First Infantry Recognition of Sacrifice in Theater Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1088) to authorize the Society of the First Infantry Division to make modifications to the First Division Monument located on Federal land in Presidential Park in District of Columbia, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1088

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 ``First Infantry Recognition of Sacrifice in Theater Act'' or the ``FIRST Act''. SEC. 2. MODIFICATION TO FIRST DIVISION MONUMENT.

(a) Authorization.--The Society of the First Infantry Division (an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that code), may make modifications (including construction of additional plaques and stone plinths on which to put the plaques) to the First Division Monument located on Federal land in President's Park in the District of Columbia that was set aside for memorial purposes of the First Infantry Division, in order to honor the members of the First Infantry Division who paid the ultimate sacrifice during United States operations, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom. The First Infantry Division at the Department of the Army shall collaborate with the Department of Defense to provide to the Society of the First Infantry Division the list of names to be added.

(b) Non-Application of Commemorative Works Act.--Subsection (b) of section 8903 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works Act''), shall not apply to actions taken under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Funding.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any expense of the activities of the Society of the First Infantry Division which are authorized by this section.

Mr. Speaker, this bill introduced by Representative Marshall would honor the heroism of the soldiers of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division by authorizing the installation of additional plaques at the First Infantry Division Monument located in the National Park Services' President's Park just south of the White House.

These additions would include the names of over 600 1st Infantry Division soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn, ensuring that these fallen soldiers are not forgotten.

For over 100 years now, soldiers of the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division have embodied their motto: ``No mission too difficult, no sacrifice too great. Duty first.''

I am proud to rise in strong support of this bill and the brave soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division and I want to thank Representative Marshall for championing this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, so I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend Congressman Marshall for that very moving presentation and for the impressive history that he recounted of the 1st Infantry Division.

This is a great bill, an important bill, and I know we are all very proud to support it. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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