Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act

Madam Speaker, I thank Chair Waters for moving this bill and I thank Ranking Member Hill, as well, on behalf of the American people.

The dedication of the World War II Memorial on our National Mall was the culmination of a 17-year effort in Congress to construct the first national memorial dedicated to the 16 million Americans who served in the Armed Forces during World War II and the more than 400,000 who died for liberty.

As the Representative who in 1987 introduced the original legislation to construct the national memorial, I am thrilled to rise tonight in support of H.R. 1057, the National World War II Memorial Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act.

I also rise, respectfully, in memory of World War II Army combat veteran Roger Durbin of Berkey, Ohio, who first suggested this meritorious idea to me, as well as my own uncle Stanley Rogowski, who fought in D-day and across France to free Paris and on to Brussels and Belgium and Luxembourg, and Anthony Rogowski, his brother, who fought in the Office of Strategic Services building the Burma Road in the very difficult battles in Asia.

This bipartisan piece of legislation authorizes the U.S. Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. The coin will serve as an important symbol of the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the brave Americans who fought to defend liberty, defeat tyranny, and establish institutions to safeguard peace and freedom in the 20th and 21st centuries and beyond.

This legislation will ensure the memorial is properly maintained for years to come and, importantly, that the historical, educational, and commemorative programming is prepared to better inform the millions of people who visit each year and allow collections to be shared nationwide.

Since the memorial's inception in 2004, nearly 80 million people have visited the site, making it one of the most popular sites in our Nation. Approximately 240,000 World War II veterans are still living with us today, including 9,000 Ohioans.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Sustaining the World War II Memorial for them and, importantly, to better inform and enhance interpretation of the purposes for which the war was fought will provide generations to come with a greater sense of America's history, and of course this is near and dear to all of our hearts.

Please let me thank our partners at the Friends of the World War II Memorial, Holly Rotondi and Paul Marcone, and our staff assistant Margaret McInnis for their wonderful service in helping us move this bill forward to where it is today.

I also thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger) and the 300 House Members who sponsored this bipartisan bill as well as our Senate counterparts, Senators Mike Rounds and Jeanne Shaheen, for their bipartisan support. It is nice to do things on a bipartisan basis.

Let me finally express gratitude to the marvelous, talented, and caring Chairwoman Maxine Waters for moving this bill along with so many, many others and for her dutiful service to the Nation, and her colleagues, Ranking Member Patrick McHenry as well as Congressman French Hill for their very generous support. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1057.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1057) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material thereon.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1057, which would require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The National World War II Memorial is located on the east end of the reflecting pool on The National Mall. The process for the dedication of the National World War II Memorial started in 1987, and it was a 17- year effort until the memorial was finally opened to the public in 2004.

It is the first national memorial dedicated to all who served in World War II and acknowledges the commitment and achievement of the entire Nation. The memorial today is a top destination for millions of annual visits from all over the country and the world.

The more than 16 million people who served in the Armed Forces, the more than 400,000 who died, and the millions who supported the war effort from home are all honored with this memorial. It commemorates the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to the common defense of the Nation and to the broader causes of peace and freedom from tyranny throughout the world.

It acts as a symbol of national unity, and it is a timeless reminder of the moral strength and power that flows when free people are at once united and bonded together in a common and just cause for liberty.

This bill, sponsored by Representative Kaptur, would provide tangible support to the World War II Memorial by directing the Secretary of the Treasury to produce commemorative coins in recognition of everything that the memorial represents.

Madam Speaker, I urge Members to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentlewoman.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

I thank Congresswoman Kaptur for her work to guarantee that the stories and values the World War II Memorial represents continue to circulate throughout the Nation. Madam Speaker and Members, each evening that I am in Washington, D.C. when I leave the Capitol to go home, I pass this memorial, and I think about Marcy Kaptur.

I think about the first time that I learned and understood she created this. This was her legislation, and so it absolutely continues her vision, her foresight, and her love for the sacrifices that have been made by so many by establishing this World War II Memorial and everything that it represents.

I am so grateful that I am able here this evening to show my support and to thank her for what she has done in creating that memorial.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.

