HouseH.Res. 1419119th Congress
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and recognizing its contributions to the military history and national security of the United States.
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1419 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1419
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and
recognizing its contributions to the military history and national
security of the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 6, 2026
Mrs. Wagner submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and
recognizing its contributions to the military history and national
security of the United States.
Whereas Jefferson Barracks was established on July 10, 1826, as the first
Infantry School of Practice of the Army, replacing Fort Bellefontaine,
and remains the oldest operational military installation west of the
Mississippi River;
Whereas the post was named in honor of President Thomas Jefferson and was
founded on 1,702 acres acquired from residents of the former French
Village of Carondelet, serving initially to provide hands-on training
complementing academic instruction at West Point;
Whereas during the 1820s and 1830s, troops from Jefferson Barracks played a key
role in westward expansion;
Whereas on March 2, 1833, Congress authorized the U.S. Regiment of Dragoons at
Jefferson Barracks, the first permanent cavalry unit in the U.S. Army,
which later evolved into the 1st Cavalry and served as a precursor to
modern armored forces;
Whereas during the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848, Jefferson Barracks
functioned as a rest and supply station, recruiting center, and staging
ground, with troops under General Zachary Taylor distinguishing
themselves in battle;
Whereas by the 1840s, Jefferson Barracks had grown into the largest military
installation in the United States, expanding its roles to include an
ordnance depot, engineer base, cavalry post, general hospital, induction
and separation center, and basic training facility;
Whereas during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, over 100 general officers from
both the Union and Confederacy served at Jefferson Barracks, and it
hosted the first Union action in Missouri with the capture of Camp
Jackson on May 10, 1861, under Captain Nathaniel Lyon;
Whereas the installation became a major hospital during the Civil War, treating
over 18,000 soldiers, supplemented by floating hospitals, and serving as
a burial site for many, while also functioning as a recruitment depot;
Whereas during World War I from 1917 to 1918, Jefferson Barracks became an
enlistment and deployment center for recruits from 12 Midwestern States,
housing over 12,000 recruits at its peak and contributing an estimated
200,000 men to the war effort through training and troop movements;
Whereas Dwight D. Eisenhower began his military career at Jefferson Barracks in
1911, preparing for West Point entrance exams, before later becoming
Supreme Allied Commander in Europe during World War II and President of
the United States;
Whereas after World War II, Jefferson Barracks was declared surplus and
decommissioned in 1946, with facilities transferred to the State of
Missouri for the Missouri National Guard, marking its ongoing role in
the reserve components;
Whereas Jefferson Barracks was listed on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1998, and today serves as a county park, historic site, and
museum district, including the Missouri Civil War Museum founded in
2002, the POW/MIA Museum, and the Ordnance Museum;
Whereas the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, established in 1827, is the
final resting place for over 200,000 veterans from all U.S. wars,
including 16,000 soldiers of the Civil War, and continues to operate
with memorials and daily burials;
Whereas Jefferson Barracks remains an active military installation, home to
units of the Missouri Air National Guard and Army National Guard, a
Veterans Affairs hospital complex, and recreational amenities like
trails, disc golf, and archery, offering free public access and
symbolizing 200 years of dedication, resilience, and remembrance;
Whereas in the present day, Jefferson Barracks continues to support national
security through Reserve and National Guard operations, historic
preservation, veteran services, and community engagement, making it an
invaluable cornerstone of Missouri's military heritage and the defense
of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) celebrates Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis County,
Missouri, on its 200th anniversary;
(2) commends the thousands of men and women who have
served, trained, and worked at Jefferson Barracks throughout
its history;
(3) recognizes the enduring contributions of Jefferson
Barracks to the military history, innovations, and national
security of the United States;
(4) encourages continued investment in, and preservation
of, Jefferson Barracks as a vital military, historical, and
community asset; and
(5) acknowledges the ongoing role of Missouri in supporting
national defense through facilities like Jefferson Barracks and
its associated National Guard, veteran services, and historic
sites.
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