Expressing support for the designation of April 13, 2020, as "National Borinqueneers Day".

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 1039 Expressing support for the designation of April 13, 2020, as ‘‘National Borinqueneers Day’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JULY 1, 2020 Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N of Puerto Rico (for herself, Mrs. MURPHY of Florida, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. POSEY, Ms. SHALALA, Mr. SOTO, Mr. STEUBE, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. LEWIS, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Mr. COLE, and Mr. CON- NOLLY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Vet- erans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris- diction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of April 13, 2020, as ‘‘National Borinqueneers Day’’. Whereas, in 1898, Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States and, the following year, Congress author- ized raising a military unit of volunteer soldiers on the island, which was organized as the ‘‘Puerto Rico Regi- ment of Volunteer Infantry’’; Whereas, in 1908, Congress incorporated the regiment as part of the regular United States Army as the ‘‘Puerto Rico Regiment of Infantry’’; VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Jul 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1039.IH HR1039 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1039 IH Whereas, in 1917, after the United States entry into World War I, the Puerto Rico Regiment of Infantry was sent to Panama to defend the Panama Canal Zone; Whereas, in 1920, Congress redesignated the unit as the 65th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army; Whereas during World War II, the 65th Infantry Regiment served in North Africa and Europe, including combat op- erations in France and Germany for which members of the unit received commendations for valiant service, in- cluding 1 Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Stars, 2 Bronze Stars, and 90 Purple Hearts; Whereas, in 1950, the 65th Infantry Regiment deployed to South Korea, and during the voyage the soldiers nick- named the unit the ‘‘Borinqueneers’’, a reference to the native Taı´no Tribe’s name for the island of Puerto Rico; Whereas during the Korean war, the 65th Infantry Regiment (hereinafter, the ‘‘Borinqueneers’’) engaged in substantial combat operations on the Korean Peninsula, and the unit played a central role in several important offensives and counter-offensives that earned it well-deserved admiration and commendation; Whereas the Borinqueneers’ extraordinary service during the Korean war resulted in the Regiment receiving 2 Presi- dential Unit Citations (Army and Navy), 2 Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations, a Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), a Navy Unit Commendation, the Chryssoun Aristion Andrias (Bravery Gold Medal of Greece), and campaign participation credits for United Nations Offensive, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) Intervention, First United Nations Counteroffensive, CCF Spring Offensive, United Nations Summer-Fall Of- VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Jul 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1039.IH HR1039 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1039 IH fensive, Second Korean Winter, Korea Summer-Fall 1952, Third Korean Winter, and Korea Summer 1953; Whereas the Borinqueneers’ extraordinary service during the Korean war also resulted in numerous individual com- mendations and awards for its soldiers, including 1 Medal of Honor, 9 Distinguished Service Crosses, more than 250 Silver Stars, more than 600 Bronze Stars, and more than 2,700 Purple Hearts; Whereas, in 1956, the 65th Infantry Regiment was deacti- vated from the regular United States Army and, in 1959, its units and regimental number were assigned to the Puerto Rico National Guard; Whereas, in 1982, the United States Army Center of Military History officially authorized designating the 65th Infan- try Regiment as the ‘‘Borinqueneers’’; and Whereas, on April 13, 2016, Congress awarded the Congres- sional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment in rec- ognition of the Borinqueneers’ numerous contributions to American history and outstanding military service from World War I through the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) expresses support for the designation of 2 ‘‘National Borinqueneers Day’’; 3 (2) recognizes the bravery, service, and sacrifice 4 of the Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65th Infantry 5 Regiment in the armed conflicts of the United 6 States in the 20th and 21st centuries; 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Jul 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1039.IH HR1039 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 1039 IH (3) expresses deep gratitude for the contribu- 1 tions to the Armed Forces that have been made by 2 hundreds of thousands of patriotic United States 3 citizens from Puerto Rico; and 4 (4) urges individuals and communities across 5 the United States to participate in activities that are 6 designed— 7 (A) to celebrate the distinguished service of 8 the military veterans who served in the 65th In- 9 fantry Regiment, known as the 10 ‘‘Borinqueneers’’; 11 (B) to pay tribute to the sacrifices made 12 and adversities overcome by Puerto Rican and 13 Hispanic military service members; and 14 (C) to recognize the significant contribu- 15 tions to American history made by the 65th In- 16 fantry Regiment, known as the 17 ‘‘Borinqueneers’’. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Jul 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1039.IH HR1039 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS