[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 4125-4126]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]





                  HONORING THE 65TH INFANTRY REGIMENT

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of the 65th Infantry 
Regiment, a segregated Puerto Rican unit known as the Borinqueneers.
  The regiment was created in 1917, and it remained segregated 
throughout World Wars I and II and most of the

[[Page 4126]]

Korean war, even after President Truman ordered the desegregation of 
the Armed Forces. These soldiers sacrificed everything for a country 
that had not yet embraced the rights of Hispanic Americans--a shame for 
our country, but a show of incredible loyalty and service by those who 
served.
  Today, the House and Senate leaders will present a Congressional Gold 
Medal in honor of the 65th Infantry Regiment. In attendance will be Cas 
Rodriguez, Sr., chairman of the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western 
New York.
  I thank Cas and the others who worked so hard to make sure that 
Americans will never forget the service of the 65th Infantry Regiment.

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