[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18405-18407]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS' MEMORIAL AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2013

  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2319) to clarify certain provisions of the Native American 
Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1994, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2319

       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 ``Native American Veterans' 
     Memorial Amendments Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS' MEMORIAL.

       (a) Authority To Establish Memorial.--Section 3 of the 
     Native American Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1994 
     (20 U.S.C. 80q-5 note; 108 Stat. 4067) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``within the interior 
     structure of the facility provided for by'' and inserting 
     ``on property under the jurisdiction of the Museum on the 
     site described in''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``, in consultation 
     with the Museum, is'' and inserting ``and the National Museum 
     of the American Indian are''.
       (b) Payment of Expenses.--Section 4(a) of the Native 
     American Veterans' Memorial Establishment Act of 1994 (20 
     U.S.C. 80q-5 note; 108 Stat. 4067) is amended--
       (1) in the heading, by inserting ``and National Museum of 
     the American Indian'' after ``American Indians''; and
       (2) in the first sentence, by striking ``shall be solely'' 
     and inserting ``and the National Museum of the American 
     Indian shall be''.


[[Page 18406]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 2319 is a bill that would continue to recognize the efforts of 
all Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans across 
the Nation. These brave soldiers, including my own grandfather, Kenneth 
Morris, sacrificed much for the country they love. It is important that 
we properly honor these brave soldiers and tell their story for 
generations to come.
  As many of my colleagues know, last month Congress awarded 
Congressional Gold Medals to Native American code talkers from all over 
the country, a long overdue recognition for their bravery and valor. 
These men saved countless lives during World Wars I and II by using 
their native languages.
  My bill amends a 1994 law that allows the National Museum of the 
American Indian more flexibility to design and raise funds for the 
building of a memorial. The memorial is currently authorized to be 
constructed inside the confines of the museum, but with the limited 
space within the museum itself, this bill provides for a more 
appropriate tribute.
  This bipartisan bill has received overwhelming support from the 
National Congress of American Indians and the National Museum of the 
American Indian. As one of only two Native Americans in Congress, it 
has been my privilege to work to make this memorial a reality.
  I ask for your support of this legislation which was reported by 
unanimous consent from the Committee on Natural Resources just last 
week and will require no cost to the American taxpayers.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2319 authorizes the construction of a Native 
American Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the National Museum of the 
American Indian. The memorial is already authorized to be built within 
the museum, but planning efforts have identified the needs for more 
space. This bill simply allows the memorial to be built outside.
  Native Americans have a long and proud tradition of military service. 
Navajo code talkers were involved in every assault the U.S. Marines 
conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. Their heroics even inspired 
a Hollywood movie, but the proud tradition of Native American service 
goes all the way back to the Revolutionary War. Since then, the 
Nation's first Americans have fought in every U.S. engagement, and it 
is about time that we recognize their service with a national memorial. 
I cannot think of a better place to commemorate that tradition than on 
the grounds of the National Museum.
  I also want to take time to thank Congressman Mullin for his 
leadership and sponsorship of this legislation, overdue, and very, very 
appropriate and historically necessary.
  We support H.R. 2319 and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the bipartisan support from my 
colleague from Arizona and definitely the support from the other side 
of the aisle that so often is needed inside this House.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Cramer).
  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank my friend and 
colleague from Oklahoma. He is a colleague on the Natural Resources 
Committee with me, as well as the Indian and Alaska Native Affairs 
Subcommittee, and Mr. Mullin has demonstrated great leadership on this 
important legislation.
  In my State of North Dakota, our citizens enlist in the military at a 
rate four times the national average. Much of the credit for this 
impressive statistic really belongs to the thousands of our native 
citizens who have enlisted at very, very high rates, citizens from the 
Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, from the Fort Berthold Mandan, 
Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, from our Sioux Nations at Fort Yates and 
Fort Totten, from the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Nations as well as 
Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Nation who have demonstrated exemplary 
patriotism in their enlistment. And furthermore, they carry out this 
patriotism with incredible pride, understandable and appropriate pride 
in the way they participate with their honor and color guards at 
veterans' events throughout our State.
  This memorial and these amendments are really a very appropriate and 
important recognition of their sacrifice and their service and their 
unique contribution to our society, especially given the history of our 
Nation's birth.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of our colleagues to honor our 
native veterans by voting ``yes'' on this important legislation.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), cochair of the Native 
American Caucus in the House.
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Native 
American Veterans' Memorial Amendment Act.
  Native Americans have served in our Armed Forces at higher rates than 
any other ethnic group, even while being denied the right to vote and 
full citizenship in this country.
  Their contributions include 27 recipients of the Medal of Honor and 
code talkers, whose native languages became the unbreakable code, 
keeping America safe, keeping America strong. A permanent memorial for 
these brave men and women will ensure all Americans are able to honor 
and remember their sacrifice.
  While construction of such a memorial has been authorized since 1994, 
this bill offers critical amendments to make it a reality. It allows 
the National Museum of the American Indian to build the memorial on its 
grounds and permits the museum to work with the National Congress of 
American Indians in raising funding.
  This honor is past due for the thousands of Native American veterans 
and servicemembers and their families, and I urge my colleagues to join 
me, to join all of us in giving thanks for their service by supporting 
this bill.
  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Daines).
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Mullin for the 
work he has done in leading this important bill and bringing it to the 
floor, as well as the bipartisan support from my distinguished friend 
and Member from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), as we are bringing something 
together here that is bipartisan in nature for a very important reason.
  Montana is the proud home of seven federally recognized tribes, along 
with the State-recognized tribe the Little Shell. Montana's tribes not 
only represent an important part of Montana's history and our heritage, 
in fact, more than 2,500 Montana tribal members are veterans who serve 
as true examples of service, of bravery, of patriotism.
  Last month, I was blessed with the opportunity to meet with some of 
those Montana veterans, their families, and other tribal members in 
Washington, D.C., for a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring the 
Native American code talkers who served in both World Wars. In fact, it 
was a special moment.
  I brought several of those members of the Crow Tribe, descendants of 
these

[[Page 18407]]

Crow code talkers, to the House floor for a tour after Congress had 
adjourned. And here we were, in this great Chamber, as these members of 
the Crow Tribe presented a blessing in their native language that was 
helpful in allowing us to win the World Wars.
  This recognition was long overdue and well-deserved for these brave 
and selfless men and women. I think it is important that all of our 
Native American veterans receive the honor they deserve.
  This bill would help a memorial commemorating our Native American 
veterans to be constructed on the National American Indian Museum 
grounds here in Washington, D.C. This memorial will serve as an 
important symbol of gratitude for the thousands of native men and women 
who have fought to keep us free.
  I hope all Members will join me today in supporting this effort to 
show our Native American veterans the appreciation and honor that is 
most deserved.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers.
  I just want to conclude by again thanking the sponsor of the 
legislation and, I think, to point out the obvious: this legislation is 
important, its timing is important, and the fact that this recognition, 
per capita, for contributions to our Nation in military service for 
Native American peoples and tribes across this country is a very 
important one. It speaks to real loyalty, real love of the land, and 
real love of this Nation. I am proud to be here and to lend my support 
to this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from 
Arizona for his support on this very important piece of legislation.
  We have no further speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Mullin) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2319, as amended.
  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. MULLIN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________