Honoring the service of American Indians in the United States Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. SKELTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 306, introduced by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi). I would like to recognize the gentleman from Arizona for his efforts to bring forward this resolution honoring the service of Native American Indians in the United States Armed Forces. I also wish to recognize the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), my colleague on the House Committee on Armed Services, for his support of this bill. We thank him for that.

For over 200 years, Native American Indians have distinguished themselves in military action. Most Americans would be surprised to learn that since the founding of our country, Native American Indians have made substantial contributions to our Nation's defense.

Our Nation is at war, and our troops are serving on the front lines in combat in the Middle East. Of those serving in uniform, nearly 19,000 are American Indians and Native Alaskans, and over 3,000 of them, Mr. Speaker, are women.

There are more than 2,000 Native Americans and Alaskan Natives deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Over 1,000 American servicemembers have been killed while in service to our Nation; and while we honor all those who have given their lives to defend our freedoms, today we recognize the 13 Native Americans and Alaskan Natives among them that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 306, introduced by Mr. Renzi. I would like to recognize the gentleman from Arizona for his efforts to bring forward this resolution honoring the service of Native American Indians in the United States Armed Forces. I would also like to recognize Mr. Cole, my colleague on the House Armed Services Committee, for his support of this bill.

For over 200 years, Native American Indians have distinguished themselves in military action. Most Americans would be surprised to learn that since the founding of our country, Native American Indians have made substantial contributions to our Nation's defense.

More than 12,000 American Indians are believed to have served in the United States Armed Forces during World War I. Nearly 600 Choctaw and Cherokee Indians from Oklahoma, assigned to the 142 Infantry of the 36th Texas-Oklahoma National Guard Division, distinguished themselves on the battlefields of France. Four American Indians from the 142nd were awarded the Croix de Guerre to recognize their bravery in the face of enemy action. Also lesser known during World War I was the use of the Choctaw language to encode military messages.

When World War II dropped on the shores of America there were less than 350,000 American Indians, yet more than 44,000 volunteered to serve this nation in uniform. It is only relatively recent that Americans finally learned the valuable contributions Native American Indians made to the war effort. Nearly 50 years after the war, the veil of secrecy was finally raised and Americans learned the true story of the legendary Navajo Code Talkers.

Navajo Code Talkers took part in every assault the U.S. Marines conducted in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945. In May 1942, the original 29 Navajo recruits helped to develop a dictionary of military terms that were required to be memorized during basic training. While the Japanese were able to decipher the codes used by the Army and Army Air Corps, they were never able to crack the Navajo code used by the Marines. Over the course of the war, nearly 500 Navajos served as code talkers, and it was not until September 17, 1992, that the United States finally recognized and appropriately honored the Navajos for their extraordinary contribution to the war.

American Indians, however, served in both the Pacific and European theatre during World War II, and three were bestowed the Nation's highest military award--the Congressional Medal of Honor--Jack Montgomery, a Cherokee from Oklahoma; Ernest Childers, a Creek from Oklahoma; Van Barfoot, a Choctaw from Mississippi.

Native American Indians also distinguished themselves in battle during the Korean conflict. Two American Indians were also awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their actions on the battlefield. Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. a Winnebago from Wisconsin; and Charles George, a Cherokee from North Carolina.

Once again, our Nation is at war and our troops are serving on the front lines of combat in the Middle East. Of those serving in the uniform services, nearly 19,000 are American Indians and Native Alaskans, and over 3,000 of those are women.

There are more than 2,000 Native American and Alaskan Natives deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Over 1,000 American service members have been killed while in service to our Nation, and while we honor all those who have given their lives to defend our freedoms, today we recognize the 13 Native American Indians and Alaskan Natives among them that made the ultimate sacrifice.

The most prominent is the first service woman killed in action. Army Specialist Lori Piestewa, a Hopi Indian, who grew up on the reservation near Tuba City in Arizona. She is also the first Native American service woman to be killed in combat. The 507th Maintenance Company to which she was assigned was ambushed by enemy forces on March 23, 2003, near Nasiriyah, Iraq. She along with the 12 other Native American Indians and Alaskan Natives will be remembered for their devotion to duty and sacrifice in service to this Nation.

