Floor SpeechUrgent2026-02-02

MOVING NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE TO ILLINOIS; PRINCIPAL OFFICE TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS

HealthcareEconomyTaxesForeign PolicyTradeLaborVeteransAgriculture

Context

On 2026-02-02, Representative Mike Bost (R-IL-12) delivered a floor speech titled "MOVING NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE TO ILLINOIS; PRINCIPAL OFFICE TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered the economy, taxes. It referenced legislation: HR988.

Full Text

MOVING NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE TO ILLINOIS; PRINCIPAL OFFICE TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 23 (Monday, February 2, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 23 (Monday, February 2, 2026)] [House] [Pages H1927-H1929] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] MOVING NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE TO ILLINOIS; PRINCIPAL OFFICE TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 988) to amend title 36, United States Code, to move the place of incorporation and domicile of the National Woman's Relief Corps to Illinois, to move the principal office of such Corps to Murphysboro, Illinois, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 988 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. MOVING NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE TO ILLINOIS; PRINCIPAL OFFICE TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS. (a) Place of Incorporation and Domicile.--Section 153701(b) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking ``the District of Columbia'' and inserting ``Illinois''. (b) Principal Office.--Section 153708 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Springfield'' each place it appears and inserting ``Murphysboro''. (c) Service of Process.--Section 153710 of title 36, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking ``designated agent in the District of Columbia'' and inserting ``designated agent in Illinois''; and (2) by striking ``Mayor of the District of Columbia or another office designated by the Mayor'' and inserting ``Secretary of State of Illinois or another office as designated by Illinois law''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan) and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon) each will control 20 minutes. [[Page H1928]] The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio. General Leave Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 988. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio? There was no objection. Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 988 amends the congressional charter for the National Woman's Relief Corps. In 1883, the National Woman's Relief Corps was founded as an auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. This nonprofit organization was founded to perpetuate the memory of those who sacrificed much, and sometimes all, in the American Civil War. Today, the National Woman's Relief Corps provides assistance to veterans of all wars and their families. In 1962, Congress granted the corps a congressional charter under title 36 of the U.S. Code. Congressional charters often stipulate an organization's place of incorporation and corporate domicile. In the case of the National Woman's Relief Corps, their charter requires that the organization be incorporated and domiciled in Washington, D.C. Due to changes in the organization over the years, the corps would like to move its domicile to Illinois, and this bill does just that. H.R. 988 amends the corps' congressional charter to formally change the organization's place of incorporation and domicile from Washington, D.C., to Illinois. The bill further amends the charter by moving the location of the organization's headquarters to Murphysboro, Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 988, a bill to amend the charter of the National Woman's Relief Corps to formally change its principal office from Springfield, Illinois, to Murphysboro, Illinois, where I understand it is already located. It also moves its place of incorporation from Washington, D.C., to Illinois. The Woman's Relief Corps was formally organized in 1883 to preserve the memory of those who served in the Civil War and provide assistance to veterans, widows, and orphans. The National Woman's Relief Corps, as it is now known, was congressionally chartered on September 7, 1962, and continues to serve all of our veterans and their families. Congress has incorporated both public and private organizations since 1791. While organizations are free to incorporate under D.C. laws or the laws of any other State, many continue to seek charters from Congress for the related prestige, which can help expand membership and increase funding. More