[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9092-9094]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DESERT STORM AND DESERT SHIELD WAR MEMORIAL ACT

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 503) to authorize the National Desert Storm 
Memorial Association to establish the National Desert Storm and Desert 
Shield Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 503

       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 ``National Desert Storm and 
     Desert Shield War Memorial Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this Act:
       (1) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the 
     National Desert Storm Memorial Association, a corporation 
     organized under the laws of the State of Arkansas and 
     described in section 501(c)(3) and exempt from taxation under 
     section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       (2) Memorial.--The term ``memorial'' means the National 
     Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial authorized to be 
     established under section 3.

     SEC. 3. MEMORIAL TO COMMEMORATE.

       (a) Authorization To Establish Commemorative Work.--The 
     Association may establish the National Desert Storm and 
     Desert Shield Memorial as a commemorative work, on Federal 
     land in the District of Columbia to commemorate and honor 
     those who, as a member of the Armed Forces, served on active 
     duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert 
     Shield.
       (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works 
     Act.--The establishment of the commemorative work shall be in 
     accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code 
     (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works Act'').
       (c) Use of Federal Funds Prohibited.--Federal funds may not 
     be used to pay any expense of the establishment of the 
     memorial. The

[[Page 9093]]

     Association shall be solely responsible for acceptance of 
     contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the 
     establishment of the memorial.
       (d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
       (1) If upon payment of all expenses for the establishment 
     of the memorial (including the maintenance and preservation 
     amount required by section 8906(b)(1) of title 40, United 
     States Code), there remains a balance of funds received for 
     the establishment of the commemorative work, the Association 
     shall transmit the amount of the balance to the Secretary of 
     the Interior for deposit in the account provided for in 
     section 8906(b)(3) of title 40, United States Code.
       (2) If upon expiration of the authority for the 
     commemorative work under section 8903(e) of title 40, United 
     States Code, there remains a balance of funds received for 
     the establishment of the commemorative work, the Association 
     shall transmit the balance to a separate account with the 
     National Park Foundation for memorials, to be available to 
     the Secretary of the Interior or the Administrator (as 
     appropriate) following the process provided in section 
     8906(b)(4) of title 40, United States Code, for accounts 
     established under section 8906(b)(2) or (3) of title 40, 
     United States Code.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. 
Michelle Lujan Grisham) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. 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 Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  H.R. 503 authorizes the National Desert Storm Memorial Association to 
establish a commemorative work on Federal land outside of the closed 
National Mall reserve in the District of Columbia to commemorate and 
honor members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty in support 
of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert Shield.
  Over 600,000 American servicemen deployed for Operations Desert Storm 
and Desert Shield and successfully led a coalition of over 30 countries 
to evict an invading army to secure the independence of Kuwait.
  This memorial will recognize their success, but it will also serve as 
a commemoration of those nearly 300 Americans who made the ultimate 
sacrifice on our behalf.
  The work would be planned and constructed using non-Federal funds, 
and unlike recent monuments' proposals, it does not exempt it from the 
Commemorative Works Act, which was established to place standards and a 
process for the placement of memorials in the Washington, D.C., area. 
This is a good piece of legislation, and I urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 503, the National Desert Storm and Desert 
Shield War Memorial Act.
  Following the ordered invasion and occupation of Kuwait by Iraqi 
leader Saddam Hussein, the United States, along with the United Nations 
Security Council, demanded the immediate halt and pullback of forces 
under the threat of military action.
  After Saddam Hussein defied the United Nations Security Council's 
demands, the United States, along with its NATO and Arab allies, began 
Operation Desert Shield, followed by Operation Desert Storm--a 100-hour 
land war which expelled the Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
  Approximately 700,000 members of the American Armed Forces served as 
part of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. Of those, 
293 died in theater, and 148 were killed in action.
  H.R. 503 authorizes the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War 
Memorial Association to build the National Desert Storm and Desert 
Shield Memorial as a commemorative work on Federal land in the District 
of Columbia, in order to honor the members of the American Armed Forces 
who served on active duty and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in 
support of our country.
  Honoring those who have served and those who have died is a duty 
shared by all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. We 
support this bipartisan bill and look forward to its adoption.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 
minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee, Dr. Roe, the author of this 
legislation.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud sponsor 
of H.R. 503, the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial 
Act.
  In the previous debate we heard just a moment ago about tyranny and 
the oppression of human rights, this bill honors those who fought this 
and freed an entire country--Kuwait.
  In having just celebrated Memorial Day, it is fitting that the House 
today is considering legislation which would establish a monument to 
honor those who served on active duty in support of Operation Desert 
Storm or Operation Desert Shield.

