Authorizing the American Battle Monuments Commission to Acquire, Operate, and Maintain the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial

Floor Speech

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Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5937) to amend title 36, United States Code, to authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to acquire, operate, and maintain the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, France, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5937

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. AUTHORITY OF THE AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION TO ACQUIRE, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN THE LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE MEMORIAL.

(a) In General.--Chapter 21 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 2115. Acquisition, operation, and maintenance of

Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.

``The American Battle Monuments Commission may enter into an agreement with the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Foundation to acquire, operate, and maintain the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial in Marnes-la-Coquette, France. Under such an agreement, the Commission shall make necessary arrangements to ensure the ongoing maintenance of the memorial, including the cemetery at the memorial that contains the remains of 49 aviators of the United States who died during World War I.''.

(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 21 of such title is amended by adding at the end of the following new item: ``2115. Acquisition, operation, and maintenance of Lafayette Escadrille Memorial.''.

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Mr. MILLER of Florida. 5937, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5937, as amended. I want to thank Chairman Ed Royce of the Foreign Affairs Committee and his staff for their assistance in expeditiously scheduling this bill.

My bill would ensure that the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial located outside of Paris, France, will continue to be cared for in a manner that honors America's servicemembers who fought in World War I.

Before the United States entered World War I, 269 brave American volunteers flew in combat missions in the French Air Service. These Americans were referred to as the Lafayette Escadrille after Marquis de Lafayette, the Frenchman who was instrumental to America's victory during the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately, 68 members of the Lafayette Escadrille lost their lives during the war, and the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial contains a crypt that serves as the final resting place for 49 of these brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Since 1928, the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial has been operated by the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Foundation. The foundation is running out of funds that are needed to maintain the memorial.

H.R. 5937, as amended, would authorize the American Battle Monuments Commission to acquire, operate, and maintain the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial, which would guarantee that the memorial receives the care it deserves as a final resting place for Americans.

The ABMC, a Federal agency, currently operates numerous American military cemeteries and memorials in foreign countries. The ABMC is well equipped to ensure that the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial continues to stand as a reminder that Americans fought all around the world in the name of freedom. So I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5937, as amended.

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Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I too would urge all colleagues to support this piece of legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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