Statement by Congresswoman Jane Harman

Congresswoman Jane harman - Press Release

INTRODUCTION OF "THE MEMORIAL TO NONCITIZEN PATRIOTS ACT"

November 7, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague from California, Mr. Cunningham, to honor our nation's veterans with introduction of the "Memorial to Noncitizen Patriots Act.''

George Washington once said, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.''

Honoring our veterans is a process that begins on the battlefield through ensuring that our troops have the best training, equipment and other support. It continues as we welcome them home upon returning from war, when we fly the POW-MIA flag, when we care for them and their families and, ultimately, when we lay them to rest with appropriate remembrance and tribute.

Our country, while divided in its views on specific military actions, is united in its support for our service men and women who are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom.

Many American military heroes, past and present, were born outside of the United States. From the thousands of noncitizens who fought for the Union Army during the Civil War, to the 36,177 noncitizen members of today's Armed Forces, these men and women have sacrificed for our country and the preservation of our precious freedom.

To date, we have lost 17 noncitizen service members in Iraq. Marine Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez from Lomita, California, in my Congressional District, was born in Guatemala and lost his life this spring. Like Corporal Gutierrez, all of these men and women have fought just as bravely as their American-born counterparts and have dedicated themselves to serving the country they are proud to call their own.

It is time that we appropriately recognize their bravery, valor, and patriotism.

I am pleased to pay tribute to Corporal Gutierrez and other foreign-born noncitizen patriots who died in combat with the introduction of the "Memorial to Noncitizen Patriots Act.'' This legislation would authorize construction of a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery honoring the service and sacrifice of noncitizens killed in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Arlington, the nation's premier military cemetery and shrine honoring the men and women who served in the Armed Forces, is a particularly fitting place for this tribute. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill.