[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 130 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 130
Expressing gratitude and appreciation for the entry of the United
States into World War I.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 7, 2017
Mr. Boozman (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cassidy, Ms.
Baldwin, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Kaine) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing gratitude and appreciation for the entry of the United
States into World War I.
Whereas, on April 2, 1917, President Thomas Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to
convene an extraordinary session to officially declare war on the
Imperial German Government;
Whereas, on April 4, 1917, the Senate passed a joint resolution that declared a
formal state of war between the United States and the Imperial German
Government;
Whereas, on April 6, 1917, the House of Representatives adopted the same joint
resolution that the Senate had passed, thereby marking the official
entry of the United States into World War I;
Whereas, consequently, April 6, 2017, marks the 100th anniversary of the entry
of the United States into World War I beside France, Russia, and the
United Kingdom, the countries of the Triple Entente;
Whereas, on December 7, 1917, the United States declared war on the Austro-
Hungarian Empire;
Whereas, beginning in August 1914--
(1) a portion of France was occupied by German forces; and
(2) France fought--
G (A) beside the United Kingdom and all countries of the British
Empire (notably, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa),
Belgium, Russia, Italy, and Portugal;
G (B) on land, at sea, and in the air;
G (C) along a front line of more than 460 miles; and
G (D) to recover full sovereignty;
Whereas, before April 6, 1917, the United States had supported France and the
Allies economically, financially, and with human support, including
through 3,600 individuals who served as volunteers, ambulance
attendants, nurses, philanthropists, and soldiers in the French Foreign
Legion;
Whereas the expeditionary force of the United States was created on May 3, 1917,
under the command of General John J. Pershing, to provide military
support to France and the Allies;
Whereas the United States started huge mobilization efforts after Congress
passed the Act entitled ``An Act to authorize the President to increase
temporarily the Military Establishment of the United States'', approved
May 18, 1917 (Public Law 65-15; 40 Stat. 76), thereby introducing
military conscription and enabling 4,800,000 individuals from the United
States to serve during World War I;
Whereas the first forces of the expeditionary corps led by General Pershing
arrived quickly in France;
Whereas General Pershing landed in Boulogne-sur-Mer on June 13, 1917, 14,750
members of the First Infantry Division landed in Saint-Nazaire on June
26, 1917, and 7,500 soldiers landed in Brest on November 12, 1917;
Whereas members of the Armed Forces were involved in a considerable logistics
effort in France, building many transportation infrastructure projects,
including roads, harbors, and railways, communications networks, and
accommodation buildings, which were crucial for the war effort and the
transformation of the French landscape;
Whereas a debt of gratitude is owed to the 3 members of the Armed Forces who
fell in France during the first combat of the Armed Forces in
Bathelemont-les-Bauzemont on November 3, 1917;
Whereas individuals from many different sectors of the population of the United
States, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans,
were involved in logistics, support, or combat operations in France
between 1917 and 1918;
Whereas President Thomas Woodrow Wilson was deeply involved in the peace process
in Europe, notably through his speech to Congress on January 8, 1918,
the 14 points of which were proposed as a basis for negotiation at the
Versailles Peace Conference, which began on January 18, 1919;
Whereas approximately 2,000,000 members of the Armed Forces fought in France and
126,000 died during the war, including 53,402 individuals who were
killed in action in French territory during battles in 1918, such as the
Battle of Belleau Wood, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-
Argonne Offensive;
Whereas numerous reminders of the actions of the Armed Forces during World War I
remain in France, notably in buildings and memorials; and
Whereas the people of France will always be grateful when remembering the
sacrifices of members of the Armed Forces during World War I: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the official entry
of the United States into World War I on April 6, 1917;
(2) expresses gratitude and appreciation to--
(A) the members of the Armed Forces who
participated in World War I operations alongside the
countries of the Triple Entente; and
(B) the members of the Allied Forces who
participated in World War I operations alongside France
from 1914 until the end of the war;
(3) commends centenary commemorations to honor people from
France, the United States, and all countries involved in World
War I that aim to make future generations aware of the acts of
heroism and sacrifice performed by the Armed Forces and the
Allies;
(4) recognizes efforts undertaken by France, especially by
port cities on the Atlantic coast and by the regions of Hauts-
de-France, Bretagne, Loire-Atlantique, Aquitaine, Centre, and
Grand-Est, to preserve the memory and celebrate the legacy of
the involvement of the United States during World War I;
(5) recognizes that the people of France plan to--
(A) celebrate this anniversary with commemorations
and relevant programs to express gratitude to those
individuals who helped restore hope among the Allies;
and
(B) during the celebration of the 100th anniversary
of the Armistice of November 11, 1918, express
gratitude and appreciation to every--
(i) military force that fought alongside
France, inside or outside its territory, during
World War I; and
(ii) individual who died fighting or was
injured during the hostilities, whether
physically or psychologically; and
(6) encourages all countries involved in World War I to
participate in the centennial of the Armistice, which will be
celebrated in 2018, to the fullest extent possible.
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