World War II Women's Memorial Location Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Speaker, today I am privileged to speak on the bipartisan World War II Women's Memorial Location Act. World War II required great sacrifices of every American citizen. To the great credit and pride of our Nation, American citizens rose to the challenge with grit and determination. With millions of men overseas, American women--popularly known as ``Rosies'' in tribute to Rosie the Riveter-- stepped into roles traditionally held by men. These women answered the call to service by holding down the home front, working as pilots, engineers, electricians, mechanics, and more. 18 million women answered the call of their Nation in its time of desperate need. The impact they had on our country cannot be overstated. In Idaho, civilian women worked and volunteered at the Farragut Naval Training Station located in North Idaho, which was built shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and became the second-largest naval training base in the country. Their presence was felt across every state, in countless shipyards, factories, farms, and ranches.

Despite their monumental contributions, we still lack an independent, prominent memorial in Washington, D.C. honoring these patriots. There is urgency to pass this bill so that living Rosies can see their legacy commemorated in their lifetime and so the memorial can fold into the broader America250 effort. The memorial's construction will be funded entirely through private donations and won't use taxpayer dollars. The amount of work and dedication the WWII Women's Memorial Foundation has poured into this project clearly illustrates its importance.

Not only will this memorial honor the women of World War II, the memorial will serve the important purpose of inspiring Americans to embrace service to their country and contribute to our Nation's success. I urge the passage of the World War II Women's Memorial Location Act.

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