June 10, 2008 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5157 Southeast Louisiana, I am proud of the join me in paying tribute to the Na- The question was taken. role that my State played on D-day. In tional World War II Museum in New The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the New Orleans, Andrew Jackson Higgins Orleans for sharing their stories with opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being designed the LCVPs, or the Higgins future generations. For so many years, in the affirmative, the ayes have it. boats, that were used extensively in the Greatest Generation was reluctant Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. World War II for amphibious landings. to share their stories, and fortunately Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas Higgins and the 30,000 Louisiana work- for all of us, as time went on, more and and nays. ers of Higgins Industries built and test- more have been willing to open up and The yeas and nays were ordered. ed the Higgins boats in Southeast Lou- give that testimony; and we are so hon- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- isiana during the war. ored to have much of that testimony ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the The Higgins boat was crucial to the collected at the National World War II Chair’s prior announcement, further success of D-day. According to General Museum for future generations to proceedings on this motion will be Eisenhower, the Allies would not have share. postponed. By passing House Resolution 1235, we been able to land on an open beach f without the Higgins boat. General Ei- honor D-day. More importantly, we senhower claimed that Higgins was the honor the men and women of the PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION man who won the war for us. Greatest Generation who made June 6, OF RESOLUTION RAISING A Louisiana is also home to many of 1944, one of the most important days in QUESTION OF THE PRIVILEGES the brave men and women who fought our Nation’s history, a day that all OF THE HOUSE IF OFFERED and won in World War II. J.J. men can be proud of, a day that all TODAY Witmeyer, who lives in the New Orle- Americans should never forget. Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. ans suburb of Hanrahan, participated Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent in the D-day invasion. Mr. Witmeyer of my time. that if the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. served as an infantry soldier and land- GENERAL LEAVE KUCINICH) offers a resolution as a ques- ed on Utah Beach. Mr. Witmeyer de- Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. tion of the privileges of the House at scribes his experience of landing at Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent any time on the legislative day of June Normandy on Higgins boats like this: that all Members have 5 legislative 10, 2008— ‘‘When the ramp went down, you were days in which to revise and extend (1) the previous question shall be con- going through the gates of hell . you their remarks and include any extra- sidered as ordered thereon without in- didn’t know how deep the water was, neous material on House Resolution tervening motion except one motion to where the beach was and they were fir- 1235. refer; and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there ing at you.’’ (2) the Speaker may postpone further objection to the request of the gentle- Mr. Witmeyer escaped injury that proceedings on such a vote on a motion day but was later wounded twice. He woman from Florida? There was no objection. to refer as though under clause won a battlefield commission as a cap- Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 8(a)(1)(A) of rule XX. tain, served as an acting military gov- support of H. Res. 1235, a resolution to des- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there ernor in Dortmund, Germany, and as a ignate National D-Day Remembrance Day and objection to the request of the gentle- commandant of two camps for dis- recognize the spirit, courage, and sacrifice of woman from Florida? placed war victims in Czechoslovakia. the men and women who fought and won There was no objection. It is because of the courage and sac- World War II. One of modern history’s defining f rifice of soldiers like J.J. Witmeyer events, D-day was the climactic engagement and the ingenuity and dedication of in- TO AWARD POSTHUMOUSLY A of the Second World War. On June 6, 1944, dividuals like Andrew Higgins that we CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL an Allied Expeditionary Force representing were successful on June 6, 1944, and TO CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI twelve nations launched more than 5,000 went on to win the war. boats and ships, 11,000 aircraft, 28,000 aerial Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I The brave men and women of our Na- sorties, and landed 150,000 ground troops. move to suspend the rules and pass the tion’s Greatest Generation displayed Among those troops were more than 30 sol- Senate bill (S. 254) to award post- tremendous heroism, dedication, and diers from Bedford, Virginia, a small, rural humously a Congressional gold medal strength and forever changed the community which experienced the highest per to Constantino Brumidi. course of history. General Dwight D. capita loss rate of any community in the The Clerk read the title of the Senate Eisenhower said we would ‘‘accept United States on D-day. For this reason, Bed- bill. nothing less than full victory,’’ and our ford is the home to the National D-Day Memo- The text of the Senate bill is as fol- troops did just that. rial, which was dedicated by President Bush lows: Our success did not come without on June 6, 2001. The National D-Day Memo- S. 254 significant losses, however. American rial exists in tribute to the valor, fidelity, and Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- forces suffered over 3,300 soldiers killed sacrifice of the Allied Forces on D-day. The resentatives of the United States of America in in action and an additional 3,000 sol- Memorial preserves the lessons and legacy of Congress assembled, diers suffered injury. that fateful day and reminds all who enter it of SECTION 1. FINDINGS. Mr. Speaker, the courage and sac- the heavy price that heartland communities Congress finds the following: rifice displayed by the Allied forces on have paid, and still pay, for freedom. (1) On July 26, 1805, Constantino Brumidi June 6, 1944, should never be forgotten, I urge all members to support H. Res. 1235 was born in Rome, Italy of an Italian mother and we should always remember D-day and honor the great sacrifice of our veterans and a Greek father who inspired him with a and honor the men and women who love of liberty. who served on D-day and in all the other con- (2) While Constantino Brumidi’s Greek an- fought and persevered for the price of flicts that preserved American freedom freedom. D-day will forever be an im- cestry stirred his passion for liberty and citi- throughout our history. zenship, his Italian heritage provided the art portant part of U.S. history, and the Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. styles of the Renaissance and the Baroque day deserves to be recognized. The Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to which influenced the artwork of the United Members of the Armed Forces who par- unanimously support House Resolution States Capitol. ticipated in the invasion are true 1235. (3) Constantino Brumidi became a citizen American heroes. That is why I intro- I have no further requests for time, of the United States as soon as he was able, duced House Resolution 1235 calling on and I yield back the balance of my embracing its history, values, and ideals. Congress to support the designation of time. (4) Beginning in 1855, Constantino Brumidi a national D-day Remembrance Day. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The designed and decorated 1 House and 5 Senate Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to question is on the motion offered by committee rooms in the Capitol, as well as the Senate Reception Room, the Office of the recognize and honor the veterans who the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Vice President, and, most notably, the Presi- served on D-day and join me in thank- CORRINE BROWN) that the House sus- dent’s Room, which represents Brumidi’s su- ing them for their spirit, courage, and pend the rules and agree to the resolu- preme effort ‘‘to make beautiful the Capitol’’ sacrifice. I also urge my colleagues to tion, H. Res. 1235. of the United States. VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:02 Jun 11, 2008 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K10JN7.084 H10JNPT1 jbell on PROD1PC69 with HOUSE H5158 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 10, 2008 (5) In 1865, Constantino Brumidi completed The Chair recognizes the gentleman b 1530 in just 11 months his masterpiece, ‘‘The from New York. There is no work in the Capitol more Apotheosis of Washington’’, in the eye of the GENERAL LEAVE impressive or more renowned than Capitol dome. Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask (6) In 1871, Constantino Brumidi created ‘‘The Apotheosis of Washington.’’ the first tribute to an African American in unanimous consent that all Members Brumidi completed the fresco in 11 the Capitol when he placed the figure of have 5 legislative days within which to months at the end of the Civil War, Crispus Attucks at the center of his fresco of revise and extend their remarks on this soon after the new dome was com- the Boston Massacre.