III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 20 

Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should posthumously 

award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Harry W. Colmery. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 20, 2019 

Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. ROBERTS) submitted the following 

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should 

posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom 

to Harry W. Colmery. 

Whereas the life of Harry W. Colmery of Topeka, Kansas, 

was marked by service to the United States and its citizens; 

Whereas in 1916, Harry Colmery earned a degree in law 

from the University of Pittsburgh and successfully argued 2 significant cases before the Supreme Court of the 

United States; 

Whereas during World War I, Harry Colmery joined the 

Army Air Service, serving as a first lieutenant during the 

early stages of military aviation; 


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•SCON 20 IS 

Whereas after World War I, Harry Colmery actively contributed to the growth of the newly formed American Legion 

and went on to hold several offices in the Legion and was 

elected National Commander in 1936; 

Whereas in 1943, the United States faced the return from 

World War II of what was to become an active duty force 

of 15,000,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines; 

Whereas Harry Colmery spearheaded the efforts of the American Legion to develop legislation to ensure that these individuals, who had fought for the democratic ideals of the 

United States and to preserve freedom, could fully participate in all of the opportunities the United States provided; 

Whereas in December 1943, during an emergency meeting of 

the American Legion leadership, Harry Colmery initially 

drafted the legislation that became the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, also known as the GI Bill of 

Rights; 

Whereas the GI Bill of Rights is credited by veterans’ service 

organizations, economists, and historians as the engine 

that transformed the postwar United States into a more 

egalitarian, prosperous, and enlightened Nation poised to 

lead the world into the 21st century; 

Whereas since its enactment, the GI Bill of Rights has provided education or training for approximately 7,800,000 

individuals, including 2,200,000 in college, 3,400,000 in 

other schools, 1,400,000 in vocational education, and 

690,000 in farm training; 

Whereas 2,100,000 World War II veterans purchased homes 

through the GI Bill; 


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•SCON 20 IS 

Whereas the initial GI Bill has provided education and training to over 800,000 professionals that serve the Nation 

in specific career fields, including 450,000 engineers, 

238,000 teachers, 91,000 scientists, 67,000 doctors, and 

22,000 dentists; 

Whereas in 1945, President Truman established the Presidential Medal of Freedom to recognize notable service 

during the war, and in 1963, President Kennedy reinstated the medal to honor the achievement of civilians 

during peacetime; 

Whereas pursuant to Executive Order 11085 (27 Fed. Reg. 

1759), the President may award the Medal of Freedom 

to any person who has made an especially meritorious 

contribution to— 

(1) the security or national interest of the United 

States; 

(2) world peace; or 

(3) other significant public or private endeavors; and 

Whereas Harry Colmery, noted for his service in the military, 

in the legal sector, and on behalf of the veterans of the 

Nation, meets the criteria established for the Presidential 

Medal of Freedom: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 

3 President should posthumously award the Presidential 

4 Medal of Freedom to Harry W. Colmery of Topeka, Kan5 sas. 

Æ 


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