Gold Medal Technical Corrections Act of 2014

Mr. Speaker, I have been an elected official for nearly 32 years, and one of the proudest moments I have experienced in all my years was when this House passed the bill to grant a Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines. When the bill granting the Gold Medal passed, all of the Members of Congress honored the Marines with a standing ovation for their service, their bravery, and their dedication to preserving freedom and democracy for our nation and the world.

I was pleased to work with Marine Commandant General James F. Amos, who put his office and staff behind the Gold Medal and in only 4 months, we went from introduction to public law, granting that Gold Medal. There were 308 cosponsors on the bill and it passed unanimously by a vote of 422-0.

When I was first elected to Congress, I requested to be a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee. And today, as the second most senior Democrat on the Committee, I believe it is my duty to continue to do everything I can to assist the members of our armed forces.

So for me, it was more than an honor to sponsor a Resolution to recognize the service and sacrifice of the Montford Point Marines, and acknowledge today's United States Marine Corps as an excellent opportunity for the advancement of people of all races, which in large part is due to the service and example of the original Montford Point Marines.

Years before Jackie Robinson, and decades before Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., these heroes joined the Marines to defend our great nation. Fighting racism both at home and in the armed forces, as well as enemies abroad, these men persevered and protected this nation when it mattered most.

These African Americans from all States were not sent to the traditional boot camps in Parris Island, South Carolina and Sari Diego, California. Instead, African American Marines were segregated, and went through basic training at Camp Montford Point near the New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

We must honor these war heroes' selfless service and sacrifice. They answered our nation's call at a time when our society was deeply divided along racial lines. Because of this, many of their contributions went unrecognized and many times they were not given the respect and recognition they deserved as Marines, as Americans, and as patriots. To correct this past injustice, we honor the Monford Point Marines, and this Gold Medal will forever anchor their role in the history of our nation's great military.

I am reminded of the words of the first President of the United States, George Washington, whose words are worth repeating at this time:

The willingness with which our young people are likely to

serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly

proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier

wars were treated and appreciated by their country.

Thank you all for your service.

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

Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.R. 4488. I would like to thank my colleague across the aisle for his support. I would also like to thank the Honorable John Lewis for being a sponsor of this legislation.

This is important legislation, as it does embrace two Congressional Gold Medals that have already been awarded.

As fate would have it, Mr. Lewis was the original sponsor of the bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Ms. Coretta Scott King and the Honorable Dr. Martin Luther King. Both of them are honorable people.

I would also say that Mr. Lewis has been a champion for human rights and civil rights. It is very difficult to have him in your presence and not acknowledge all that he has done.

So, today, I am honored to support the Gold Medical Technical Corrections Act of 2014.

I am also honored to mention one other colleague, the Honorable Corrine Brown. She worked on the bill that accorded a Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines of the United States Marine Corps. She was an original sponsor of this legislation.

These two giants have brought us this far. It will take this legislation to take us the final steps along the way.

The legislation merely indicates where these Congressional Gold Medals may be displayed. It seems to do what we could have done earlier, but we have found that it is not too late to do now.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am honored to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia, the Honorable John Lewis, our civil rights icon right here in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to be a part of this, and I would thank, again, the Honorable John Lewis for his efforts to not only accord the Congressional Gold Medals to Dr. King and Mrs. King, but also his efforts to make sure that they are properly located, so that they can be displayed properly.

I would also want to, again, reiterate the efforts of the Honorable Corrine Brown, with reference to the Montford Point Marines of the United States Marine Corps. I believe this bill is one that can be embraced by all of our colleagues.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4488) to make technical corrections to two bills enabling the presentation of congressional gold medals, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and submit extraneous material for the Record on H.R. 4488, which is currently under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4488, the Gold Medal Technical Corrections Act of 2014, introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and Ms. Brown of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation seeks to make minor technical corrections to allow the actual awarding of two Congressional Gold Medals authorized in previous Congresses. The first medal was awarded to Martin Luther King, Jr., and Coretta Scott King. The other medal was awarded to the pioneering Montford Point Marines of World War II.

For different reasons, there are now no statutorily designated recipients of the medals. As has often happened in the past with such medals, they will be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where they will be available for display, research, or loan, as appropriate, to sites significant to their honorees.

Importantly, in the case of both these medals, the sense of Congress is expressed that one place that would be very appropriate to display either or both of these medals is at the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, now under construction literally just down the street.

So, Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. It is a bipartisan bill. I ask for its immediate passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

At this point, we have no other speakers. I, again, would just like to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for joining us with the sponsoring of this legislation; Mr. Lewis, not only for legislation that is on the floor today, but for your historic work on behalf of civil rights prior to coming to Congress as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding, and I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for all of his work on this legislation.

I would like to thank the chair and ranking member of the Financial Services Committee and all of their staff for their strong support of the legislation.

This bill is very simple. It simply ensures that these medals are displayed at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens next year.

In 2004, Congress passed bipartisan legislation to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. I introduced the House bill, and my good friend, Senator Carl Levin, sponsored the Senate companion.

The legislation passed in the House and Senate by voice vote. Unfortunately, a couple of years later, my good friend, Coretta Scott King, passed away. She was a beautiful and strong spirit and, like her husband, a national treasure.

They were heroes, breaking down barriers, opening doors, fighting injustice across our country, and building bridges around the world. It is only fitting that this congressional tribute is on exhibit to the world in a permanent national memorial.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the bipartisan leadership and staff for all of their good and great work in support of this commonsense legislation.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4488.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.