Emanuel Cleaver: “Before you is a picture, a contemporary picture of the World War I monument in Kansas City, Missouri, the tallest and…”

“Before you is a picture, a contemporary picture of the World War I monument in Kansas City, Missouri, the tallest and most majestic of the World War I monuments. Today, we are here in an unprecedented show of bipartisanship on this amendment, the World War I Memorial Act. This is the product of both sides of the aisle working together to do what is right to honor the memory of veterans who served long ago. I especially want to thank Congressman Ted Poe, Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton, the National Park Service, and the entire Missouri delegation for their work on this amendment. As you know, this summer marks the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. The United States formally joined the war in April of 1917. During that time, more than 4.7 million Americans served, and of those brave men and women, more than 116,000 soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice. It is our job as Members of Congress to honor their memory and show our appreciation to the veterans of that Great War. This amendment would honor that service by redesignating Pershing Park here in Washington, D.C., as the National World War I Memorial and will designate the Liberty Memorial as America's National World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) for the purpose of a colloquy.”