[House Report 105-109]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                    105-109
_______________________________________________________________________


 
  TO CONFER STATUS AS AN HONORARY VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED 
                   FORCES ON LESLIE TOWNES (BOB) HOPE

_______________________________________________________________________


June 3, 1997.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Stump, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                      [To accompany H.J. Res. 75]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 75) to confer status as an honorary 
veteran of the United States Armed Forces on Leslie Townes 
(Bob) Hope, having considered the same, reports favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommends that the joint 
resolution do pass.

                              Introduction

    On April 30, 1997, the Honorable Bob Stump, Chairman of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the Honorable Lane Evans, 
Ranking Democratic Member of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, and other members introduced H.J. Res. 75, to 
recognize entertainer Bob Hope as an honorary veteran.
    The full Committee met on May 21, 1997 and ordered H.J. 
Res. 75 reported favorably to the House by unanimous voice 
vote.

                      Summary of the reported bill

    H.J. Res. 75 would:
    1. LExtend the gratitude of the American people to 
entertainer Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope.
    2. LConfer upon Bob Hope the status of honorary veteran for 
his lasting contribution to American society by entertaining 
this nation's troops overseas from World War II through the 
Persian Gulf War.

                       Background and Discussion

    Bob Hope has been successful in all areas of show business, 
but the Committee believes Hope's most important contribution 
to American society was entertaining this nation's troops 
overseas as the GI's entertainer. Having attempted to enlist in 
the Armed Forces to serve his adopted country During World War 
II, he was informed that his greatest service would be as a 
civilian entertainer for the troops. This he did with unmatched 
diligence, perseverance and grace.
    From World War II through the Persian Gulf War, Bob Hope 
performed for millions of American GIs stationed all over the 
world. He performed in some 45 United Services Organizations 
(USO) tours in more than 40 countries, and his annual Christmas 
show lasted 22 years.
    As far as the Committee can determine, honoring Bob Hope in 
this fashion would mark the first time Congress has bestowed 
such an accolade. The Committee acknowledges that such 
accolades should be accorded only after a thorough review of a 
person's service to veterans throughout his or her life and 
should be viewed as an honor. Bob Hope has performed such 
remarkable service. This measure enjoys the full support of the 
major veterans organizations.
    Cited by the Guinness Book of Records as ``the most 
honored'' entertainer in the world, Hope has received more than 
50 honorary doctorates, and is the recipient of thousands of 
awards, including prestigious honors from the major veterans 
organizations. His humanitarian work was recognized with the 
Congressional Gold Medal. President Johnson honored Hope with 
the Medal of Freedom, and President Clinton bestowed on him a 
Medal of the Arts. The United States Navy recently dedicated 
the USNS BOB HOPE (T-AKR 300), the lead ship in a new class of 
Strategic Sealift vessels. On April 22, the Air Force dedicated 
its newest C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in the name of Bob 
Hope for his contributions to the Air Force.
    The Committee has determined that the time has come for 
Congress to recognize his valuable contributions on behalf of 
America's grateful veterans and to thank and honor him for the 
memories he has given to all Americans.

                  Statement of Administration's Views

    The Committee has not requested the Administration's 
comment on this resolution.

                           Oversight Findings

    No oversight findings have been submitted to the Committee 
by the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    The following letter was received from the Congressional 
Budget Office concerning the cost of the reported resolution:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, May 21, 1997.
Hon. Bob Stump,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.J. Res. 75, a bill to 
confer status as an honorary veteran of the United States Armed 
Forces on Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mary Helen 
Petrus, who can be reached at 226-2840.

            Sincerely,
                                           June E. O'Neill,
                                                          Director.
Enclosure

               congressional budget office cost estimate

  H.J. Res. 75--A bill to confer status as an honorary veteran of the 
         United States Armed Forces on Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope

As ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
on May 21, 1997

    CBO estimates that H.J. Res. 75 would have no effect on the 
federal budget. The bill would give honorary veteran status to 
Bob Hope. According to information from the General Counsel's 
office in the Department of Veterans Affairs, making Mr. Hope 
an honorary veteran would not entitle him to receive veterans 
benefits because such benefits are available only to 
individuals who served on active duty in a military department.
    Because the bill would not affect direct spending or 
receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. H.J. Res. 
75 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 and would 
not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
    The estimate was prepared by Mary Helen Petrus, who can be 
reached at 226-2840. This estimate was approved by Robert A. 
Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                     Inflationary Impact Statement

    The enactment of the reported resolution would have no 
inflationary impact.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The reported resolution would not be applicable to the 
legislative branch under the Congressional Accountability Act, 
Public Law 104-1.

                     Statement of Federal Mandates

    The reported resolution would not establish a federal 
mandate under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, Public Law 104-
4.

                 Statement of Constitutional Authority

    Pursuant to Article I, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, 
the reported resolution would be authorized by Congress' power 
``(T)o provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of 
the United States.''

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