[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3304]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   URGING THE PRESIDENT TO ENSURE ``THE BORINQUENEERS'' RECEIVE THE 
              CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 4, 2015

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, on June 10, 2014, Congress awarded the 
Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment, an all-
volunteer Puerto Rican unit known as ``the Borinqueneers.'' Today, I 
rise to urge the President to expedite the designing and delivery of 
this medal, before more of these brave Borinqueneers pass away.
  More than 100,000 brave Borinqueneers served honorably in World War 
I, World War II and the Korean War. Puerto Ricans have fought for the 
United States as far back as the American Revolution, and continue to 
do so honorably to this day. Thousands have given their lives defending 
our values of freedom, justice, and equality, despite enduring decades 
of segregation and second-class treatment.
  The Borinqueneers have been recognized with 10 Distinguished Service 
Crosses, more than 250 Silver Stars, over 600 Bronze Stars, and nearly 
3,000 Purple Hearts. However, it was not until last year that the first 
member of the Borinqueneers, Master Sergeant Juan E. Negron, was 
posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, following a congressionally 
ordered review of cases involving veterans deserving of recognition who 
had been overlooked due to prejudice.
  Today, hundreds of Borinqueneers have made Central Florida their 
home. On March 7, I will host an event to honor their legacy, and thank 
them for their service.
  It is my goal and my honor, as their representative, to ensure that 
they receive this long overdue recognition. Puerto Rican veterans 
should not have to wait any longer to receive the equal treatment they 
deserve. Today I ask the President to ensure that the Borinqueneers 
receive their Congressional Gold Medal as soon as possible.

                          ____________________