Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act
Floor Speech
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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5068) to authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5068
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 ``Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act''. SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.
(a) In General.--The Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation may establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate the commitment and service represented by women who worked on the home front during World War II.
(b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The establishment of the commemorative work under this section shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works Act'').
(c) Prohibition on the Use of Federal Funds.--
(1) In general.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under this section.
(2) Responsibility of women who worked on the home front foundation.--The Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation shall be solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the establishment of the commemorative work under this section.
(d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
(1) In general.--If upon payment of all expenses for the establishment of the memorial (including the maintenance and preservation amount required by section 8906(b)(1) of title 40, United States Code), there remains a balance of funds received for the establishment of the commemorative work, the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation shall transmit the amount of the balance to the Secretary of the Interior for deposit in the account provided for in section 8906(b)(3) of title 40, United States Code.
(2) On expiration of authority.--If upon expiration of the authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of title 40, United States Code, there remains a balance of funds received for the establishment of the commemorative work, the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation shall transmit the amount of the balance to a separate account with the National Park Foundation for memorials, to be available to the Secretary of the Interior or Administrator (as appropriate) following the process provided in section 8906(b)(4) of title 40, United States Code, for accounts established under section 8906(b)(2) or (3) of title 40, United States Code. SEC. 3. 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.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5068, the Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act, introduced by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. H.R. 5068 would authorize the establishment of a memorial to commemorate the nearly 19 million women who worked on the home front during World War II.
With mass male enlistment leaving significant vacancies in the industrial and defense industries, women across the country filled thousands of jobs that were historically held by men to support the war effort and to keep America running.
I am proud of the fact that my district is home to Rosie the Riveters, which were a good example of women being able to do it.
As the men fought abroad, these women worked in defense plants, flew military aircraft, delivered mail, and performed countless other duties necessary to keep the home front running.
In addition to the women working on the home front, nearly 350,000 women served in uniform, both at home and abroad, directly supporting the war effort as code breakers, as Air Force service pilots, and as volunteers for organizations such as the Army Nurse Corps.
The work carried out by women on the home front during World War II opened the door for women to hold more types of jobs than ever before, and it is long past time that Congress recognized their contributions to our Nation.
I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Norton, for introducing this important legislation. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Ms. Raya Kenney, who developed the idea for this memorial when she was in fifth grade, for her tireless efforts to ensure that the millions of women who worked on the home front during World War II are recognized and celebrated.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5068, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and all the leadership on the Committee on Natural Resources, again, for making this a reality. I thank my colleague, Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton, for the work that she did.
Mr. Speaker, as we are talking about this bill, several years ago with my then-Republican colleague, Candace Miller, we did the first honor flight of the Rosie the Riveters. We went to the World War II Memorial, and it was incredible. But to have a place to take them will be very special, and I hope we are able to do it while some of them can appreciate what we are doing.
This bipartisan legislation will honor the 18 million American women who played a key role in our Nation's war effort during World War II through their efforts on the home front.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor and a senior member of the House of Representatives, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5068, the ``Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act,'' which would authorize the establishment of a memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia, commemorating the efforts of the 18 million American women who kept the home front running during World War II.
I would like to thank Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for introducing this important piece of legislation.
It is no secret that women are dramatically underrepresented when it comes to our memorials.
Despite being instrumental in maintaining the stability of the country during World War II, the women of World War II have not received much recognition for their contributions.
This bill would change that by authorizing the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a memorial to honor these women.
The memorial is designed to be interactive and to educate visitors on the crucial roles women played during World War II.
For instance, millions of American women took jobs to support their families and the country at large during World War II, forever redefining what ``women's work'' looked like.
In fact, more than 10,000 women served behind the scenes of World War II as codebreakers.
Women were also trained to fly military aircraft so that male pilots could leave for combat duty overseas.
More than 1,100 female civilian volunteers flew nearly every type of military aircraft as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program.
WASPs flew planes from factories to bases, transported cargo and participated in simulation strafing and target missions.
Between 1940 and 1945, the percentage of women in the workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and, by 1945, one in four married women worked outside of the home.
The work done by women on the home front had a profound effect on the job market going forward.
As the nation continues to mourn the loss of the `Notorious RBG', an unmatched constitutional scholar and Supreme Court Justice who irrevocably advanced the women's movement, I can think of no better way to honor her legacy than by voting for this bill to commemorate the women whose sacrifices and decisions to enter the workforce during World War II also helped to change perceptions about gender roles in society.
We, as Members of Congress, have a duty to recognize and celebrate these revolutionary patriots for their service to this country.
As a proud leader of this bill, I encourage my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 5068.
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