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

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

I rise in strong and enthusiastic support of H.R. 1057, the Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act.

What an honor to stand on this House floor and pay tribute to that generation, the World War II heroes who we know and love so much, including my father-in-law, who helped free the Buchenwald concentration camp, and my dad, who flew a B-25.

Since its inception in 2024, the National World War II Memorial has been a popular attraction for anybody visiting Washington. Millions visit this iconic site annually.

Along the entrance to the memorial plaza are 12 bronze relief panels that show scenes from the Atlantic front and 12 scenes from the Pacific front. The Rainbow Pool is at the center of the plaza, and behind that pool is the Freedom Wall.

During World War II, the gold star was used as a symbol to indicate that a member of the family had lost their life in the war. The 4,048 gold stars on the Freedom Wall commemorate the more than 400,000 Americans who paid the ultimate cost and gave their life in the war for freedom in Europe and in the Pacific.

Anytime I visit the memorial, I always take an extra second to walk and read the quote from President Truman found on the memorial wall. It reads:

``Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.''

This memorial is an important place for all Americans, but unfortunately, its age is beginning to show. Coming up on its 18th year of service, the memorial is in need of repair--hence the importance, Madam Speaker, of passing this legislation today.

The surcharges or proceeds from this coin program will go to the Friends of the National World War II Memorial to support the maintenance and repair of the memorial and the continuation of important education programs so that the youth of tomorrow never forget the service and sacrifice of those who came before.

I thank my old friend Senator Bob Dole for all the years that he supported us in trying to get this memorial built and was there and lived to see it. And I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), my dear friend, not only for the bill today to maintain the memorial but for originating the legislation that authorized the commission that established the memorial back in 1993.

Those who give their lives for our country should be memorialized and remembered for all future generations. I support this bill, and I urge the entire House to stand up and support this bill for the memories of all those who served in World War II.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I wish to submit to the Senate a budget scorekeeping report. The report, which covers fiscal year 2022, was prepared by my staff on the Budget Committee and the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 308(b) and in aid of section 311 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended. This information allows the Senate Budget Committee to determine if budgetary points of order lie against pending legislation.

The report shows the effect on spending and revenues of congressional action through September 15, 2022, as compared to the levels the Senate agreed to in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2022, S. Con. Res. 14. Since my last scorekeeping report on April 28, seven laws with significant budgetary effects have been signed by the President, and I have revised the levels in the budget resolution two times for legislation.

The Democratic staff of the Budget Committee prepared tables 1 and 2. Table 1 compares the mandatory spending of each authorizing committee against the enforceable allocations under section 302 of the Congressional Budget Act. It shows 10 of the 16 authorizing committees are in compliance with their allocations, either because no legislation with significant budgetary costs was enacted or the legislation qualified under the budget resolution for an allocation adjustment. Most of the spending above allowable levels is attributed to either the CHIPS Act of 2022 or the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022.

Table 2 shows the Senate pay-as-you-go--PAYGO--scorecard tallying enacted legislation with significant effects on mandatory spending and revenues. The scorecard shows a savings of $4.7 billion in 2022, a deficit of $174 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and a deficit of $528 billion over the 2022-2031 period. When compared to the allowable amounts on the PAYGO scorecard last adjusted on September 12, there is a deficit of $1.3 billion on the scorecard for 2022, $185 billion over the 2022-2026 period, and $667 billion over the 2022-2031 period.

In addition to these tables, I am submitting a letter from the Congressional Budget Office with further detail. For fiscal year 2022, current budgetary levels are within allowed amounts. Current law budget authority is $2.6 billion below the maximum allowed in the revised budget resolution, outlays are $17 billion below the allowed maximum, and revenues are $68 million above the allowed minimum. The tables also show that there has been no net change for Social Security.

I ask unanimous consent that the letter and accompanying tables from CBO be printed in the Congressional Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that if the Senate receives a message from the House that it has passed H.R. 1057, and if the text of H.R. 1057 as passed is identical to S. 1596, that at a time to be determined by the majority leader or his designee, in consultation with the Republican leader, the bill be considered read a

third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.