Women Airforce Service Pilot Arlington Inurnment Restoration Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4336) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the burial of the cremated remains of persons who served as Women's Air Forces Service Pilots in Arlington National Cemetery, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

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Mr. MILLER of Florida. 4336, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge all Members to support H.R. 4336, as amended.

This bill, which was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally), would ensure that Active Duty designees, including women Air Force pilots, are eligible for inurnment with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Active Duty designees are members of civilian groups who served alongside the regular Armed Forces during World Wars I and II. These brave men and women were often located in combat zones, where they risked their lives to protect the freedom that we should never take for granted.

Their contributions to the war effort was so vital that they have been granted the most prestigious title our Nation can bestow--that of veteran. As such, they are eligible to be laid to rest in any cemetery administered by the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

However, Arlington National Cemetery is run by the Department of the Army. Between 2002 and last year, the Army inurned Active Duty designees with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Unfortunately, last March, then-Secretary McHugh, reversed this policy, which means that many of those courageous individuals can no longer choose to be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

H.R. 4336, as amended, would reverse this decision and require the Army to provide Active Duty designees inurnments with military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr. Speaker, it is our duty as a Nation to ensure that those who have served our Nation are treated with the utmost respect and dignity, especially after they pass on.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4336, as amended.

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Mr. MILLER of Florida. McSally), the sponsor of this legislation, a combat veteran herself, a pilot of the A-10 Warthog from the Second District of Arizona.

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