borinqueneers congressional gold medal...
TRANSCRIPT
CONTACT THEM via the
email Web Forms located
on each of their official Con-
gressional websites & request
their Co-Sponsorship.
See current Co-Sponsors here:
http://www.borinqueneers.org/
bill-co-sponsor-
countdown.html
US Senators list (Contact 2 of
them): http://www.senate.gov/
general/contact_information/
senators_cfm.cfm
US House of Representatives
list (Contact of 1 of them):
http://www.house.gov/
representatives/find/
Muchas gracias!
Borinqueneers Congression-
al Gold Medal Alliance is
asking YOU to team up with
us & join this historic cause
to honor our legendary he-
roes!
Adoption of the Borinque-
neers Congressional Gold
Medal Act, H.R.1726 in the
House of Representatives &
S.1174 in the Senate, will require
the Co-Sponsorship by a whop-
ping two-thirds of each cham-
ber!
Currently, H.R.1726 has 151 of
the required 290 Co-Sponsors &
S.1174 has 20 of the necessary
67 Co-Sponsors.
Here are effective & easy
ways to contact your US
lawmakers, your one (1) US
House of Representatives
member & two (2)
US Senators:
CALL the Military
Legislative Assis-
tant (MLA) at your
(2) U.S. Senators'
offices and your (1)
US House of Repre-
sentatives member's
office in Washington,
D.C.!
Contact the Military
Legislative Assistant
via telephone. They
will make a record of your
call (legal requirement)!
Here is a Sample Phone
Script:
“Hello, my name is First
Name, Last Name. I currently
reside in City, State. I am re-
questing that my Representa-
tive/Senator Co-Sponsor Bill
H.R. 1726/S. 1174 which will
award the Congressional
Gold Medal to the 65th Infan-
try Regiment Borinqueneers.
If passed, this legislation will
make history for all Latino
Veterans and all Latinos alike.
I look forward to a favorable
response from your office.
Thank you.”
SEND LETTERS to your
US lawmakers at their local
district/state offices, not
Washington, DC (letters to
DC take a ton of time to be
delivered because of extra
security measures) to request
their Co-Sponsorship of the
bills.
BIG BORINQUENEER BLITZ for more
Co-Sponsors in Congress by Veterans Day!
November 1. 2013 In support of H.R.1726 & S.1174!
Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance
See the LATEST HONOR ROLL of
Co-Sponsors of the
Borinqueneers
Congressional Gold
Medal Act: US House of
Representatives bill
H.R.1726
US Senate bill
S.1174
NATIONAL SUPPORTERS INCLUDE:
Website
Facebook Page
YouTube Video
In The News
More great links:
Special Hispanic
Heritage Report
LULAC letter to
Members of Congress!
ALERT: Veterans Day is on
November 11th.
Let’s crank things
up a notch to get
many more
Co-Sponsors
by then!!!
Be a part of HISTORY
in the making! Contact your US
lawmakers NOW!
EMPOWER yourself!
You CAN do this!
Thank you!
Contact
Congress
AHORA!