than 90 organizations hold congressional charters, and many of them have principal offices and places of incorporation outside D.C. Particularly as this administration has slashed programs that serve our veterans, gutted staff at the Veterans Crisis Line and Veterans Health Administration, and made drastic cuts to programs that veterans and their families rely upon, like SNAP and Medicaid, organizations that work to support our veterans, like the National Woman's Relief Corps, are more important than ever. Ultimately, this bill is a straightforward administrative fix, and I support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), who has served our country, not in the Civil War but in a number of capacities, and is currently the great chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Jordan for allowing me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Woman's Relief Corps, the oldest national women's patriotic organization and the auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, which was our first VSO in the United States. This organization has a long history of service and patriotism, with strong ties to Illinois and to my hometown, Murphysboro, not Murfreesboro. That is in Tennessee. I am speaking of Murphysboro, M-u- r-p-h-y-s-b-o-r-o. There is only one in this world, and it is Murphysboro. Murphysboro is also the hometown of former Member of Congress, former U.S. Senator, and Civil War General John A. Logan, who was a strong advocate for our Nation's veterans. He played a key role in establishing Memorial Day as a national holiday in his 11th general order when he was commandant of the Grand Army of the Republic. His legacy of service continues to inspire Americans today. It is fitting that the Woman's Relief Corps has made its home at the General John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro, Illinois. Although the Woman's Relief Corps received its congressional charter many years ago, the charter still lists Washington, D.C., and Springfield as its official location. That is why I introduced legislation to update the charter to recognize Murphysboro, my hometown, as the Woman's Relief Corps' home. This change reflects where the organization is actually based and honors its close connection to John A. Logan and the southern Illinois communities that support its work. I am proud to support this measure and am grateful for the opportunity to assist an organization that has done so much for veterans and our communities. The Woman's Relief Corps stands for patriotism, service, and community. By recognizing Murphysboro as its home, we honor its history and support its continued work. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and in recognizing Murphysboro, Illinois, as the home of the Woman's Relief Corps. Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office for this bill. H.R. 988, A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 36, UNITED STATES CODE, TO MOVE THE PLACE OF INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE OF THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS TO ILLINOIS, TO MOVE THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF SUCH CORPS TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY ON NOVEMBER 20, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By fiscal year, millions of dollars-- ----------------------------------- 2026 2026-2030 2026-2035 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Direct Spending (Outlays)........... 0 0 0 Revenues............................ 0 0 0 Increase or Decrease (-) in the 0 0 0 Deficit............................ Spending Subject to Appropriation 0 0 0 (Outlays).......................... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036? No. Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036? No. Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply? No. Mandate Effects: Contains intergovernmental mandate? No. Contains private-sector mandate? No. H.R. 988 would change the location of the congressionally chartered National Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. Because organizations chartered under title 36 of the U.S. Code are not federal agencies, CBO estimates that enacting this bill would have no effect on the federal budget. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis. Phillip L. Swagel, Director, Congressional Budget Office Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the Woman's Relief Corps began as a way for patriotic women to show their continued loyalty to the Union and support Civil War veterans. More than 140 years later, the organization continues to serve veterans of all wars and endeavors to ``encourage the spread of universal liberty and equal rights of everyone.'' I support the National Woman's Relief Corps' work, and I urge my collea

