[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2374-2376]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF EMANCIPATION HALL TO PRESENT CONGRESSIONAL GOLD 
                 MEDAL TO WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 239) authorizing 
the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for a 
ceremony to present the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce 
Service Pilots.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 239

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF EMANCIPATION HALL FOR PRESENTATION OF 
                   CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO WOMEN AIRFORCE 
                   SERVICE PILOTS.

       (a) Authorization.--Emancipation Hall in the Capitol 
     Visitor Center is authorized to be used for a ceremony on 
     March 10, 2010, to present the Congressional Gold Medal to 
     the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
       (b) Preparations.--Physical preparations for the conduct of 
     the ceremony described in subsection (a) shall be carried out 
     in accordance with such conditions as may be prescribed by 
     the Architect of the Capitol.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Davis) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days

[[Page 2375]]

to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this concurrent 
resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
239. As Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military 
Personnel and as co-Chair of the Women's Caucus Task Force on Women in 
the Military and Veterans, I am privileged to recognize their service.
  We are all familiar with the icon of Rosie the Riveter, working in 
war factories during World War II. Her motto was, ``We can do it.''
  Well, the Women Airforce Service Pilots did it, too. Almost 70 years 
ago, they became pioneers for women's equality in the armed services. 
As civilian pilots under the direction of the U.S. Army Air Forces, 
flying noncombat missions from 1942 to 1944, they bravely stepped into 
service while their male counterparts were sent to combat.
  The Women Airforce Service Pilots are referred to as the ``WASP.'' 
Unlike many acronyms used in the military, this is an apt name. For 
like WASP, their work demanded a unique combination of feistiness and 
strength, underlined by loyalty to their fellow WASP and their country. 
They flew every type of military aircraft in every kind of mission 
except combat. They ferried aircraft from factories to military 
installations. They towed aerial targets, transported cargo, and served 
in training exercises.
  There were 38 of the, roughly, 1,100 women who lost their lives 
during the war. There are only about 300 surviving WASP. I am astounded 
by their tenacity and by their bravery. Yet, despite that dedication, 
these women have encountered difficulties in being recognized for their 
service. The WASP corps only received full military status for their 
service in 1977 after having their records kept secret in classified 
archival files for more than 35 years.
  Next week, on March 10, we will honor their legacy as the first 
female aviators in American military history with the award of the 
Congressional Gold Medal. This is the highest civilian honor Congress 
can give, and it is both well deserved and, certainly, long overdue.
  I was proud to have been a co-lead with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-
Lehtinen on the bill awarding them this honor. It is wonderful to see 
this come to fruition.
  Last year, the Union-Tribune in San Diego highlighted several of 
these women from my district, some of whom will be attending the 
ceremony next week. I look forward to meeting them, and I hope all of 
my colleagues will come and meet the WASP from their districts.
  To quote Vivian Eddy, one of these intrepid women from my district, 
their desire to serve our country was ``not so much to prove anything 
to anybody but just to fly.''
  This ceremony will be an illustrative example of our indebtedness to 
their fearless, selfless service. This group of unsung heroines 
demonstrates the courage of women in the past, the integrity with which 
women continue to serve today, and the enthusiasm of the young women 
who dream of serving this great Nation in the future.
  I hope all of my colleagues will join me in thanking the WASP and 
their families by offering their support for this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Harper) will control his 20 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HARPER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Today, I rise in support of this resolution, which will authorize the 
use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event 
recognizing the Women Airforce Service Pilots as recipients of the 
Congressional Gold Medal.
  The WASP program, as it was known, was the first introduction of 
female pilots into the United States armed services. During World War 
II, these women flew noncombat missions in support of the United States 
military. WASP pilots numbered in the thousands during World War II, 
and each woman who served in this capacity freed up one of her male 
counterparts for combat services and other duties. Just as many women 
performed operational roles on domestic U.S. bases, these female pilots 
played a critical role in helping to mobilize servicemen for deployment 
to the European and Pacific theatres of war.
  I am pleased that Congress is able to host this exceptional group of 
women as they are honored for their contribution to our Nation. I hope 
my colleagues will join me both in thanking these women for their 
service to our Nation and in supporting this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Klein).
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. I thank the gentlewoman from California and the 
gentlewoman from Florida for bringing this forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I would just like to stand in recognition of these 
wonderful women who provided such an important role in this war.
  I would also like to specifically acknowledge Debbie Holthouse from 
Boynton Beach, Florida. She resides in my congressional district, and 
she is going to be honoring her mother.
  Her mother is Bette Nogard, who served as a pilot during World War 
II. Bette Nogard died without any veterans benefits even though she 
risked her life for our freedom. She was a true hero. I am proud that 
Congress will be honoring her as well as these other women. I look 
forward to seeing her here in Washington.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Florida, Representative Ros-Lehtinen.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank my good friend for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, as the House author of legislation awarding the 
Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP, I 
rise in strong support of today's resolution.
  I would like to thank my wonderful friend from California, my 
colleague, my collaborator, Congresswoman Susan Davis of California, 
for her dedicated work in support of the WASP.
  Today's bill authorizes the use of Emancipation Hall, a historic 
place for a historic group of ladies, for an event that will honor a 
most unique sisterhood of women pioneers. Next, Wednesday, March 10, 
Mr. Speaker, the United States Congress will present the Congressional 
Gold Medal to the surviving members of the Women Airforce Service 
Pilots, WASP. This award serves as a small token of our tremendous 
appreciation of the remarkable courage and sacrifice made by these 
women during the perilous times of World War II.
  The WASP were the first women in history to fly America's military 
aircraft. Between the years of 1942 and 1944, these courageous women 
volunteered to fly noncombat missions so that every available male 
pilot could be deployed in combat. More than 25,000 women applied for 
the program, but only 1,830 qualified women pilots were accepted.
  Unlike their male counterparts, women applicants were required to be 
qualified pilots before they could apply for the Army Air Forces' 
military flight training program. That's what it was called, it sounds 
odd to say. Although 1,102 women earned their wings and went on to fly 
over 60 million miles for the Army Air Forces, equal to some 2,500 
times around the globe, they never got the recognition that they 
deserved. Their performances were equal in every way to those of their 
male pilots. With the exception of direct combat missions, the WASP 
flew the same aircraft with the same missions as male pilots. Women 
pilots were used to tow targets for male pilots who were using live 
ammunition for searchlight missions, for chemical missions, engineering 
test flying, and for countless other exercises.

[[Page 2376]]

  In 1944, the WASP were disbanded. Their service records were sealed 
and classified. By the time the war ended, 38 women pilots had lost 
their lives while flying for our country. Although they took the 
military oath and were promised military status, the WASP were never 
recognized as true military personnel. These 38 women who died in the 
service of our country during World War II were denied death benefits, 
including proper military funerals. Not even an American flag covered 
their coffins, and their survivors never received a single dime.
  As a former WASP, Mary Alice Putnam Vandeventer noted in a recent 
letter, fellow WASP would circulate a ``collection hat to make sure 
that a fallen sister pilot received a proper burial.''
  It was not until 1977, more than 30 years after the WASP had served, 
when another woman pioneer, Congresswoman Lindy Boggs, introduced 
legislation to grant the WASP veterans status. Now, more than 30 years 
from that important occasion, the United States Congress, on behalf of 
the American people, will present the WASP with the recognition they 
deserve and with the recognition, indeed, they have earned.
  The WASP are true pioneers, whose examples paved the way for the 
Armed Forces to finally lift the ban on a woman attending military 
flight training in the 1970s.

                              {time}  1800

  Today, women in the military fly every type of aircraft, from F-15s 
to the space shuttle. My daughter-in-law, Lindsay Nelson, a Marine 
Corps pilot, is part of this lasting legacy of the WASP. Lindsay is a 
graduate of the United States Naval Academy. She served combat tours in 
Iraq and in Afghanistan, where she flew the F-18 fighter jet. I am so 
proud of Lindsay and of all of our servicewomen, past and present, who 
continue to inspire young women to achieve what was heretofore 
unimaginable.
  Of the 1,102 WASP, less than 300 are still alive today, and they are 
residing in almost every State of our beautiful Union.
  I have had the honor and the privilege of meeting WASP from my 
congressional area of south Florida. Last August, Mr. Speaker, I 
presented Frances Rohrer Sargent, Ruth Shafer Fleisher and Helen Wyatt 
Snapp with framed, signed copies of the WASP Congressional Gold Medal 
legislation. I cannot tell you how delighted I am that Frances, Ruth, 
and Helen will be traveling to Washington next week, along with more 
than 170 of their fellow WASP.
  Join me in paying homage to these trailblazers and true patriots who 
served our country without question and with no expectation of 
recognition or praise. I hope that all of our colleagues will join us 
next week to do so.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and my good friend from 
California, Mrs. Davis, in voting ``yes'' on this important 
recognition. We have taken a long time to recognize these brave 
pioneers, but that date has finally come, thanks to all of our Members.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, 
but I certainly wanted to say, and I appreciate the wonderful words of 
my colleague, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, that we are finally having an 
opportunity to recognize these women in a way that we should have done 
a long time ago. But we are going to be recognizing the Women Air Force 
Service Pilots with a Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. I certainly 
hope our colleagues will join us on March 10 in Emancipation Hall for a 
very special day, I know, to see and hear from these women who were far 
more than trailblazers; they served their country and they did it 
courageously. We are very proud of them and want to let them know how 
much we care about that service.
  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 (Mrs. Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 239.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________