IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 253 

Expressing gratitude and appreciation for the entry of the United States 

into World War I. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 6, 2017 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. KEATING, Mr. SCHIFF, and 

Mr. LATTA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 

Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing gratitude and appreciation for the entry of the 

United States into World War I. 

Whereas, on April 2, 1917, President Thomas Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to convene an extraordinary session 

to officially declare war on the Imperial German Government; 

Whereas, on April 4, 1917, the Senate passed a joint resolution that declared a formal state of war between the 

United States and the Imperial German Government; 

Whereas, on April 6, 1917, the House of Representatives 

adopted the same joint resolution that the Senate had 


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passed, thereby marking the official entry of the United 

States into World War I; 

Whereas, consequently, April 6, 2017, marks the 100th anniversary of the entry of the United States into World War 

I beside France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, the 

countries of the Triple Entente; 

Whereas, on December 7, 1917, the United States declared 

war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire; 

Whereas, beginning in August 1914— 

(1) a portion of France was occupied by German 

forces; and 

(2) France fought— 

(A) beside the United Kingdom and all countries of the British Empire (notably, Australia, New 

Zealand, Canada, and South Africa), Belgium, Russia, Italy, and Portugal; 

(B) on land, at sea, and in the air; 

(C) along a front line of more than 460 miles; 

and 

(D) to recover full sovereignty; 

Whereas, before April 6, 1917, the United States had supported France and the Allies economically, financially, 

and with human support, including through 3,600 individuals who served as volunteers, ambulance attendants, 

nurses, philanthropists, and soldiers in the French Foreign Legion; 

Whereas the expeditionary force of the United States was 

created on May 3, 1917, under the command of General 

John J. Pershing, to provide military support to France 

and the Allies; 


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Whereas the United States started huge mobilization efforts 

after Congress passed the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to authorize the President to increase temporarily the Military 

Establishment of the United States’’, approved May 18, 

1917 (50 U.S.C. App. 201 et seq.), thereby introducing 

military conscription and enabling 4,800,000 individuals 

from the United States to serve during World War I; 

Whereas the first forces of the expeditionary corps led by 

General Pershing arrived quickly in France; 

Whereas General Pershing landed in Boulogne-sur-Mer on 

June 13, 1917, 14,750 members of the First Infantry 

Division landed in Saint-Nazaire on June 26, 1917, and 

7,500 soldiers landed in Brest on November 12, 1917; 

Whereas members of the Armed Forces were involved in a 

considerable logistics effort in France, building many 

transportation infrastructure projects, including roads, 

harbors, and railways, communications networks, and accommodation buildings, which were crucial for the war 

effort and the transformation of the French landscape; 

Whereas a debt of gratitude is owed to the 3 members of the 

Armed Forces who fell in France during the first combat 

of the Armed Forces in Bathele ́mont-le`s-Bauzemont on 

November 3, 1917; 

Whereas individuals from many different sectors of the 

United States population, including African Americans, 

Hispanics, and Native Americans, were involved in logistics, support, or combat in France in 1917 and 1918; 

Whereas President Thomas Woodrow Wilson was deeply involved in the peace process in Europe, notably through 

his speech to Congress on January 8, 1918, the 14 points 

of which were proposed as a basis for negotiation at the 


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Versailles Peace Conference, which started on January 

18, 1919; 

Whereas approximately 2,000,000 members of the Armed 

Forces fought in France and 126,000 died during the 

war, including 53,402 individuals who were killed in action in French territory during battles in 1918, such as 

the Battle of Belleau Wood, the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, 

and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive; 

Whereas numerous reminders of the actions of the Armed 

Forces during World War I remain in France, notably in 

buildings and memorials; and 

Whereas the people of France will always be grateful when 

remembering the sacrifices of members of the Armed 

Forces during World War I: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the offi3 cial entry of the United States into World War I on 

4 April 6, 1917; 

5 (2) expresses its gratitude and appreciation 

6 to— 

7 (A) the members of the Armed Forces who 

8 participated in World War I operations along9 side the countries of the Triple Entente; and 

10 (B) the members of the Allied Forces who 

11 participated in World War I operations along12 side France from 1914 until the end of the war; 

13 (3) commends centenary commemorations to 

14 honor people from France, the United States, and 


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1 all countries involved in World War I that aim to 

2 make future generations aware of the acts of her3 oism and sacrifice performed by the Armed Forces 

4 and the Allies; 

5 (4) recognizes efforts undertaken by France, es6 pecially by port cities on the Atlantic coast and by 

7 the regions of Hauts-de-France, Bretagne, Loire8 Atlantique, Aquitaine, Centre, and Grand-Est, to 

9 preserve the memory and celebrate the legacy of the 

10 involvement of the United States during World War 

11 I; 

12 (5) recognizes that the people of France plan— 

13 (A) to celebrate this anniversary with com14 memorations and relevant programs to express 

15 gratitude to those individuals who helped re16 store hope among the Allies; and 

17 (B) during the celebration of the 100th an18 niversary of the Armistice of November 11, 

19 1918, to express gratitude and appreciation to 

20 every— 

21 (i) military force that fought alongside 

22 France, inside or outside its territory, dur23 ing World War I; and 


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1 (ii) individuals who died fighting or 

2 was injured during the hostilities, whether 

3 physically or psychologically; and 

4 (6) encourages all countries involved in World 

5 War I to participate in the centennial of the Armi6 stice to the fullest extent possible. 

Æ 


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