Referenced legislation: HR988, HR988

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MOVING NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE TO ILLINOIS; PRINCIPAL OFFICE TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 23 (Monday, February 2, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 23 (Monday, February 2, 2026)] [House] [Pages H1927-H1929] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] MOVING NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE TO ILLINOIS; PRINCIPAL OFFICE TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 988) to amend title 36, United States Code, to move the place of incorporation and domicile of the National Woman's Relief Corps to Illinois, to move the principal office of such Corps to Murphysboro, Illinois, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 988 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. MOVING NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE TO ILLINOIS; PRINCIPAL OFFICE TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS. (a) Place of Incorporation and Domicile.--Section 153701(b) of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking ``the District of Columbia'' and inserting ``Illinois''. (b) Principal Office.--Section 153708 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking ``Springfield'' each place it appears and inserting ``Murphysboro''. (c) Service of Process.--Section 153710 of title 36, United States Code, is amended-- (1) by striking ``designated agent in the District of Columbia'' and inserting ``designated agent in Illinois''; and (2) by striking ``Mayor of the District of Columbia or another office designated by the Mayor'' and inserting ``Secretary of State of Illinois or another office as designated by Illinois law''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Jordan) and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon) each will control 20 minutes. [[Page H1928]] The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio. General Leave Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 988. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio? There was no objection. Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 988 amends the congressional charter for the National Woman's Relief Corps. In 1883, the National Woman's Relief Corps was founded as an auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. This nonprofit organization was founded to perpetuate the memory of those who sacrificed much, and sometimes all, in the American Civil War. Today, the National Woman's Relief Corps provides assistance to veterans of all wars and their families. In 1962, Congress granted the corps a congressional charter under title 36 of the U.S. Code. Congressional charters often stipulate an organization's place of incorporation and corporate domicile. In the case of the National Woman's Relief Corps, their charter requires that the organization be incorporated and domiciled in Washington, D.C. Due to changes in the organization over the years, the corps would like to move its domicile to Illinois, and this bill does just that. H.R. 988 amends the corps' congressional charter to formally change the organization's place of incorporation and domicile from Washington, D.C., to Illinois. The bill further amends the charter by moving the location of the organization's headquarters to Murphysboro, Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 988, a bill to amend the charter of the National Woman's Relief Corps to formally change its principal office from Springfield, Illinois, to Murphysboro, Illinois, where I understand it is already located. It also moves its place of incorporation from Washington, D.C., to Illinois. The Woman's Relief Corps was formally organized in 1883 to preserve the memory of those who served in the Civil War and provide assistance to veterans, widows, and orphans. The National Woman's Relief Corps, as it is now known, was congressionally chartered on September 7, 1962, and continues to serve all of our veterans and their families. Congress has incorporated both public and private organizations since 1791. While organizations are free to incorporate under D.C. laws or the laws of any other State, many continue to seek charters from Congress for the related prestige, which can help expand membership and increase funding. More than 90 organizations hold congressional charters, and many of them have principal offices and places of incorporation outside D.C. Particularly as this administration has slashed programs that serve our veterans, gutted staff at the Veterans Crisis Line and Veterans Health Administration, and made drastic cuts to programs that veterans and their families rely upon, like SNAP and Medicaid, organizations that work to support our veterans, like the National Woman's Relief Corps, are more important than ever. Ultimately, this bill is a straightforward administrative fix, and I support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), who has served our country, not in the Civil War but in a number of capacities, and is currently the great chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Jordan for allowing me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Woman's Relief Corps, the oldest national women's patriotic organization and the auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, which was our first VSO in the United States. This organization has a long history of service and patriotism, with strong ties to Illinois and to my hometown, Murphysboro, not Murfreesboro. That is in Tennessee. I am speaking of Murphysboro, M-u- r-p-h-y-s-b-o-r-o. There is only one in this world, and it is Murphysboro. Murphysboro is also the hometown of former Member of Congress, former U.S. Senator, and Civil War General John A. Logan, who was a strong advocate for our Nation's veterans. He played a key role in establishing Memorial Day as a national holiday in his 11th general order when he was commandant of the Grand Army of the Republic. His legacy of service continues to inspire Americans today. It is fitting that the Woman's Relief Corps has made its home at the General John A. Logan Museum in Murphysboro, Illinois. Although the Woman's Relief Corps received its congressional charter many years ago, the charter still lists Washington, D.C., and Springfield as its official location. That is why I introduced legislation to update the charter to recognize Murphysboro, my hometown, as the Woman's Relief Corps' home. This change reflects where the organization is actually based and honors its close connection to John A. Logan and the southern Illinois communities that support its work. I am proud to support this measure and am grateful for the opportunity to assist an organization that has done so much for veterans and our communities. The Woman's Relief Corps stands for patriotism, service, and community. By recognizing Murphysboro as its home, we honor its history and support its continued work. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and in recognizing Murphysboro, Illinois, as the home of the Woman's Relief Corps. Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. JORDAN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office for this bill. H.R. 988, A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 36, UNITED STATES CODE, TO MOVE THE PLACE OF INCORPORATION AND DOMICILE OF THE NATIONAL WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS TO ILLINOIS, TO MOVE THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF SUCH CORPS TO MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES, AS ORDERED REPORTED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY ON NOVEMBER 20, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ By fiscal year, millions of dollars-- ----------------------------------- 2026 2026-2030 2026-2035 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Direct Spending (Outlays)........... 0 0 0 Revenues............................ 0 0 0 Increase or Decrease (-) in the 0 0 0 Deficit............................ Spending Subject to Appropriation 0 0 0 (Outlays).......................... ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036? No. Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036? No. Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply? No. Mandate Effects: Contains intergovernmental mandate? No. Contains private-sector mandate? No. H.R. 988 would change the location of the congressionally chartered National Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. Because organizations chartered under title 36 of the U.S. Code are not federal agencies, CBO estimates that enacting this bill would have no effect on the federal budget. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis. Phillip L. Swagel, Director, Congressional Budget Office Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the Woman's Relief Corps began as a way for patriotic women to show their continued loyalty to the Union and support Civil War veterans. More than 140 years later, the organization continues to serve veterans of all wars and endeavors to ``encourage the spread of universal liberty and equal rights of everyone.'' I support the National Woman's Relief Corps' work, and I urge my collea Referenced legislation: HR988, HR988