[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3607-3608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  ALLOW THE WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS TO BE INURNED AT ARLINGTON 
                           NATIONAL CEMETERY

  (Mr. GARAMENDI asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, this is Women's History Month, and it is 
only appropriate that we finally give a group of remarkable women who 
served this country an honor that they have been denied far too long--
the opportunity to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

[[Page 3608]]

  I am referring to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, more commonly 
known as the WASPs. These women were remarkable, flying 78 different 
types of aircraft for the United States Army Air Force during World War 
II. They were stationed throughout the United States. They flew the 
very same missions as their male counterparts, over 60 million miles of 
operational flights. Despite their patriotism and selfless service, 
they did not receive veteran status until 1977, and yet, today, they 
cannot be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
  Thankfully, the House has already acted. They passed legislation--I 
was proud to cosponsor it--that would allow these WASPs to be laid to 
rest at Arlington National Cemetery. I am hopeful that the Senate will 
soon follow suit and send the bill to the President.

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