I am proud to be here to honor Native American Indians and all Native Americans for their rich tradition of strength, wisdom, and warrior ethos. And, I commend them and all those in uniform who have volunteered to defend the rights and freedoms that we all hold dear.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for his leadership on this as well as the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi). I think it is very important that we recognize this very important segment of American society, the Native Americans and the Alaskan Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Iowa (Ms. Boswell).

(Ms. BOSWELL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 306) honoring the service of Native American Indians in the United States Armed Forces, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 306, a resolution that honors the service of Native Americans in the Armed Forces of the United States. As a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation, it is a great honor for me to speak in tribute of the thousands of Native Americans who have worn the uniform of the United States or served in the ranks of our military throughout our history. As the heirs of their own proud warrior traditions that precede the founding of the United States, Native Americans have made notable contributions to the Armed Forces of our country from its very inception.

Even in the 19th century, an era of conflict between Indian nations and the United States, Native Americans could be found serving in and with our military. Native Americans fought with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. A Native American was a member of General Grant's staff at Appomattox. And Indian scouts played a critical role throughout the wars on the American Plains.

In the 20th century, Choctaw Indians from Oklahoma were used as Code Talkers in the trenches of Europe during the First World War. In World War II, the Comanche Code Talkers from the district I represent in Oklahoma sent the first messages on D-Day. And of course the Navajo Code Talkers who fought and died on the other side of the world helped turn the tide of war in the Pacific.

Two of the five Native American Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are from my home State of Oklahoma. Jack C. Montgomery, a Cherokee; and Ernest Childers, a Creek, served our country with great distinction. More recently, my fellow Chickasaw, Commander John Herrington, became the first Native American astronaut. Even now he is training in Russia for his next mission.

But, Mr. Speaker, not all Native American soldiers are scouts, Code Talkers, Medal of Honor recipients, or astronauts. Most serve in the ranks and at the same jobs as their fellow Americans. I think of my uncle who joined the Navy, fought in the Philippines, and endured 3\1/ 2\ years in Japanese prison camps during World War II. Or my brother, John Cole Jr., who followed my father, a career Air Force noncommissioned officer, and enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam era. They are typical of the thousands of American Indians who have served our country in times of peril.

That tradition of service continues today. Native Americans volunteer for military service at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group in America. This concurrent resolution which honors their gallant service comes as we celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. That institution honors the rich history and enormous contributions made by the First Americans to all Americans.

I congratulate the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi), the proud son of a career officer and a former member of the Defense Department who represents thousands of Native Americans, for his fine work on this concurrent resolution. And I encourage all my colleagues to join him in honoring the outstanding Native American warriors who have served our country in peace and war.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from Missouri, my good friend, for his support of this resolution and, frankly, for the terrific work he does for veterans of all stripes, all colors, all varieties, all nationalities. Nobody is a better friend to the American soldier and the American veteran than my good friend from Missouri.

I had the good fortune, Mr. Speaker, recently to visit Iraq and Afghanistan. And while there, I talked to a number of my fellow Oklahomans who are also Native Americans and continue that proud tradition of serving their country and honoring their tribes. Many of them remarked quite movingly the fact that they were part of a centuries-old tradition that they took with enormous seriousness. And, Mr. Speaker, they continue that proud tradition of service today as generation after generation enlists.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi), the author of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 306, which honors the service of Native Americans in the Armed Forces.

The gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and I have had the privilege of representing large portions of the Navajo Nation, one of the largest tribes in the United States. New Mexico also is the home of two Apache nations and 19 pueblos.

According to the last Census, there are now over 190,000 Native American veterans, constituting the highest rate of service of any ethnic group in our country. Two weeks ago when the Museum of the American Indian opened on the National Mall, Native Americans from around the hemisphere traveled to Washington to celebrate, honor, and preserve Native American culture. One aspect of that culture is the value of service. One of the best examples is the Navajo Code Talkers, a group of soldiers who have been credited with saving the lives of countless American soldiers with their unbreakable code in the Second World War.

