts of Representatives such as Corrine Brown of Florida, Representative J.C. Watts Jr., of Oklahoma, Chairman Floyd Spence of South Carolina, Chairman Bob Stump of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Ranking Member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs Lane Evans have all been instrumental in bringing this resolution to the floor. The joint resolution designates May 25, 2000, as a national Day of Honor to honor minority veterans from World War II. In fact, the resolution calls upon communities across the nation to participate in celebrations to honor minority veterans on May 25, 2000, and throughout the year 2000. Because this recognition is long overdue, it is appropriate that we honor and celebrate the memories of the veterans who served or fought throughout the year. There are many that deserve thanks for making this day a reality. I want to extend my special thanks to Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts for joining me by introducing an identical resolution in the United States Senate. That resolution passed by unanimous consent in the U.S. Senate on May 19th. I must say this has certainly been a wonderful collective effort that has inspired veterans and children alike who have followed the progress of the resolution through Congress. I am also proud, of course, by the superb grassroots support offered by The Day of Honor 2000 Project, a non-profit organization based in Marlborro, Massachusetts. Through Dr. William H. Smith's leadership, the Project Executive, movement for the resolution took on a life of its own. His involvement in this effort reflects a greater sense of unity among Americans that we must make amends for the past. Mr. Speaker, the resolution is another way of saying that we have not forgotten those who fought or served during World War II while simultaneously discriminated against while at home. Mr. Speaker, the resolution brings closure to the families of many veterans. And none of us can underestimate that phenomenon for each individual. The Day of Honor 2000 Project helped enlist the support of countless Americans to make this resolution possible. Without its support, the resolution would have probably never come to fruition. Our goal is that the nation will have an opportunity to pause on May 25th and throughout the year to express our gratitude to the veterans of all minority groups who served the nation so ably. When we look back to the harrowing days of World War II, we remember and revere the acts of courage and personal sacrifice that each of our veterans gave to their nation to achieve Allied victory over Nazism and fascism. In the 1940s, minorities were utilized in the allied operations just as any other American. During the war effort, at least 1,200,000 African Americans citizens either served or sacrificed their lives. In addition, more than 300,000 Hispanic Americans more than 50,000 Asians, [[Page 8889]] more than 20,000 Native Americans, more than 6,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and more than 3,000 Native Alaskans also either served their country in protecting democracy and freedom. Despite the invidious discrimination that most minority veterans were subject to at home, they fought honorably along with all other Americans, including other nations. An African American was obliged to answer a call to duty, indeed possibly sacrifice his life, yet he or she enjoyed separate but equal status back home. Too often, when basic issues of equality and respect for their service in the war arose, Jim Crow and racial discrimination replied with a resounding ``no.'' This is a sad but very real chapter of our history. This all happened, of course, before the emergence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in America. As a nation, we have long since recognized the unfair treatment of minorities as a travesty of justice. The enactment of fundamental civil rights laws by Congress over the past half-century have remedied the worst of these injustices. And this has given us some hope. But, as we all know, we have yet to give adequate recognition to the service, struggles, and sacrifices of all our brave veteran Americans. For many of these minority veterans, the memories of World War II never disappear. When we lose a loved one, whether it is a mother, father, sibling, child, or friend, we often sense that we lose a part of ourselves. For each of us, the loss of life--whether expected or not--is not easily surmountable. Minority veterans had to overcome a great deal after the war. They not only came back to a nation that did not treat them equally, but they were never recognized for the uniqueness of their efforts during the war. Like many of us, they adapted to changes or were the engines of social change. But they have suffered and sacrificed so much that few of us will ever understand. Veterans are dying at a rate of more than 1,000 a day. It is especially important, therefore, for Congress and the Administration to do their part now to pay tribute to these men and women who served so valiantly in World War II. The minority veterans from World War II represent a significant part of what has been called America's Greatest Generation. They are American heroes that deserve recognition for their efforts. For this reason, the resolution specifically asks President Clinton to issue a proclamation ``calling upon the people of the United States to honor these minority veterans with appropriate programs and activities.'' Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution. I thank all my colleagues, in both Houses of Congress, for their assistance in helping bring closure to the lives of so many deserving Americans. Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson), a tireless and effective advocate for our veterans. Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I thank the chairman of the committee and certainly the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the ranking member, the outstanding veteran himself, and certainly the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), for the eloquent, articulate, and thorough presentation on behalf of this needed resolution. I remember, Mr. Speaker, the heroism of the Buffalo soldiers serving in the vast West as our Nation grew to the Pacific many years ago, a fine tradition. Today, it is altogether fitting that we honor and recognize the service of minority veterans in our armed forces during World War II. All together, some 1.2 million African Americans served alongside 300,000 Hispanic Americans; and 50,000 Asian Americans served during World War II, shoulder-to-shoulder with other Americans, in the common cause of defeating the Axis powers. The ordinary ground-pounding soldiers served uncommonly well, with great courage, in segregated units. {time} 1245 The trials and tribulations of the black men who wanted to fly, our Tuskegee Airmen, who grew wings to show the way for a generation; the extraordinary valor of our soldiers of Asian descent, fighting fiercely in Europe, even as many of their families were imprisoned in camps in our West; our Native American code-talkers who used their languages to puzzle and defeat Japanese eavesdroppers, far from their tribal lands. Those who served so well truly deserve our special honor but, Mr. Speaker, the happy result of relative peace for us in these times is, at the same time, a sort of sad fact for America. Our veterans, no matter their race, color, or national origin, are a minority. Few who benefit from our life and our liberties each day have ever had occasion to serve our flag, have ever put themselves in harm's way for our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with humility and a deep sense of gratitude for those men and women who fought and who sacrificed themselves for the freedom of this country to preserve the principle of having one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all people. Mr. Speaker, for our minority veterans, for our veterans' minority, let us remember the service, the sacrifice of all, especially for this day of honor for minority soldiers. Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful that I have had an opportunity to speak on this resolution. Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I did an injustice to the Tuskegee Airmen. I misspoke a moment ago when I said they flew 1,500 sorties. Actually, they distinguished themselves by flying 15,533 sorties, and I want to correct the record. Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote on H.J. Res. 98, which will designate May 25, 2000 as the Day of Honor to celebrate minority veterans throughout the country. This day will be set aside to recognize the service of African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans in World War II. The service and sacrifice of these men and women is all the more moving because, in many cases, they fought to protect freedoms that they themselves did not fully enjoy. Today, we understand that part of what makes a community livable is respect for diversity and an appreciation of our differences. Understanding our history, even when it contains difficult memories, is an important part of bridging the ethnic and cultural divisions that still trouble us. African Americans were the largest group of minority Americans to serve in World War II. More than a million African American men and women served in the United States Armed Forces in the war. The famed 332nd Fighter Group of the Tuskeegee Airmen never lost a bomber under their escort to an enemy fighter in 200 missions. The Day of Honor was celebrated in Portland last Saturday at Reflections, a coffee and book store in my district. African American servicemen from all branches of the United States military were recognized for their sacrifice and heroism on the battlefield. I was especially pleased that Mr. Edgar L. Bolden, who served with the Tuskeegee Airmen and now lives in the district I serve, was the guest speaker at the event. Mr. Bolden trained as a fighter pilot with the Tuskeegee Airmen, serving his country honorably, and then went on to receive an engineering degree and work for the Federal Aviation Administration and in the private sector. Another outstanding group of African Americans who served our country in World War II was the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, the Army's only all-African American parachute infantry unit. Born within an armed forces that had typically relegated African Americans to menial jobs and programmed them for failure, the 555th or ``Triple Nickels'' as they were called, received new orders as the war was drawing to a close--a change of station to Pendleton Air Base in Pendleton, Oregon. The 555th acquired a new nickname, the ``Smoke Jumpers'' and they were on emergency call to fight forest fires in any of several western states. Their other mission was ``Operation Firefly'' [[Page 8890]] in which they would parachute into areas where there were suspected Japanese ``balloon bombs--incendiary devices that had traveled across the Pacific on hydrogen balloons and posed the risk of setting fires and were a danger to people. Indeed, a woman and five children were killed by one of these bombs near Bly, in southern Oregon. The Triple Nickels carried out the hazardous mission of locating and disposing of these bombs. Two years later in 1947, the 555th became the unit that integrated the Army when they became members of the 82nd Airborne. These are just a few of the many examples of sacrifice and bravery displayed by minority veterans in World War II. