[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16790-16792]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORTING GOLD STAR MOTHERS DAY

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1617) supporting the goals and purpose of Gold Star 
Mothers Day, which is observed on the last Sunday in September of each 
year in remembrance of the supreme sacrifice made by mothers who lose a 
son or daughter serving in the Armed Forces.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1617

       Whereas the American Gold Star Mothers have suffered the 
     supreme sacrifice of motherhood by losing a son or daughter 
     who served in the Armed Forces, and thus perpetuate the 
     memory of all whose lives are sacrificed in war;
       Whereas the American Gold Star Mothers assist veterans of 
     the Armed Forces and their dependents in the presentation of 
     claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs and aid members 
     of the Armed Forces who served and died or were wounded or 
     incapacitated during hostilities;
       Whereas the services rendered to the United States by the 
     mothers of America have strengthened and inspired Americans 
     throughout the history of the United States;
       Whereas Americans honor themselves and the mothers of 
     America when they revere and emphasize the role of the home 
     and the family as the true foundations of the United States;
       Whereas by doing so much for the home, the American mother 
     is a source of moral and spiritual guidance for the people of 
     the United States and thus acts as a positive force to 
     promote good government and peace among all mankind; and
       Whereas the last Sunday in September of each year is 
     observed as Gold Star Mothers Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and purpose of Gold Star Mothers 
     Day, which is observed in remembrance of the supreme 
     sacrifice made by mothers who lose a son or daughter serving 
     in the Armed Forces; and

[[Page 16791]]

