[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 171 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)] [House] [Pages H5178-H5180] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] WOMEN WHO WORKED ON THE HOME FRONT WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL ACT Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5068) to authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5068 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 ``Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act''. SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK. (a) In General.--The Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation may establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate the commitment and service represented by women who worked on the home front during World War II. (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The establishment of the commemorative work under this section shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works Act''). (c) Prohibition on the Use of Federal Funds.-- (1) In general.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under this section. (2) Responsibility of women who worked on the home front foundation.--The Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation shall be solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the establishment of the commemorative work under this section. (d) Deposit of Excess Funds.-- (1) In general.--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 Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation 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) On expiration of authority.--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 Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation shall transmit the amount of the [[Page H5179]] balance to a separate account with the National Park Foundation for memorials, to be available to the Secretary of the Interior or 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. SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan. General Leave Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Michigan? There was no objection. Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5068, the Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act, introduced by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. H.R. 5068 would authorize the establishment of a memorial to commemorate the nearly 19 million women who worked on the home front during World War II. With mass male enlistment leaving significant vacancies in the industrial and defense industries, women across the country filled thousands of jobs that were historically held by men to support the war effort and to keep America running. I am proud of the fact that my district is home to Rosie the Riveters, which were a good example of women being able to do it. As the men fought abroad, these women worked in defense plants, flew military aircraft, delivered mail, and performed countless other duties necessary to keep the home front running. In addition to the women working on the home front, nearly 350,000 women served in uniform, both at home and abroad, directly supporting the war effort as code breakers, as Air Force service pilots, and as volunteers for organizations such as the Army Nurse Corps. The work carried out by women on the home front during World War II opened the door for women to hold more types of jobs than ever before, and it is long past time that Congress recognized their contributions to our Nation. I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Norton, for introducing this important legislation. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Ms. Raya Kenney, who developed the idea for this memorial when she was in fifth grade, for her tireless efforts to ensure that the millions of women who worked on the home front during World War II are recognized and celebrated. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5068, and I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1530 Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5068, which would authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work in Washington, D.C., to recognize the commitment and service represented by women who worked on the home front during World War II. These 19 million American women stepped up to support their Nation during America's involvement in World War II. Women worked in a huge variety of critical professional roles, including code breakers, aircraft testing pilots and trainers, welders, steamfitters, telegraph operators, radio and electrical engineers, crane operators, surveyors, assembly line workers, as they replaced men who were heading off to war. Some 300,000 Virginians served in uniform and more than 11,000 never returned home. For many women, the war provided increased opportunities to serve their community, their Nation, and to aid in the war effort. The work women did during World War II can never be fully measured, and their impact on our national welfare for the decades that followed should forever be enshrined in our national story. The beneficial contribution women made during the war were felt locally here in Virginia, as well as across the Nation. For example, the Richmond Engineering Company employed women welders who made bomb heads. At Newport News shipyard, women worked as crane operators, electricians, mechanics, and more, as critical members of the Defense production workforce. In recent years, Congress also has established the Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park in California to further highlight the work of these incredible patriots during the war. Authorizing this commemorative work in our Nation's capital is another fitting tribute to the brave, strong, multitalented, intelligent women who helped us win the war. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia. Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Grijalva for taking the Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act through committee and bringing it to the floor. I appreciate that he allowed me to sit in and ask questions, and he conducted a hearing and pressed it forward quickly. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill would authorize the establishment of a memorial on Federal land here in the District of Columbia commemorating the efforts of 18 million American women who kept the home front running during World War II. Women are dramatically underrepresented in our memorials. A 17-year-old constituent of mine, Raya Kenney, the founder of the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation--yes, her own foundation--came up with the idea to honor the women on the home front who supported the World War II effort. Raya wondered why the women on the home front, whose efforts were so instrumental in maintaining the stability of the country during World War II, have not received much recognition for their contributions compared to the men who fought bravely in World War II. This bill would authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a memorial to honor these women. The memorial is designed to be interactive and to educate visitors on the important roles women played during World War II. No Federal funds would be required. Between 1940 and 1945, the percentage of women in the workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent. And by 1945, one in four married women worked outside the home. The work done by women on the home front opened doors for women in the workplace generally and had a profound effect on the job market going forward, and even up to today. As a result of their efforts, women on the home front redefined many occupations that were especially considered men's work. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and all the leadership on the Committee on Natural Resources, again, for making this a reality. I thank my colleague, Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton, for the work that she did. Mr. Speaker, as we are talking about this bill, several years ago with my then-Republican colleague, Candace Miller, we did the first honor flight of the Rosie the Riveters. We went to the World War II Memorial, and it was incredible. But to have a place to take them will be very special, and I hope we are able to do it while some of them can appreciate what we are doing. This bipartisan legislation will honor the 18 million American women who [[Page H5180]] played a key role in our Nation's war effort during World War II through their efforts on the home front. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor and a senior member of the House of Representatives, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5068, the ``Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act,'' which would authorize the establishment of a memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia, commemorating the efforts of the 18 million American women who kept the home front running during World War II. I would like to thank Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for introducing this important piece of legislation. It is no secret that women are dramatically underrepresented when it comes to our memorials. Despite being instrumental in maintaining the stability of the country during World War II, the women of World War II have not received much recognition for their contributions. This bill would change that by authorizing the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a memorial to honor these women. The memorial is designed to be interactive and to educate visitors on the crucial roles women played during World War II. For instance, millions of American women took jobs to support their families and the country at large during World War II, forever redefining what ``women's work'' looked like. In fact, more than 10,000 women served behind the scenes of World War II as codebreakers. Women were also trained to fly military aircraft so that male pilots could leave for combat duty overseas. More than 1,100 female civilian volunteers flew nearly every type of military aircraft as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program. WASPs flew planes from factories to bases, transported cargo and participated in simulation strafing and target missions. Between 1940 and 1945, the percentage of women in the workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and, by 1945, one in four married women worked outside of the home. The work done by women on the home front had a profound effect on the job market going forward. As the nation continues to mourn the loss of the `Notorious RBG', an unmatched constitutional scholar and Supreme Court Justice who irrevocably advanced the women's movement, I can think of no better way to honor her legacy than by voting for this bill to commemorate the women whose sacrifices and decisions to enter the workforce during World War II also helped to change perceptions about gender roles in society. We, as Members of Congress, have a duty to recognize and celebrate these revolutionary patriots for their service to this country. As a proud leader of this bill, I encourage my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5068. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5068, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________