Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5671, the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020. Madam Speaker, it is fair to say that, when we look back on the many victories of World War II, unfortunately, too often, our Merchant Marine, our merchant mariners are overlooked. It is this exact reason why this Congress has come together to pass this bill to honor these brave sailors and their legacy. During wartime, merchant mariners became an auxiliary to the Navy; and, as such, civilian volunteers traded intercoastal bulk cargo routes for dangerous near-coastal and transatlantic shipping, hauling vital war cargo for our Allies. It is in this exact scenario that 250,000 merchant mariners found themselves when World War II broke out. Many of these brave men perished at sea. In fact, Madam Speaker, 1 in 26 never made it home. Madam Speaker, the merchant mariners who survived World War II were finally awarded veteran status in 1988. And if you walk down The Mall here in the Nation's Capital, you will find the World War II Memorial, and you will find the seal of the merchant mariners--which reads, ``In Peace and War''--honoring those lost during World War II. The importance of the merchant mariners was not lost on our former Chief Executives.…”