                              {time}  1730

  2014 marks 23 years since the first U.S. casualty in Operation Desert 
Shield, the first phase of one of the largest military operations in 
our country's history.
  The seeds for this conflict were sewn on August 2, 1990, when Saddam 
Hussein ruthlessly invaded Kuwait and imprisoned the people. In less 
than 24 hours, he dominated nearly 30 percent of the world's oil 
supply, before setting his sights on Saudi Arabia.
  Recognizing Saudi Arabia's important role in the region, President 
George Herbert Walker Bush and a coalition of 34 supporting countries 
launched Operation Desert Shield, the deployment of combat forces to 
Saudi Arabia, and ordered Hussein to remove Iraqi troops from Kuwait by 
January 15, 1991.
  With Kuwait still occupied after the deadline passed, over a half-
million United States armed servicemembers led coalition forces in the 
liberation of Kuwait: Operation Desert Storm.
  Of the roughly 600,000 American troops who were deployed in both 
Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 294 died in theater, of which 
148 were killed in action.
  The United States currently lacks a national memorial dedicated to 
the valor and sacrifices made by those members of our Armed Forces who 
protected two of our key regional allies. This sacrifice was not just 
borne by those who deployed, but also by their families on the home 
front.
  Believing that we should have an enduring monument to their service 
in the Nation's capital, I introduced the National Desert Storm and 
Desert Shield War Memorial Act. This bipartisan legislation would 
authorize the National Desert Storm Memorial Association to establish a 
National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial on Federal lands 
within the District of Columbia.
  It is important to note that no Federal funds will be spent to build 
this memorial. All funds will be raised privately by the National 
Desert Storm Memorial Association.
  I will include letters of support from veterans service organizations 
such as AMVETS, the American Legion, the Air Force Association, the 
National Guard Association of the United States, and Blinded Veterans 
of America.

                     AMVETS Draft Resolution 14-08

     Subject: Support the National Desert Storm Memorial
     Source: National Headquarters
       Whereas, on Aug. 2, 1990 Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and 
     set in motion a chain of events that would impact America and 
     the rest of the world forever; and,
       Whereas, on January 16th 1991 Operation Desert Storm was 
     launched following Saddam Hussein's refusal to withdraw his 
     Iraqi forces from Kuwait; and,
       Whereas, there were 293 American men and women who made the 
     ultimate sacrifice in extracting the Iraqis and liberating 
     Kuwait; and

[[Page 9094]]

       Whereas, in 2011 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of this 
     historical conflict and yet there remains no national 
     memorial to honor the brave men and women from the United 
     States who served and sacrificed in that war; now therefore, 
     be it resolved: That AMVETS do everything in its power to 
     support the passage of HR 503, National Desert Storm and 
     Desert Shield War Memorial Act.
                                  ____

                                              The American Legion,


                             Office of the National Commander,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2014.
     Hon. Phil Roe, M.D.,
     House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Roe: On behalf of the 2.4 million 
     members of The American Legion, I would like to express our 
     support for the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War 
     Memorial Act of 2013, which would authorize the National 
     Desert Storm Memorial Association to establish the National 
     Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial as a commemorative 
     work in the District of Columbia.
       American Legion Resolution No. 16: National Desert Storm 
     and Desert Shield War Memorial, passed at the 2013 National 
     Convention, states that ``The American Legion will endorse 
     and support building the National Desert Shield/Desert Storm 
     War Memorial, without financial obligation on behalf of the 
     national organization, as a lasting tribute to the bravery, 
     courage, commitment, service, and sacrifice exhibited by the 
     members of our Armed Forces living and deceased.''
       The National Desert Shield/Desert Storm War Memorial, 
     located in Washington, DC, will commemorate the service of 
     those 500,000 plus U.S. servicemembers who served our country 
     honorably throughout this campaign, as well as memorialize 
     the over 300 Americans who paid the ultimate price in pursuit 
     of that just cause.
       Again, The American Legion fully supports this legislation 
     and we thank you for your leadership on this issue.
           For God and Country,
                                              Daniel M. Dellinger,
     National Commander.
                                  ____