       (2) urges the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     upon the people of the United States to observe Gold Star 
     Mothers Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Chu) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1617, a measure 
supporting the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers Day, observed each 
September in remembrance of the supreme sacrifice made by mothers who 
lose a son or a daughter serving in the Armed Forces.
  H. Res. 1617 was introduced by our colleague gentleman from 
California, Representative Peter Roskam on September 14, 2010. It was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which 
ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on September 23, 
2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 50 members of the House.
  We here in the House of Representatives regularly take time to honor 
our brave men and women serving in the armed services, particularly 
those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. With so 
many putting themselves in harm's way, I'm very pleased that we can 
make it a priority to keep them and their families in our thoughts and 
prayers. The American Gold Star Mothers are a group of women who have 
all lost a son or daughter serving in the Armed Forces, and today we 
honor their sacrifice. The Gold Star Mothers provide services and 
comfort to their members, assist veterans in presenting claims to the 
VA, and host a number of events throughout the year to show support for 
our military. We thank them for all they do for our troops and our 
veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, the sacrifices of the Gold Star Mothers should never be 
far from our thoughts and prayers, and so I ask my colleagues to join 
me in honoring the Gold Star Mothers through the passage of H. Res. 
1617.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think that as we were talking about many different 
items today, I think that as a culture, and especially as a Congress, 
we always talk about the men and women who serve and those who pay the 
ultimate sacrifice.
  But I think anyone who is a parent, especially those who are mothers, 
recognize that the only thing worse than running into harm's way is to 
watch your child run into harm's way. And the greatest loss is not the 
loss of one's life, but a loss of a child's life. And I think this is 
quite appropriate that we finally start focusing on the fact that the 
great sacrifice made on the battlefield is not by the men and women who 
are fighting, but the mothers who are left behind and must live with 
whatever results occur on that battlefield, something that they will 
live with for the rest of their lives. And I think it is quite 
appropriate that we do this today.
  I am sad that we haven't done it before, to really recognize that 
those greatest heroes in America are the mothers who have raised the 
children that do the fighting that protect the freedoms and the 
prosperity, and those mothers who pay the ultimate sacrifice should be 
recognized, not just here, but much more often.
  And so I thank the majority for allowing this to be brought forward. 
And, hopefully, as a nation, as a culture, we will recognize the 
contribution mothers make in this great effort.
  The military couldn't be the military if it wasn't for the mothers 
who were willing to raise the children that we put in harm's way. And 
they are willing and, sadly, forced many times as the Gold Star Mothers 
are, to live with the repercussions for the rest of their lives of the 
great loss that they witness and this Nation has ignored for too long. 
I ask for passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1617, 
which supports the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers Day. Gold Star 
Mothers Day is observed on the last Sunday of September each year. I am 
proud to cosponsor H. Res. 1617, and I thank my colleague, Congressman 
Roskam for introducing this resolution.
  Gold Star Mothers Day reminds us all of the ultimate sacrifice made 
by our men and women in uniform who gave their lives for our country. 
We also remember the mothers of our fallen soldiers who have to deal 
with the pain of losing their child.
  On June 4, 1928, the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was established 
when twenty-five mothers who lost a child in World War I met in 
Washington, DC. Membership was later opened to mothers who lost 
children in other armed conflicts. Congress then designated the last 
Sunday as Gold Star Mothers Day on June 23, 1936.
  These remarkable women have turned their grief into service to 
others. Gold Star Mothers provides a mutual bond of sympathy and 
support. They also assist veterans and their dependents with VA claims, 
and provide aid to service members and their families who have died or 
were wounded during active duty.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize the 11 service members from 
Long Beach, California, which is in my district, who lost their lives 
during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. They 
are: Pfc. Sephen Castellano, Sgt. Anthony Davis, Jr., Pvt. Ernesto 
Guerra, Spec. Roberto Martinez Salazar, Pfc. David T. Toomalatai, Staff 
Sgt. Joshua Whitaker, Sgt. 1st Class Randy Collins, Sgt. Israel Garcia, 
Pfc. Lyndon Marcus, Jr., Spec. Astor Sunsin-Pineda, Pfc. George Torres. 
I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking and remembering these 
individuals for their service to our country, and to keep their 
families and especially their mothers in our thoughts and prayers.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 
1617.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support in 
recognition of Gold Star Mothers Day, which is celebrated the last 
Sunday of September. These mothers have given the supreme sacrifice for 
their country: they have lost a son or daughter serving in the Armed 
Forces. But instead of mourning alone, these courageous women have 
taken their personal loss and used it to help others in the same 
situation.
  Several weeks ago, I hosted the Congressional Black Caucus Annual 
Legislative Conference, along with Rep. Corrine Brown of Florida and 
Rep. Sanford Bishop of Georgia. At that conference, we were honored to 
have here with us Ms. Aseneth Blackwell, a former President of the Gold 
Star Wives of America, a sister organization of the Gold Star Mothers. 
Both members of these organizations have lost loved ones in service for 
their country.
  These honorable women provide support to those who may not know who 
to turn to. They provide a listening ear and sympathetic voice to the 
bereaved, because they have been there too. They assist veteran's 
families in understanding and obtaining the benefits provided by the 
government for veteran's families. And they make sure that the Nation 
never forgets those sacrifices made by the men and women of the Armed 
Forces.
  My condolences go out to any family member that has lost a spouse, a 
child, or a parent in the service of their country. That is why I am 
proud to speak today on behalf of this bill that recognizes the 
sacrifice made by mothers of this country, by observing Gold Star 
Mothers Day. I also commend President Obama for his proclamation on 
September 24th, asking the public to observe this special day with 
them.
  Mr. ROSKAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gold Star Mothers 
day, which was observed on the last Sunday of September. This day 
commemorated the supreme sacrifice made by those who have lost a son or 
daughter serving in the Armed Forces. By honoring these mothers, we 
also remember all those who have given their lives in service for our 
country.
  The American Gold Star Mothers assist veterans of the Armed Forces 
and their dependents in the presentation of claims to the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and aid members of the Armed Forces who served and 
died, or were wounded or incapacitated during hostilities. Their 
services have strengthened and inspired Americans throughout the 
history of the United States.
  The sacrifice of Gold Star Mothers emphasizes the role of the home 
and the family as the true foundation of the United States. The 
American mother is a source of moral and

[[Page 16792]]

spiritual guidance for the people of the United States; she acts as a 
positive force to promote good government and peace among all mankind.
  For more than eighty years, American Gold Star Mothers have banded 
together to show their pride and love of our country. These women have 
given their time and effort to honor all fallen children and assist 
veterans. In spite of their grief, they have demonstrated an ardent 
support for and deep service of our country.
  Mr. Speaker and Distinguished Colleagues, please join me in 
recognizing the heroic precedent set by Gold Star Mothers and their 
legacy of patriotism, sacrifice, and service.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1617.
  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. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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