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of our veterans. It is because of them that we were able to exercise the freedoms that are central to our Nation's character. Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 98 offered by Congresswoman Jackson-Lee and sponsored by senator Kennedy in the Senate. As a co-sponsor I welcome this long over due resolution, which calls for a presidential proclamation designating May 25, 2000 as a national Day of Honor for minority veterans of World War II. This resolution is an important and fitting tribute to the tens of thousands of minority Americans who set aside political, economic and social disenfranchisement, to answer the call to arms against the forces of tyranny. In the beginning of the war, many minority servicemen were relegated to serve only in ``rear echelon'' positions or support positions during the war. They served as munitions men, truck drivers, cooks, stewards, and in cleaning and repair details. Minorities also labored in the factories and farms throughout the United States working towards the war effort. In many cases, when in combat zones, the men in these positions manned weapons and fought honorably side-by-side with white soldiers and sailors during furious engagements. Later in the war, after much lobbying efforts by minority leaders, combat units were established for minorities. These brave men and women came from all walks of life but were bound by a love of the principles of duty to God and county. They lived in a separate component of American society that was defined by an unfortunate climate of prejudice. African-Americans, Hispanics, native Hawaiians, Chamorros, Samoans, Asian Americans, Filipinos, American Indians, and Native Alaskans all served honorably in many capacities with the U.S. military to combat the hegemonic forces of Germany, Italy and Japan. In segregated units, often led by white officers, these noble men distinguished themselves in combat and proved to the entire nation that they too were willing to lay down their lives for freedom. The Tuskeegee Airmen, the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the 100th Infantry Battalion, the Navaho Code-Talkers, the U.S. Navy's Fita Fita Guard (a U.S. Navy auxiliary unit in American Samoa), the 1st Samoan Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps, and the Guam Combat Patrol (a U.S. Marine Corps auxiliary unit in Guam) are just a few of the organizations where minorities fought valiantly in some of the most difficult combat assignments anywhere in World War II. This Joint Resolution commends the African, Hispanic, Asian, and Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Alaskans, Pacific Islanders and all other minority veterans, especially those who lost their lives. It also authorizes and requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to honor minority veterans with appropriate programs and activities. I want to thank both Congresswoman Jackson-Lee and Senator Kennedy for bringing this Joint Resolution to the floor and ensuring that all Pacific Islanders were accounted for within the language of this bill. We are all humbled and honored by their service and sacrifice. I urge all my colleagues to vote for its passage. Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.J. Res. 98, I rise today in strong support of legislation that would honor those minority World War II veterans who served our nation when duty called. On May 25, 2000, the Day of Honor Project, will be honoring those minority servicemen and women made to help our nation during World War II. It is estimated that more than 1.2 million African-Americans, more than 300,000 Hispanic-Americans, more than 50,000 Asian-Americans, more than 20,000 American Indians, more than 6,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and 3,000 Native Alaskans served in the Armed Forces during World War II. I believe that these men and women deserve our thanks for courageous service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation. In many cases, these minority veterans did not receive proper recognition or awards for their valor and courage during wartime efforts. This Sense of the House resolution is part of the national effort to enlist communities around the nation to honor these World War II minority veterans as part of their Memorial day celebrations. This legislation also requests that the President of the United States issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to honor these minority veterans with appropriate programs and activities. On May 25, 2000, I will be remembering these men and women who gave their lives in some cases for our freedom. As we all remember, freedom is not free and we all must never forget the sacrifices that these men and women made to ensure our freedom today. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation and to honor those who have served in your communities. Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support for H.J. Res. 98, Honoring WWII Minority Veterans. This legislation honors their service and sacrifice. Despite suffering from inequality and discrimination back home and in the military, they did not hesitate to defend America with courage and dedication. Our World War II veterans whether Hispanic, Native American, Asian, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or African-American, participated in combat operations around the globe to stem the tide of fascism with pride and distinction. Their bravery, dedication, and commitment was unwavering as reflected in the disproportionate number of Medal of Honor winners among their ranks. Furthermore, as shown by our Native American Navajo soldiers, their particular and unique skills in the war effort directly contributed to the early success and ultimate victory of our armed forces. Clearly, our minority World War II veterans are patriots and heroes of the highest order. They put their lives on the line for America, while segregation and prejudice persisted in their homes and toward their families. Their efforts and service in defense of our Nation, broke stereotypes and the prejudice they endured served to breakdown the doors of segregation for future generations. Nonetheless, far too many of these veterans returned to a Nation that did not fully recognize their service, nor welcome them back like other American soldiers who had defended our freedom and liberty. It is long overdue that we give them the recognition and accolades they deserve. Our minority veterans should be celebrated, honored, and recognized for their exceptional contributions to the war effort as part of ``America's Greatest Generation.'' They fought against fascism abroad, and racism and segregation at home. They are veterans of war and veterans of the struggle for freedom and civil rights. I therefore am pleased that we commend these veterans for their service and sacrifice with this Joint Resolution. This bill will honor those minority veterans who gave their lives, support the goals of a Day of Honor in celebration and recognition of their extraordinary service, and authorize and request a Presidential proclamation to honor these veterans with appropriate programs and activities. These veterans deserve this recognition and we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. However, with this resolution let us salute and thank our minority World War II veterans. I therefore ask that my colleagues join me to overwhelmingly support this bill. Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Veterans' Affairs Committee for bringing this important resolution before the House of Representatives this week. The committed service of the veterans of World War II, especially that of minority veterans, can never be noted too often. For minority veterans, their desire to serve this country was a monumental movement in democracy and social change. While many people pinpoint the 1960s, and the civil rights movement in that decade, with moving the nation closer to social progress, it was WWII and the minority veterans who distinguished themselves so often and so valiantly who gave us the opportunity to move forward as a community and a nation. Let me tell you a little bit about one of the most important and influential members of the WWII generation. Those Hispanics who fought against the Nazis and Imperial Japan showed their bravery and courage time and time again. They came home from the war that equalized the rich and poor, educated and uneducated, to a country which still openly discriminated against them because of their ethnicity. Probably the best-known WWII veteran Hispanic descent in South Texas was Dr. Hector [[Page 8891]] P. Garcia. Dr. Garcia came back to South Texas and was, with many Hispanic veterans, treated with familiar contempt by people in the country for which they had shed blood in a great war and a just cause. What crystallized the cause of civil rights for so many Hispanic veterans and Hispanic Americans was the treatment of Army Private Felix Longoria, a soldier lost in WWII. Longoria's family wanted to bury him at Three Rivers near their home, but the cemetery was for whites only. Dr. Garcia, and all veterans who were coming home were shocked by the blatant racism that was still so prevalent in their home. They believed in fighting for the cause of democracy and for the United States. They also believed that their service would bring them the respect that had elluded them in everyday life before the war. Dr. Garcia called the funeral home and asked them to reconsider. The funeral home owner refused. Dr. Garcia and other South Texas veterans were not deterred. They took their case to the federal level via telegrams and correspondence. Longoria was buried two months later in Arlington National Cemetery with the help of then-Senator Lyndon Johnson. Out of all this came the American GI Forum, the first Hispanic civil rights organization. Hispanics in the United States have proudly served their country from the American Revolution to our NATO activity in Kosovo. In the course of that service, 38 Hispanics have been awarded the Medal of Honor, our country's highest award for military bravery and service. That is the highest number of Medals of Honor among ethnic minorities. I appreciate the efforts of the House of Representatives today in honoring these minority veterans. Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 98, the Day of Honor 2000 to honor and recognize the service of minority veterans in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. I am an original cosponsor of H.J. Res. 98. Since the days of the Buffalo Soldiers (1866), minorities have served with bravery and distinction in the United States Military with little or no recognition. There were twenty-three Medal of Honor recipients from the four African American army regiments that came to be known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians also served their country honorably and with great distinction during World War II. Many Japanese-Americans served with the Army's much-decorated 442nd Regimental Combat Team or 100th Infantry Battalion. Organized in Hawaii, the units fought in Europe. About one-third of their members volunteered from U.S. relocation camps to which they had been sent as ``enemies'' of America. In four weeks of heavy combat in October-November 1944, the 442d RCT liberated Bruyeers and Biffontaine and rescued a ``lost battalion'' that had become cut off from the 36th Division. For this the 100th, 2d, and 3d Battalions, 442d Infantry, and the 232d Engineer Company were each awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation [later re-designated as the President Unit Citation]. Two soldiers of Asian ancestry, Army Pfc. Sadao Munemori and Jose Calugas of the Philippine Scouts, received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military accolade, during the World War II era. At least 20 Asian-American heroes of World War II will belatedly receive the Medal of Honor in the White House ceremony on June 21. Only 441 such awards were given during WWII. This tribute completes an effort ordered by Congress to identify Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders who had won the second-highest medal, the Distinguished Service Cross, and to recommend Medal of Honor upgrades to President Clinton in deserving cases. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, will be among those recipients. Many others cited were killed in action or have died since the war, and family members will accept the awards posthumously. Primary among Pacific Islanders serving in WWII were the Filipino Vets. As members of Philippine army scouts and guerrilla units attached to U.S. forces during World War II, they fought alongside Americans at Bataan, survived the infamous ``Death March,'' hid and fed U.S. soldiers who escaped capture and helped Gen. Douglas MacArthur's army liberate their homeland, then an American colony. These deserving veterans are in a fight, even now, to obtain the benefits they deserve from the United States government. This is a record of stellar service. So, it is fitting that we pass H.J. Res. 98 today to honor those who served as well during that war and who have never truly been recognized for their effort and their sacrifices--often the ultimate sacrifice, their lives. Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 98. The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution was agreed to. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 44) supporting the Day of Honor 2000 to honor and recognize the service of minority veterans in the United States Armed Forces during World War II, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House. The Clerk read the title of the Senate joint resolution. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arizona? There was no objection. The Clerk read the Senate joint resolution, as follows: S.J. Res. 44 Whereas World War II was a determining event of the 20th century in that it ensured the preservation and continuation of American democracy; Whereas the United States called upon all its citizens, including the most oppressed of its citizens, to provide service and sacrifice in that war to achieve the Allied victory over Nazism and fascism; Whereas the United States citizens who served in that war, many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, included more than 1,200,000 African Americans, more than 300,000 Hispanic Americans, more than 50,000 Asian Americans, more than 20,000 Native Americans, more than 6,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and more than 3,000 Native Alaskans; Whereas because of invidious discrimination, many of the courageous military activities of these minorities were not reported and honored fully and appropriately until decades after the Allied victory in World War II; Whereas the motto of the United States, ``E Pluribus Unum'' (Out of Many, One), promotes our fundamental unity as Americans and acknowledges our diversity as our greatest strength; and Whereas the Day of Honor 2000 Project has enlisted communities across the United States to participate in celebrations to honor minority veterans of World War II on May 25, 2000, and throughout the year 2000: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress-- (1) commends the African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, Native Alaskan, and other minority veterans of the United States Armed Forces who served during World War II; (2) especially honors those minority veterans who gave their lives in service to the United States during that war; (3) supports the goals and ideas of the ``Day of Honor 2000'' in celebration and recognition of the extraordinary service of all minority veterans in the United States Armed Forces during World War II; and (4) authorizes and requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to honor these minority veterans with appropriate programs and activities. The Senate joint resolution was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table. A similar House joint resolution (H.J. Res. 98) was laid on the table. ____________________