                                        Air Force Association,

                                              Arlington, Virginia.
     Hon. David P. Roe,
     Cannon House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Roe, I am writing on behalf of the Air 
     Force Association (AFA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization 
     representing approximately 100,000 current and former Airmen 
     and their families, to express our support for a National 
     Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial.
       We thank you for being a cosponsor of H.R. 503 which would 
     establish this monument to honor those who served on active 
     duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation Desert 
     Shield.
       After Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 
     1990, he immediately owned nearly 30% of the world's oil 
     supply and threatened Saudi Arabia, and American ally and 
     important regional power. President George H.W. Bush launched 
     Operation Desert Shield and with it the immense threat of 
     force of American and Coalition airpower. President Bush also 
     gave Hussein an ultimatum: Exit Kuwait by January 15, 1991, 
     or face the brunt of all branches of the United States 
     Military as well as Coalition forces. With Iraqi forces still 
     in Kuwait after the deadline, President Bush launched 
     Operation Desert Storm, and for nearly seven months American 
     and Coalition forces used airpower to great effect When 
     ground troops finally rolled in, it took only a few days to 
     clear Kuwait of Iraqi forces.
       This major coalition victory resulted not only in the 
     liberation of Kuwait, but also a weakened Iraqi force, and 
     the imposition of sanctions against the government of Iraq. 
     However, the victory was not without sacrifice. America lost 
     293 of her best men and women during these operations.
       AFA believes the nation needs a national memorial dedicated 
     to those members of the armed forces who risked and or lost 
     their lives in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. AFA 
     supports this bipartisan legislation to authorize the 
     National Desert Storm Memorial Board of Directors to 
     establish this memorial in Washington DC, with all funding 
     raised privately by the National Desert Storm Memorial 
     Association.
       AFA urges Congress to act swiftly to get this deserving 
     project underway as soon as possible.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Craig McKinley,
     President, Air Force Association.
                                  ____

                                        National Guard Association


                                         of the United States,

                                     Washington, DC, May 28, 2014.
     Hon. Phil Roe,
     Cannon House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Roe: Thank you for introducing H.R. 
     503, the Desert Storm and Desert Shield War Memorial Act, 
     that would establish a monument to honor those who served on 
     active duty in support of Operation Desert Storm or Operation 
     Desert Shield, including thousands of members of the National 
     Guard.
       The selfless service of the men and women who served in 
     Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm is long 
     overdue for the special recognition that a monument would 
     provide. NGAUS strongly supports this effort.
       Thank you for this effort to honor the service of our brave 
     men and women.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Gus Hargett,
     Major General, USA, (Ret) President.
                                  ____



                                 Blinded Veterans Association,

                                      Washington DC, May 28, 2014.
     Hon. David ``Phil'' Roe, M.D. (TN-01),
     Cannon House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Roe; On behalf of the Blinded Veterans 
     Association Board of Directors, its members, and the entire 
     Blinded Veteran community I would like to extend our support 
     for H.R. 503, The National Desert Storm and Desert Shield War 
     Memorial Act.
       When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, and seized nearly 30 
     percent of the world's oil supply, our Nations President 
     George H.W. Bush launched Operation Desert Shield. This 
     deployment of American combat troops was America's way of 
     advising Saddam Hussein that his acts of aggression and 
     tyranny towards Kuwait would not be tolerated. On January 15, 
     1991, with Kuwait still occupied, over half a million United 
     States armed service members led coalition forces in the 
     liberation of Kuwait, a mission now known as Operation Desert 
     Storm.
       The men and woman of our Active Duty, Reserve, and National 
     Guard Forces, who answered the call of duty should now, and 
     forever, be remembered for the sacrifices they made to ensure 
     that this type of aggression and tyranny will not be 
     tolerated by the United States towards our allies. May this 
     memorial reflect those sacrifices for generations to pay 
     tribute and admire, and lest we not forget.
           Respectfully;

                                   Glenn Minney (U.S.N. ret.),

               Director of Government Relations and Congressional 
                                                      Legislation,
                                     Blinded Veterans Association.

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I would especially like to thank a couple of 
people, such as Jeff Miller, my friend from Hendersonville, North 
Carolina, who introduced me to Scott Stump and his colleagues at the 
National Desert Storm Memorial Association, for the legwork they have 
done in support of H.R. 503. Without their efforts, we wouldn't be 
standing here today. I also would like to thank Lieutenant Colonel 
Norbert from Canada, who is also in the audience today.
  I would also like to express my appreciation to Chairman Hastings and 
Chairman Bishop for their assistance in moving this legislation to the 
House floor.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation and to honor 
the service of those who served in these operations.
  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  I thank my colleagues from Tennessee and Washington, and I am very 
honored to support this piece of legislation, particularly on the day 
after we formally observed Memorial Day. It is truly an honor to 
recognize the men and women and the families who give the ultimate 
sacrifice to protect this country.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of 
legislation, and I commend Dr. Roe and others for introducing it and 
bringing it to the floor. I urge its passage.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 503, 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. ROE of Tennessee. 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.

                          ____________________