CHC Members on Final Passage of Borinqueneers Bill
Pierluisi Hails Senate Passage of His Bill to Award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Borinqueneers
Legislation was approved by the House on Monday and will now be sent to the President
Washington, DC—Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi lauded today’s passage by the U.S. Senate of H.R. 1726, the bill he authored one year ago with Congressman Bill Posey of Florida to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment, a unit composed mostly of soldiers from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico and known as “the Borinqueneers.” The bill was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, and will now be sent to President Obama. The President is expected to sign the bill into law within 10 days of receiving it.
The Borinqueneers will join baseball star and humanitarian Roberto Clemente, also from Puerto Rico, as the only Hispanics ever to be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest award Congress can bestow on an individual or group for outstanding and enduring achievement. George Washington was awarded the first Congressional Gold Medal in 1776—238 years ago—and the medal has since been awarded fewer than 160 times. The 65th Infantry Regiment will be one of only about 10 military units ever to have received this honor.
“Today is a extraordinary day. I am overjoyed that the Borinqueneers—the pride of Puerto Rico and of Puerto Ricans everywhere—will receive this profound expression of national gratitude in recognition of their courage, skill and patriotism. The fact that it took many years to arrive at this moment does not diminish the sweetness of the moment itself. I hope it brings great joy and pride to the surviving Borinqueneers and to the families of the Borinqueneers who have passed away,” said Pierluisi.
“This was a team effort in every sense. I want to thank Congressman Posey, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and all the other Senators and Members of Congress who made passage of this legislation possible. I also want to thank the many individuals and grassroots organizations who have been so devoted to this cause, raising public awareness about the Borinqueneers, communicating with their elected officials, and urging support for this legislation. These advocates are the heart and soul of this movement, and I am in awe of what they have accomplished,” added the Resident Commissioner.
After a Congressional Gold Medal bill has been approved by both houses of Congress and signed into law by the President, officials of the United States Mint meet with the sponsors of the legislation and representatives of the honorees to discuss possible designs for the medal. Engravers from the U.S. Mint then prepare a series of sketches of alternative designs for consideration and comment by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and subsequently by the Secretary of the Treasury, who makes the final decision on the medal’s design. Once the Secretary of the Treasury has made a selection, the design is sculptured and the medal is struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The Mint then notifies the White House and arrangements are made for a formal presentation by the President, typically held at the U.S. Capitol.
“It is fitting that Senate approval of H.R. 1726 comes on the eve of Memorial Day weekend, when our nation honors members of the armed forces who died in the service of their country. Memorial Day is always special in Puerto Rico, given the distinguished record of military service established by the island’s sons and daughters over many generations. Congressional action taken this past week to honor the Borinqueneers will give this Memorial Day even greater significance,” said Pierluisi.
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For Immediate Release
May 23, 2014
CONTACT: Philip Schmidt, (202) 225-4361
Serrano Applauds Senate Passage of Borinqueneers Bill
Washington, DC — Congressman José E. Serrano today applauded the Senate passage of legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to honor the service and legacy of the “Borinqueneers” or 65th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army. Having passed both chambers of Congress, all that remains is for the President to sign the bill.
The House passed the bill unanimously earlier this week and Congressman Serrano spoke on the floor in favor of it. A video of Congressman Serrano’s speech on this bill can be seen here: https://youtu.be/EM8kRxvFf1s
“I applaud the Senate for swiftly passing the bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Borinqueneers,” said Congressman Serrano. “I believe the bill moved so quickly because the Congress agreed with us that the Borinqueneers were long overdue for this honor in recognition of their extraordinary service. We recognized their valor in defense of our nation and also the trailblazing they did in ensuring equal treatment for Hispanic people in our country. I look forward to the ceremony where we award this medal to the unit and finally complete this process of recognizing some of the bravest patriots of our community and nation.”
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** Media Release**
May 19, 2014
**Media Contact **
Douglas Rivlin (douglas.rivlin@mail.house.gov)
(202) 225-8203 OR (202) 558-8240
Borinqueneers’ Congressional Gold Medal: Recognition
for the Sacrifices of Puerto Rico’s Famed Soldiers
“Your sacrifice is just one more reason I am proud of
my Puerto Rican heritage,” - Rep. Gutiérrez
Washington, DC – Today, The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 1726, bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal on the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, a unit comprised mainly of Puerto Ricans, which served with distinction in three wars and was most notable for their accomplishments during the Korean War. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can bestow.
The following is a statement placed into the Congressional Record by Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL), the Chicago-born son of Puerto Rican migrants.
It is always an honor to recognize the sacrifice and bravery of our men and women in uniform. Today, as a fellow Puerto Rican, I am pleased to join my colleagues in celebrating the Puerto Rican veterans of the 65th Infantry Regiment, who are known as the Borinqueneers.
The Congressional Gold Medal will be the highest award granted by Congress to a Hispanic active duty unit in U.S. history. The Borinqueneers will be only the second Latino individual or group to receive a Congressional Gold Medal. This recognition of their service and sacrifice is long overdue and I thank the authors, the Governor of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Ricans and veterans from Florida to New York, to Illinois to Colorado who have made sure the accomplishments of the Borinqueneers are preserved and celebrated.
The Borinqueneers served during WWI, WWII, and the Korean War. The unit was segregated through most of the Korean War and composed primarily of soldiers from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, but also included recruits from other Latino backgrounds. In the face of discrimination and segregation, these brave soldiers performed many remarkable military accomplishments and are known for waging the final battalion-sized bayonet assault in U.S. Army history.
These soldiers fought valiantly on behalf the U.S. and served our nation honorably with great skill and courage. General Douglas MacArthur said of the Borinqueneers, "The Puerto Ricans forming the ranks of the gallant 65th Infantry give daily proof on the battlefields of Korea of their courage, determination and resolute will to victory, their invincible loyalty to the United States and their fervent devotion to those immutable principles of human relations which the Americans of the Continents and of Puerto Rico have in common. They are writing a brilliant record of heroism in battle and I am indeed proud to have them under my command. I wish that we could count on many more like them."
Throughout the course of the Korean War, Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment suffered more casualties than did the vast majority of mainland states and according to Department of Defense records, 2,700 soldiers received the Purple Heart for wounds received while in battle, and the Regiment lost 740 Borinqueneers in Korea. The Borinqueneers selflessly served and many gave their lives for our democracy and have earned this recognition from Congress. They have inspired new generations of Puerto Ricans who have continued to answer the call to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States.
To the Borinqueneers of the 65th Infantry Regiment, their loved ones, and to the Puerto Rican soldiers who have followed in their footsteps, I thank you for your proud service to this country. Your sacrifice is just one more reason I am proud of my Puerto Rican heritage.
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