Congressional Record—Senate S6148
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S6148 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 12, 2018 approved May 6, 1882 (commonly known as many while helping to liberate Central Eu- (b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purpose of sec- the ‘‘Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882’’) (22 rope; tion 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all Stat. 58, chapter 126), was the first Federal (17) Chinese Americans flew bomber mis- medals struck under this Act shall be consid- law that broadly restricted immigration and sions, served in infantry units and combat ered to be numismatic items. a specific nationality, making it illegal for ships in the Battle of the Atlantic, including Chinese laborers to immigrate to the United aboard Merchant Marines convoys vulner- SA 4016. Mr. FLAKE (for Mr. ALEX- States and limiting the Chinese population able to submarine and air attacks; ANDER) proposed an amendment to the in the United States for over 60 years; (18) many Chinese-American women served bill S. 3029, to revise and extend the (4) major court decisions such as the deci- in the Women’s Army Corps, the Army Air Prematurity Research Expansion and sions in Lum v. Rice, 275 U.S. 78 (1927), and Forces, and the United States Naval Reserve Education for Mothers who deliver In- People v. Hall, 4 Cal. 399 (1854), found ‘‘yel- Women’s Reserve, and some became pilots, fants Early Act (PREEMIE Act); as fol- low’’ races to be equal to African Americans air traffic controllers, flight trainers, weath- with regard to ‘‘separate but equal’’ school er forecasters, occupational therapists, and lows: facilities, and prohibited Chinese Americans, nurses; On page 16, line 22, insert ‘‘, in collabora- along with ‘‘Black, mulatto, or Indian’’ per- (19) Captain Francis B. Wai is the only Chi- tion with other departments, as appro- sons, from testifying against White men; nese American who served in World War II to priate,’’ after ‘‘Services’’. (5) Chinese Americans were harassed, beat- have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the Beginning on page 16, line 24, strike ‘‘with- en, and murdered because of their ethnicity, highest military award given by the United in’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Services’’ including the Chinese Massacre of 1871, States on page 17, line 1. where 17 Chinese immigrants in Los Angeles, (20) Chinese Americans also earned Combat On page 17, line 11, insert ‘‘, and, as appli- California, were tortured and murdered, the Infantry Badges, Purple Hearts, Bronze cable, those in other departments,’’ after Rock Springs Massacre of 1885 where White Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguished Service ‘‘Services’’. rioters killed 28 Chinese miners and burned Cross, and Distinguished Flying Cross; f 75 of their homes in Rock Springs, Wyoming, (21) units of the Armed Forces with Chi- and the Hells Canyon Massacre of 1887 where nese Americans were also awarded unit cita- AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO 34 Chinese gold miners were ambushed and tions for valor and bravery; MEET murdered in Hells Canyon, Oregon; (22) the United States remains forever in- Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I have a (6) there were only 78,000 Chinese Ameri- debted to the bravery, valor, and dedication request for one committee to meet dur- cans living on the United States mainland, that the Chinese-American Veterans of with 29,000 living in Hawaii, at the start of ing today’s session of the Senate. It World War II displayed; and has the approval of the Majority and World War II as result of Federal and State (23) the commitment and sacrifice of Chi- legislation and judicial decisions; nese Americans demonstrates a highly un- Minority leaders. (7) despite the anti-Chinese discrimination common and commendable sense of patriot- Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph at the time, as many as 20,000 Chinese Amer- ism and honor in the face of discrimination. 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- icans served in the Armed Forces during SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. ate, the following committee is author- World War II, of whom, approximately 40 ized to meet during today’s session of percent were not United States citizens due In this Act— to the laws that denied citizenship to per- (1) the term ‘‘Chinese-American Veterans the Senate: sons of Chinese descent; of World II’’ includes individuals of Chinese COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN (8) Chinese Americans, although small in ancestry who served— AFFAIRS numbers, made important contributions to (A) honorably at any time during the pe- The Committee on Banking, Housing, riod December 7, 1941, and ending December the World War II effort; and Urban Affairs is authorized to (9) of the total Chinese Americans serving, 31, 1946; and (B) in an active duty status under the com- meet during the session of the Senate approximately 25 percent served in the on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, at United States Army Air Force, with some mand of the Armed Forces; and sent to the China-Burma-India Theater with (2) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Sec- 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled, the 14th Air Service Group; retary of the Treasury. ‘‘Countering Russia: Assessing New (10) the remainder of Chinese Americans SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. Tools.’’ who served in World War II served in all (a) AWARD AUTHORIZED.—The President Pro f branches of the Armed Forces in all 4 thea- Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of ters of war; the House of Representatives shall make ap- PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR (11) the first all Chinese-American group propriate arrangements for the award, on be- Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask was the 14th Air Service Group in the China- half of Congress, of a single gold medal of ap- unanimous consent that my intern propriate design to the Chinese-American Burma-India Theater which enabled exten- Sam Satterfield have privileges of the sive and effective operations against the Veterans of World War II, in recognition of Japanese military in China; their dedicated service during World War II. floor for the balance of the day. (12) Chinese Americans are widely ac- (b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.—For the pur- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without knowledged for their role in the 14th Air poses of the award referred to in subsection objection, it is so ordered. Force, widely known as the Flying Tigers; (a), the Secretary shall strike the gold medal f (13) Chinese Americans assigned to the with suitable emblems, devices, and inscrip- China-Burma-India Theater made trans- tions to be determined by the Secretary. APPROPRIATIONS oceanic journeys through hostile territories (c) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE.— Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, and were subject to enemy attack while at (1) IN GENERAL.—Following the award of Boy Scouts shouldn’t get a merit badge sea and in the air; the gold medal in honor of the Chinese- for telling the truth, and Senators (14) in the Pacific Theater, Chinese Ameri- American Veterans of World War II, the gold cans were in ground, air, and ocean combat medal shall be given to the Smithsonian In- shouldn’t get an award for passing an and support roles throughout the Pacific in- stitution, where it shall be available for dis- appropriations bill, because that is cluding New Guinea, Guadalcanal, Solomon play as appropriate and made available for what we are supposed to do. But it is Islands, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Philippines, research. worth noting that for the first time in Mariana Islands, and Aleutian Islands; (2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of at least 10 years, these appropriations (15) throughout the Pacific and China- Congress that the Smithsonian Institution bills that we just passed are on time Burma-India theaters, Chinese Americans should make the gold medal received under and within the budget Congress has set. performed vital functions in translating, co- paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, With this vote today, we are moving particularly at other locations associated ordinating Nationalist Chinese and United toward restoring the practice of reg- States combat operations, servicing and re- with the Chinese-American Veterans of pairing aircraft and armaments, training Na- World II or with World War II. ular order in the Senate from start to tionalist Chinese troops and sailors, deliv- (d) DUPLICATE MEDALS.—Under regulations finish. This is what the right way ering medical care, providing signal and that the Secretary may promulgate, the Sec- means: hearings—we held three. Mark communication support, gathering and ana- retary may strike and sell duplicates in up the bills—all 12 bills are completed lyzing intelligence, participating in ground bronze of the gold medal struck under this before the Fourth of July recess. Con- and air combat, and securing and delivering Act, at a price sufficient to cover the cost of sult with other Senators—in the case supplies; the medals, including labor, materials, dies, of the Energy and Water appropria- use of machinery, and overhead expenses. (16) Chinese Americans also served in com- tions bills, 87 Senators, we believe, had bat and support roles in the European and SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDAL. African theaters, serving in North Africa, (a) NATIONAL MEDAL.—The gold medal their wishes reflected in our bill. Floor Sicily, Italy, the Normandy D–Day invasion, struck under this Act shall be a national debate, amendment votes, then a con- which liberated Western Europe, and the medal for the purposes of chapter 51 of title ference committee, and then we had Battle of the Bulge, occupying Western Ger- 31, Unites States Code. the vote today. VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:58 Sep 13, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A12SE6.034 S12SEPT1 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with SENATE.