Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1773) to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the women in the United States who joined the workforce during World War II, providing the aircraft, vehicles, weaponry, ammunition and other material to win the war, that were referred to as ``Rosie the Riveter'', in recognition of their contributions to the United States and the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1773

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Over 70 years ago there was a call to action, a demand for workers to fill the vacancies left by the men who went to fight in the war.

(2) More than 6 million women answered the call then, entering the workforce during World War II and providing the equipment, weaponry and ammunition to achieve final victory and end the war.

(3) These women left their homes to work or volunteer full- time in factories, farms, shipyards, airplane factories, banks, and other institutions in support of the military overseas.

(4) They worked with the United Service Organizations and the American Red Cross, drove trucks, riveted airplane parts, collected critical materials, rolled bandages, and served on rationing boards.

(5) Our ``Rosie the Riveter'', the women who worked and sacrificed to strengthen this country during World War II, are among the greatest living heroines in the United States.

(6) These women persevered, despite often facing harassment from their male colleagues and disapproval from their male family members, and all the while continued to maintain their ``other jobs'' as caretakers of children and their households.

(7) Minority women also overcame long-held policies of discrimination and made significant contributions to the war effort.

(8) Because of the ``Rosies'', Federal, State, and local agencies coordinated with business owners to develop childcare programs and other supports for working mothers.

(9) The example that these women set during World War II continues to inspire us and blaze a path for the working women and young girls of today.

(10) Specifically, the images of ``Rosie the Riveter'' and the phrase ``We Can Do It'' continue to symbolize the empowerment of women today, representing patriotic women who want to serve and strengthen their country, and to inspire young girls to become ``21st Century Rosies'' by aspiring to, and attaining positions of leadership in all walks of life in America. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

(a) Rosie the Riveter.--The term ``Rosie the Riveter'' includes any female individual who held employment or volunteered in support of the war efforts during World War II.

(b) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Treasury. SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of Congress, of a single gold medal of appropriate design in commemoration to Rosie the Riveter, collectively, in recognition of their contributions to the Nation and the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generations.

(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.

(c) National Museum of American History.--

(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution, where it shall be available for display as appropriate and made available for research.

(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the National Museum of American History shall make the gold medal received under paragraph (1) available for display elsewhere, particularly at other appropriate locations associated with Rosie the Riveter. SEC. 5. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck pursuant to section 4 under such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and the cost of the gold medal. SEC. 6. STATUS OF MEDALS.

(a) National Medals.--The medals struck pursuant to this Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. SEC. 7. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

During World War II, American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers. More than 6 million women answered the call to duty, filling jobs in factories, farms, shipyards, airplane factories, banks, and other institutions left vacant by the men who went to fight overseas.

These women, despite facing harassment and disapproval from their male colleagues and family members--and, in the case of minority women, long-held policies of discrimination--nonetheless persevered to provide critical equipment, weaponry, and ammunition to the war effort, all while continuing to serve as primary caretakers for children and as heads of household.

The hard work and sacrifices of these women during the war also paved the way for the development of childcare programs and other Federal-, State-, and local-level policies to support working mothers and families.

Today, the iconic image of Rosie the Riveter, first popularized as part of a wartime recruitment campaign for female workers, continues to be a symbol of female empowerment and inspiration for women who wish to serve and strengthen their country.

H.R. 1773 recognizes the brave, patriotic women who stepped up to serve their country in its time of need and whose leadership and spirit of empowerment continues to inspire ensuing generations.

I thank Ms.

I am pleased to bring forward a bill celebrating women from all walks of life who, in difficult, dark days chose to rise to the occasion and serve their country. They did not let themselves be confined to archaic notions of what women can or cannot do, nor did they let others dictate what a woman's place is in society.

Let me remind my colleagues that these Rosies were also Rositas, who came from all parts of our country, including our Hispanic community.

I would like to read from an interview with Aurora Orozco, one of the Rositas from Cuero, Texas, who laid out how so many Latinas contributed.

``In the valley there were these packing sheds where they packed tomatoes and lettuce . . . there were not enough men to work, so they started hiring women. So that is when it started to change a little more in women's lives. They were calling from the government for women to go and work in the factories . . . then they started calling women into the Army.

``And first it was like, oh, my goodness, `dios mio,' how can these women go over there by themselves? Everybody was shocked because we were not used to seeing women leave the house. You didn't leave the house until you were married. With senoritas, everything was so strict and then came this change . . . and I think that was wonderful because it opened a new world for women. It showed that women can be independent. This was a real break for women.''

So let us honor the example these women set and continue to blaze a path for the working women of today and future leaders of tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.

Speier), the sponsor of this legislation.
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