AMERICAN WORLD WAR II HERITAGE CITY ANNUAL DESIGNATIONS

On 2018-12-10, Representative David Rouzer (R-NC-7) delivered a floor speech titled "AMERICAN WORLD WAR II HERITAGE CITY ANNUAL DESIGNATIONS" in the House.

AMERICAN WORLD WAR II HERITAGE CITY ANNUAL DESIGNATIONS

Congressional Record, Volume 164 Issue 194 (Monday, December 10, 2018) [Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 194 (Monday, December 10, 2018)] [House] [Pages H9777-H9778] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] AMERICAN WORLD WAR II HERITAGE CITY ANNUAL DESIGNATIONS Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6118) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to annually designate at least one city in the United States as an ``American World War II Heritage City'', and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6118 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. AMERICAN WORLD WAR II HERITAGE CITIES. (a) Designation.--In order to recognize and ensure the continued preservation and importance of the history of the United States involvement in World War II, each calendar year the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') may designate not less than one city located in one of the several States or a territory of the United States as an ``American World War II Heritage City''. Not more than one city in each State or territory may be designated under this section. (b) Application for Designation.--The Secretary shall-- (1) establish and publicize the process by which a city may apply for designation as an American World War II Heritage City based on the criteria in subsection (c); and (2) encourage cities to apply for designation as an American World War II Heritage City. (c) Criteria for Designation.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution or the President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, shall make each designation under subsection (a) based on the following criteria: (1) Contributions by a city and its environs to the World War II home-front war effort, including contributions related to-- (A) defense manufacturing, such as ships, aircraft, uniforms, and equipment; (B) production of foodstuffs and consumer items for Armed Forces and home consumption; (C) war bond drives; (D) adaptations to wartime survival; (E) volunteer participation; (F) civil defense preparedness; (G) personnel serving in the Armed Forces, their achievements, and facilities for their rest and recreation; or (H) the presence of Armed Forces camps, bases, airfields, harbors, repair facilities, and other installations within or in its environs. (2) Achievements by a city and its environs to preserve the heritage and legacy of the city's contributions to the war effort and to preserve World War II history, including-- (A) the identification, preservation, restoration, and interpretation of World War II-related structures, facilities and sites; (B) establishment of museums, parks, and markers; (C) establishment of memorials to area men who lost their lives in service; [[Page H9778]] (D) organizing groups of veterans and home-front workers and their recognition; (E) presentation of cultural events such as dances, plays, and lectures; (F) public relations outreach through the print and electronic media, and books; and (G) recognition and ceremonies remembering wartime event anniversaries. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gallego) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah. General Leave Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Utah? There was no objection. Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer), the sponsor of this piece of legislation. Mr. ROUZER. Mr. Speaker, our country has been and continues to be the greatest force for good known to mankind. The men and women of our military have played a central role in this virtuous effort. There was no greater time of difficulty and challenge that tested this notion more than during World War II. H.R. 6118 provides a way to honor the major contributions made by our cities during World War II by granting the Secretary of the Interior the ability to designate one city each year as a World War II heritage city, provided that city meets the criteria for recognition outlined in the legislation. As many from the Greatest Generation know, World War II required a nationwide effort to assist with the many components of war production. Yet, there are many all across this great land who do not know that cities from across the Nation stepped up in a major way to assist with defense manufacturing and the production of food, clothing, and other necessary goods. No one can attest to these efforts better than Captain Wilbur D. Jones of Wilmington, North Carolina. Captain Jones is retired from the U.S. Navy, a distinguished author, an active veteran, and a war historian who has worked to preserve our States' World War II history for the past two decades. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Captain Jones for his hard work and steadfast dedication to this cause. Without his leadership, the idea, introduction, and passage of this bill never would have come to fruition. This legislation will provide every city that contributed to the many heroic World War II efforts an incentive to preserve that history, a great and noble undertaking so that all citizens will have a better understanding of our history and even more pride in our great heritage. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member of the committee for their help with and accommodation of this bill. I would also like to thank our State Legislature for their very active support and endorsement, the Wilmington City Council, and Mayor Bill Saffo. I also should mention the great work of Senator Burr and Senator Tillis on the other side of the Capitol for their help in getting this legislation passed so that, hopefully, it will be signed into law by the President in the next couple of weeks. Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to honor the contributions and war efforts made by American cities during World War II, including the work by these cities to preserve this history. This bill honors the history of our Nation and enshrines the efforts made by American cities that were integral to our success in World War II. For example, Wilmington, North Carolina, constructed 243 cargo vessels, served as a base for all five military branches, hosted German prisoners of war, and dispatched thousands of soldiers to fight. Current efforts to preserve this history include landmarks such as the Battleship North Carolina and the Hannah Block Historic USO Building. This will give the Secretary the authority to validate these contributions, along with those of countless other cities that contributed to the war effort. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Rouzer for his work on this bill, and I am happy to voice my support of it. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, during World War II, our cities built armaments; they had war bond drives; and they grew victory gardens. They did what they could to support our troops who were fighting abroad in a two-front war. It is significant and important that we recognize the efforts that went into that part of our history and also that we reward, in some way, the efforts to protect that history so that we will always remember the sacrifices that were made by the Greatest Generation and recognize their efforts on the field of battle, as well as back home, to preserve that and support that. The past will not be forgotten. This part of our American history will be remembered going forward. Mr. Speaker, this is a wonderful effort to do that, to actually provide, once again, for the history of this country, for the symbols of this country, for the future of this country, to remember how we got to the position in which we are. This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to designate at least one city a year, each year, as an American World War II Heritage City. It is appropriate that we go forward on this. Mr. Speaker, I fully support its efforts, and I urge the adoption of this bill by my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6118, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to annually designate at least one city in the United States as an `American World War II Heritage City', and for other purposes.''. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR6118, HR6118