![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="1.15625in"}**Legislative
Bulletin.....................................September 18, 2007**

> **Contents:**
>
> **H.Res. 326 ---** Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam
> Veterans Memorial
>
> **H.Con.Res. 207 ---** Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United
> States Air Force as an independent military service
>
> **H.Res. 443 ---** Recognizing the service of the 65th Infantry
> Borinqueneers during the Korean War, honoring the people of Puerto
> Rico who continue to serve and volunteer for service in the Armed
> Forces and make sacrifices for the country, and commending all efforts
> to promote and preserve the history of the 65th Infantry Borinqueneers
>
> **H.Res. 604 ---** Expressing the nation's sincerest appreciation and
> thanks for the service of the members of the 303rd Bombardment Group
> (Heavy) upon the occasion of the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group
> (H) Association

**H.Res. 326 --- Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial *(Hooley, D-OR)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H.Res. 326 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 326 would express the sense that the
House of Representatives:

-   "honors the sacrifice of the men and women who lost their lives in
    service of the United States during the Vietnam War;

-   "recognizes the service of the men and women who were members of the
    United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War; and

-   "commemorates the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam
    Veterans Memorial."

H.Res. 326 lists the following findings:

-   "the Vietnam Veterans Memorial marks the 25th anniversary of its
    dedication in 2007;

-   "the Memorial commemorates the sacrifice of more than 58,000 men and
    women who lost their lives during the Vietnam War;

-   "the Memorial honors the sacrifice of the 153,303 men and women who
    were wounded during the conflict;

-   "the Memorial honors the more than 3,000,000 men and women who
    served in the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War;

-   "the Memorial has served as a powerful force for national healing;

-   "over four million people visit the Memorial each year to pay
    tribute to lost loved ones and remember the sacrifice of those who
    served the United States during the Vietnam War; and

-   "the Memorial is a testament to the dedication of the private
    individuals and corporations that raised \$8,400,000 to build the
    Memorial."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 326 was introduced on April
20, 2007, and was referred to the Armed Services Subcommittee on
Readiness as well as the Committee on Natural Resources. On April 23,
2007 it was referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and
Public Lands. No further action was taken.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution does not authorize
expenditures.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Con.Res. 207 --- Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United
States Air Force as an independent military service *(Spratt, D-SC)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Con.Res. 207 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Con.Res. 207 would express the sense that
the House of Representatives "remembers, honors, and commends the
achievements of the United States Air Force in serving and defending the
United States on the 60th anniversary of the creation of the United
States Air Force as an independent military service."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: The resolution lists a number
of findings that commemorate the proud history and legacy of the United
States Air Force (USAF). According to the findings in the resolution,
the U.S. contracted the Wright brothers to build the world's first
military airplane, the Wright Military Flyer, in 1909. From that point
forward U.S. air forces played a decisive role in military operations
around the world, especially during World War II.

Following the war, government officials quickly realized the importance
of an independent military service for the country's air forces. On July
26, 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of
1947 to realign and reorganize the Armed Forces and to create a separate
Department of the Air Force from the existing military services. Since
that time the USAF has provide an honorable and valued services
protecting our country.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Con.Res. 207 was introduced on
September 7, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Armed Services,
which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Res. 443 --- Recognizing the service of the 65th Infantry
Borinqueneers during the Korean War, honoring the people of Puerto Rico
who continue to serve and volunteer for service in the Armed Forces and
make sacrifices for the country, and commending all efforts to promote
and preserve the history of the 65th Infantry Borinqueneers *(McGovern,
D-MA)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H.Res. 443 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 443 would express the sense that the
House of Representatives:

-   "recognizes the service of the 65th Infantry Borinqueneers during
    the Korean War;

-   "honors the people of Puerto Rico, who continue to serve and
    volunteer for service in the Armed Forces and make sacrifices for
    the country; and

-   "commends all efforts to promote and preserve the history of the
    65th Infantry Borinqueneers."

H.Res. 443 lists the following findings:

-   "the 65th Infantry Regiment, the only Hispanic-segregated unit in
    United States military history, was mandated by Congress to be
    comprised primarily of Puerto Ricans;

-   "the 65th Infantry Regiment became better known as the Borinqueneers
    from the word Borinquen, the name that the native Taino Indians
    called Puerto Rico;

-   "the Borinqueneers, throughout their service in World War I, World
    War II, and, most notably, the Korean War, served with distinction;

-   "the Borinqueneers demonstrated their military prowess in Korea and
    earned the respect and admiration of their fellow soldiers and
    military authorities, most notably General Douglas MacArthur;

-   "the Borinqueneers were sent to battle on the front lines in Korea
    and participated in nine major campaigns during the Korean War;

-   "the Borinqueneers made valuable contributions to the war effort,
    including by suffering a tremendous number of casualties that was
    disproportionate to the population of Puerto Rico;

-   "the 65th Infantry Borinqueneers earned well-deserved praise,
    including a Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit
    Commendation, and two Republic of Korea Unit Citations; and

-   "the 65th Infantry has ceased to exist as an all-Puerto Rico unit,
    but thousands of Puerto Ricans have continued to volunteer freely
    and serve in the Armed Forces and have served ably during wartime."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 443 was introduced on May 24,
2007, and was referred to the Committee on Armed Services. On June 28,
2007, the resolution was referred to the Subcommittee on Military
Personnel, which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution does not authorize
expenditures.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Res. 604 --- Expressing the nation's sincerest appreciation and
thanks for the service of the members of the 303rd Bombardment Group
(Heavy) upon the occasion of the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group
(H) Association (McCotter, R-MI)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: H.Res. 604 is scheduled to be
considered on Tuesday, September 18, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 604 would express the sense that the
House of Representatives:

-   "the dedicated men and women who served in the 8th Air Force, 303rd
    Bombardment Group (H), 'Hell's Angels', including the nearly 5,000
    listed as missing in action, during World War II are heroes and
    champions of American freedom; and

-   "the House of Representatives, on behalf of a grateful nation,
    recognizes the final reunion of the 303rd Bomb Group (H) Association
    and commends the honorable members of the Association, who never
    once turned away from their assigned target, for their selfless
    service to our country."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: According to the findings in
the resolution, the 303^rd^ Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated in
1942 at Pendleton Field, Oregon, and trained at Gowen Field, Idaho. Know
as 'Hell's Angels', the group flew it's first of 364 combat missions on
November 17, 1942. During the two and half years that the Hells Angels
flew missions 165 aircraft were listed missing in action while two men
were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, four were awarded the
Distinguished service Cross, and 1,200 received the Purple Heart for
being killed or wounded. Due to age and the declining health of the
303rd Bombardment Group (H) veterans, the 303rd Bomb Group Association
Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to dissolve the
Association at the end of 2007. September 23, 2007, will mark the
illustrious group's final reunion.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 604 was introduced on August
1, 2007, and was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, which took
no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution does not authorize
expenditures.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**\###**