[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12] [House] [Pages 16786-16787] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]SUPPORTING UNITED STATES MILITARY HISTORY MONTH Mr. DRIEHAUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1442) supporting the goals and ideals of United States Military History Month. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 1442 Whereas United States citizens of every race, class and ethnic background from every State and territory have made memorable sacrifices as members of the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy that have revolutionized armed conflict; Whereas the United States has produced a legacy of pioneering military minds since Congress first appointed George Washington in 1775 as general and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolution; Whereas since then, citizen soldiers of the United States have valiantly overcome monumental odds, exhibited leadership in the face of superior forces, and achieved victory on battlefields at home and around the world when this Nation or its people have been threatened; Whereas 3,468 Medals of Honor--the Nation's highest decoration--have been awarded to United States veterans for Homeric courage and sacrifices above and beyond the call of duty in the line of fire defending the Nation; Whereas the names of these recipients and other veterans of the United States Armed Forces have been recorded in the histories of other nations where they served in air, on land, and at sea defending freedom and protecting liberty; Whereas the founding of the United States and its continued existence can be documented through the actions, leadership, and protection of its freedoms through the efforts of the United States Armed Forces; Whereas November 11 was originally declared Armistice Day to commemorate the sacrifices of United States soldiers in World War I and later designated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 as a day to honor all United States veterans; Whereas members of the United States Armed Forces have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and societal role in protecting the life of the Nation by their dedicated service, prowess, and resolve; Whereas despite these contributions, the role of veterans and the wars in which they served have been consistently undervalued and overlooked in the history of the Nation, and their stories diminished in American education; Whereas November would be an appropriate month to designate as United States Military History Month and State legislatures and assemblies have been requested to issue proclamations designating November as United States Military History month and to encourage students to study this vital subject and participate in Veterans Day activities: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) supports the goals and ideals of United States Military History Month; and (2) encourages the President to issue a proclamation to emphasize the importance of United States Military History Month. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Driehaus) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio. General Leave Mr. DRIEHAUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio? There was no objection. Mr. DRIEHAUS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1442, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of United States Military History Month. H. Res. 1442 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee, Representative John Duncan, on June 15, 2010. It was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on September 23, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of over 50 Members of the House. Mr. Speaker, from the Revolutionary War to the present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the actions and leadership of our Armed Forces have shaped the history of our Nation and helped to preserve our freedoms. One cannot understand our country without understanding our history, and our military has always had a critical role in our history. For all that they've done for our Nation, our soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians, and marines deserve our appreciation and respect. One of the ways we can do this is by helping to ensure that Americans understand the role that our military has played in the development of our Nation and in the history of our world. I, therefore, ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H. [[Page 16787]] Res. 1442 and encourage all Americans to take time to learn more about our Nation's military history. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan). Mr. DUNCAN. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me the time, and I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his words in support of this legislation, and I also want to thank the very large number of cosponsors from both sides of the aisle that we have on this bill. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1442 would designate the month of November as Military History Month. While still a general in the Continental Army, George Washington said, ``When we assumed the soldier, we did not set aside the citizen,'' meaning that he believed from the early days of this country's history that citizen-soldiers were the most important people in this Nation in so many, many ways. Since even before there was a United States until today, Americans have never shied away from the fight to make life better, not only for ourselves but for many millions of others. To better understand, appreciate, and celebrate the influence of the military on our Nation's narrative, we should designate November as United States Military History Month. There are two major holidays already set aside to honor the men and women who have served this Nation. First known as Declaration Day, what is now known as Memorial Day commemorates the American soldiers who have died in combat. Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to note the end of World War I. The Congress changed it to Veterans Day in 1954, and now on November 11 of each year we honor all those who have served in the military. But without celebrating our country's military history, these holidays might very well end up being seen merely as days off work or just days that government buildings and banks are closed. The U.S. military has always played a very important role in our Nation's evolution and in protecting the American way of life. Establishing, through the passage of this resolution, H. Res. 1442, a month each year to highlight our Armed Forces will hopefully encourage Americans to learn, remember, and appreciate the sacrifices of the men and women who serve. It is often said that a nation which forgets its own history does so at its peril. This resolution is a fitting and appropriate way to honor our past and especially the extremely important role the U.S. military has played in that history. I have submitted this resolution at the request of one of my constituents, Mr. Ed Hooper, a great military historian; and this is very appropriate, too, because it shows that legislation often does not emanate from Washington but, really, comes from the ground up, from the people that we represent. This is truly the American way to do legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution to designate November as Military History Month in this Nation. Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as the Representative from San Diego, a community that knows a little bit about the military, one of the largest military complexes in the world, I am very honored to support this motion by the gentleman from Tennessee and want to thank him for that. Not only do I have the privilege of representing a community that is steeped in military history that goes, in fact, all the way back to our founding by Cabrillo, a military man in service of Spain, but also the fact of being raised--not only raised in a military family but born on a military base. So those of us from San Diego know exactly how deeply the roots of the military go as free Americans and as those who do not question the perception that service, as George Washington said, is always the highest honor and the greatest contribution. Mr. Speaker, I just have to say that I'm sorry that some are not here to see Congress finally take up this item, and I think the gentleman from Tennessee should be commended, and I think the majority should be thanked for allowing the gentleman from Tennessee to bring this bill up for consideration, something I hope to see more of. I wish that my parents were alive today, parents that not only was he at Pearl Harbor on his birthday, at Leyte Gulf, and at Inchon, but also, more importantly, something we don't think about the military, and that's from my mother's side, of the people around the world like my mother, that in the 1940s in Australia was watching the Japanese empire threaten to conquer her hometown of Brisbane, and the Yanks showed up in time to be able to save them from the tyranny of fascism. I think that too often when we talk about things like the service in the military, we think only of service to those of us who are Americans; but recognizing that the American military is not only not a threat to the rest of the world, it's an essential component of the world peace and the world freedom and the world prosperity that not only Americans but the entire world, sadly, I think takes for granted. I think that this is quite appropriate that the gentleman from Tennessee brings this up, that we not only recognize but we celebrate how unique our American military is. We go around the world to set people free. We go around the world to give them a better life. We do not go to conquer and to oppress; and that is something the Americans have done from the get-go and it's something that we should recognize, be it at Barbary Coast to put down the pirates that were raiding innocent ships or to go and depose dictators that have been oppressing their own and killing their own people. I think this bill is quite appropriate, and hopefully we will see the kind of celebration of the heritage of military service that we have in this country as we have seen on others. So I again congratulate the gentleman from Tennessee, and I thank the majority for allowing the bill to go forward. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. DRIEHAUS. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Driehaus) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1442. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn. ____________________