Bill Text: NJ AR28 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass H.R.2992 and S.2989, which award Congressional Gold Medal to members of United States Merchant Marine of World War II.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee [AR28 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR28-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass H.R.2992 and S.2989, which award Congressional Gold Medal to members of United States Merchant Marine of World War II.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to pass H.R.2992 and S.2989, which award the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the United States Merchant Marine of World War II.
Whereas, The year 2015 marked the 70th Anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II and makes this an appropriate time to celebrate the contributions made to the war effort by the United States Merchant Marine; and
Whereas, Both H.R.2992, the "Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act," and S.2989, the "Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016," would recognize the contributions of the mariners to the war effort and award the Congressional Gold Medal to the mariners of World War II; and
Whereas, The United State Merchant Marine is a fleet of ships which is used to convey exports and imports in time of peace but can be converted to a naval auxiliary during times of war; and
Whereas, The United States Merchant Marine was a crucial component of the Allied victory in World War II as their ships fulfilled the critical logistical role of carrying the personnel, supplies, and equipment needed to power a modern military machine; and
Whereas, The heroic action of the United States Merchant Marine would allow Allied troops, scattered around the globe, to receive critical supplies of food, fuel, military equipment, and combat weapons to aid in the Allied powers' military efforts; and
Whereas, During their World War II service, the United States Merchant Marine endured tremendous losses as 9,497 mariners died and at least 1,127 mariners were injured in the service of their country, with a total 3.9 percent of mariners serving in World War II killed in the line of duty, the highest percentage among the armed services serving during World War II; and
Whereas, Of the mariners' war time service, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said that they "have written one of its most brilliant chapters. They have delivered the goods when and where needed in every theater of operations and across every ocean in the biggest, the most difficult and dangerous job ever undertaken. As time goes on, there will be a greater public understanding of our merchant's fleet record during" World War II; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the United States of America to formally recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the mariners in aid of the Allied military efforts during World War II by awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the mariners of World War II; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the State of New Jersey to urge the House of Representatives of the United States to pass H.R.2992, the "Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act," and to urge the Senate of the United States to pass S.2989, the "Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016,"; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass legislation, currently pending before the House of Representatives as H.R.2992 and before the Senate as S.2989, which awards the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the United States Merchant Mariners of World War II.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to Majority and Minority leaders of the United States Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Congress of the United States to pass the "Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016," currently pending before the Senate as S.2989, and the "Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act," currently pending before the House of Representatives as H.R.2992. While S.2989 and H.R.2992 are not identical, they both acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices made by the United States Merchant Marine in their service during World War II by awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to the mariners serving during that time. This Congressional recognition of the mariners serving during World War II is fitting and proper as the United States Merchant Marine was instrumental in transporting military personnel, equipment and supplies in support of the Allied war efforts in the Pacific and European theaters of war.