These individuals risked their lives for our freedom at a time when some considered them second-class citizens. Their code was so successful and so critical to keep secret that some Code Talkers were guarded by fellow Marines whose role was to kill them in case of imminent capture by the enemy. The Code Talkers set a fine example of service for generations to come.

A reminder of the brave service that Native Americans provide to our country was brought to light once again last year when Army Private First Class Lori Piestewa of Arizona gave her life in the war in Iraq. Private Piestewa is believed to be the first Native American woman to be killed in the U.S. Armed Forces combat.

This concurrent resolution, which calls for the establishment of a National Native American Indian Veterans Day, is a fitting way to honor America's first sons and daughters in arms. This concurrent resolution's adoption will serve as a tribute not only to the Native Americans who have served our country well but also to their families and communities who have supported them.

I urge its adoption and have enjoyed very much working with the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the other cosponsors on this, and I

urge all Members to support this concurrent resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 306, of which I am a cosponsor, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on October 5, 2004. This important legislation honors the service of Native American Indians in the U.S. Armed Forces.

I have the privilege of representing the largest tribe of Native Americans east of the Mississippi River--the Lumbee Tribe. Approximately 52,000 strong, about 40,000 members of this tribe live in my home county--Robeson County, North Carolina.

Many Lumbee Indians have served our Nation with distinction, such as Rear Admiral Michael Holmes, who hails from my hometown of Lumberton and who is the first Native American to become an admiral in the U.S. Navy. I visited with Admiral Holmes in Europe last year, as I did with Army Specialist Jonathan Brooks of Pembroke, who also is from Robeson County. These gentlemen are just two of the many Lumbees serving our country. Lumbee veterans also serve on my Seventh Congressional District Advisory Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.

In addition to the Lumbee Tribe, I also represent two other tribes-- the Coharie Tribe, which has a tribal membership of more than 2,400, and the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe, which consists of a membership of approximately 2,000. Members of each of these tribes have served honorably in the military. For example, the Coharie Tribal Chief, Mr. Gene Faircloth, is a Vietnam combat veteran and served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 6 years. And, approximately 100 members of the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe have served honorably in conflicts since World War II. Unfortunately, on October 2, 2004, the Waccamaw-Siouan Tribe lost one of its esteemed members, Mr. Ernest Sylvester ``E.S.'' Jacobs, who valiantly served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.

I am proud of the contributions that all Native Americans, including those that make up the Lumbee, Coharie and Waccamaw-Siouan Tribes, have made to our great country, and I applaud them for their rich tradition of strength, wisdom, commitment and service. I commend them and all those in uniform who have volunteered to defend the rights and freedoms that we all hold dear. May God bless each of them and their families as they continue to serve valiantly our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to stand before the House today to recognize our Nation's Native American veterans. I thank the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), who has worked very closely with me and my staff to recognize these brave warriors.

I have the privilege to represent eight tribes in Arizona, the largest of which is the Navajo Nation, home to the Navajo Code Talkers.

On my travels throughout Arizona district one, I have met many of these veterans and have heard their stories of sacrifice, valor, and patriotism and have seen firsthand their fighting warrior spirit that reinforces their commitment to serve our Nation in the Armed Forces.

Native American Indians and these veterans have served our Nation in battle long before they were ever considered citizens of the United States. From the Revolutionary War to the war in Iraq, a strong sense of patriotism and protecting the homeland has prompted Native Americans to answer our Nation's call. Many Native Americans come from rural areas where they learn to rely on the land and they learn to rely on each other for self-preservation and the family and the tribe and their national sovereign nation. These are inherent characteristics found in the best and brightest of our service personnel.

Five Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are Native Americans. Last year on Veteran's Day, I had the honor of presenting the Congressional Silver Medal in honor of nine Navajo Code Talkers on behalf of President Bush. This distinguished group of soldiers used their distinctive language to defeat the enemy in World War II. Today in the communities on the Navajo Nation, they are revered and are respected elders among the entire Navajo Nation because of their service to this country. It is an honor to recognize their service and to walk with them. And I rise today to give them our respect and the honor due from this Nation to those Native American veterans, whom we are so grateful and appreciative of their service.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for the representation and hard work that he has shown particularly on this issue.