Eleanor Holmes Norton: “I thank my good friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Grijalva for taking the Women Who Worked on the Home…”

“I thank my good friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chair Grijalva for taking the Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act through committee and bringing it to the floor. I appreciate that he allowed me to sit in and ask questions, and he conducted a hearing and pressed it forward quickly. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill would authorize the establishment of a memorial on Federal land here in the District of Columbia commemorating the efforts of 18 million American women who kept the home front running during World War II. Women are dramatically underrepresented in our memorials. A 17-year-old constituent of mine, Raya Kenney, the founder of the Women Who Worked on the Home Front Foundation--yes, her own foundation--came up with the idea to honor the women on the home front who supported the World War II effort. Raya wondered why the women on the home front, whose efforts were so instrumental in maintaining the stability of the country during World War II, have not received much recognition for their contributions compared to the men who fought bravely in World War II. This bill would authorize 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 important roles women played during World War II. No Federal funds would be required.…”