THANK YOU to
H.R.1726
Co-Sponsors!!! Alabama Rep. Martha Roby (R) American Samoa Rep. Eni Faleomavaega (D) Arizona Rep. Ed Pastor (D) Rep. Raul Grijalva (D) Rep. Trent Franks (R ) California Rep. Juan Vargas (D) Rep. Tony Cardenas (D) Rep. Raul Ruiz (D) Rep. Xavier Becerra (D) Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D) Rep. Jerry McNerny (D) Rep. Sam Farr (D) Rep. Grace Napolitano (D) Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D) Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) Rep. Judy Chu (D) Rep. Linda Sanchez (D) Rep. Jim Costa (D) Rep. Maxine Waters (D) Rep. Jim Costa (D) Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) Rep. Mark Tekano (D) Rep. Mike Honda (D) Connecticut Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D) Rep. Jim Himes (D) Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D) Rep. Joe Courtney (D) Rep. John B. Larson (D) Delaware Rep. John Carney (D) Georgia Rep. Tom Price (R) Rep. John Lewis (D) Guam Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D) Florida Rep. Bill Posey (R) Rep. Daniel Webster (R) Rep. Joe Garcia (D) Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) Rep. Frederica Wilson (D) Rep. Alan Grayson (D) Rep. Corrine Brown (D) Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R) Rep. Jeff Miller (R) Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D) Rep. Alcee Hastings (D) Rep. Steve Southerland (R) Rep. Ted Yoho (R) Rep. Patrick Murphy (D) Rep. Ron DosSantis (R) Rep. John Mica (R) Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R) Rep. Trey Radel (R)
Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D) Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D) Rep. Danny K. Davis (D) Rep. Peter Roskam (R) Rep. Bill Foster (D) Rep. William Enyart (D) Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D) Rep. Bobby Rush (D) Rep. Mike Quigley (D) Rep. Bradley Schneider (D) Rep. Cheri Bustos (D) Rep. Robin Kelly (D) Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D) Rep. Rodney Davis (R) Louisiana Rep. John Fleming (R) Maryland Rep. Andy Harris (R) Rep. John Sabarnes (D) Rep. John K. Delaney (D) Rep. Elijah Cummings (D) Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D ) Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern (D) Rep. Richard Neal (D) Rep. John F. Tierney (D) Rep. Niki Tsongas (D) Rep. Michael Capuano (D) Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga (R) Rep. Tim Walberg (R) Rep. John Conyers (D) Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R) Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum (D) Rep. Michelle Bachman (R) Rep. Erik Paulsen (R) Mississippi Rep. Alan Nunnelee (R) Missouri Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Montana Rep. Steve Daines (R) New Jersey Rep. Albio Sires (D) Rep. Scott Garrett (R) Rep. Frank Pallone (D) Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D) New Mexico Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D) New York Rep. Charlie Rangel (D) Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D) Rep. Jose Serrano (D) Rep. Yvette Clarke (D) Rep. Grace Meng (D) Rep. Joseph Crowley (D) Rep. Brian Higgins (D) Rep. Peter T. King (R) Rep. Steve Israel (D) Rep. Gregory Meeks (D) Rep. Paul Tonko (D) Rep. Louise Slaughter (D) Rep. Chris Collins (R) Rep. Sean Maloney (D) Rep. Jerrod Nadler (D)
Rep. Nita Lowey (D) Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D) Rep. Eliot Engel (D) North Carolina Rep. Walter B. Jones (R) Northern Mariana Islands Rep. Gregorio Sablan (D) New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce (R) Rep. Ben Lujan (D) Rep. Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D) Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) Rep. Jim Jordan (R) Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole (R) Oregon Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D) Rep. James Lankford (R) Pennsylvania Rep. Bob Brady (D) Rep. Glenn Thompson (R) Rep. Patrick Meehan (R) Rep. Matt Cartwright (D) Rep. Tom Marino (R) Rep. Charlie Dent (R) Rep. Scott Perry (R) Puerto Rico Rep. Pedro Pierluisi (D) Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R) Texas Rep. Steve Stockman (R) Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D) Rep. Michael McCaul (R) Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) Rep. Henry Cuellar (D) Rep. Kenny Marchant (R) Rep. Sheila Jackson (D) Rep. John Carter (R-TX) Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D) Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) Rep. Pete Gallego (D) Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) Rep. Marc Veasey (D) Virginia Rep. Frank Wolf (R) Virgin Islands Rep. Donna Christensen (D) Washington D.C. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) Washington State Rep. Jim McDermott (D) Rep. Rick Larsen (D) Wisconsin Rep. Tom Petri (R) Rep. Reid Ribble ® Wyoming Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R)
“JOIN the big
push NOW to
get more bill
Co-Sponsors by
Veterans Day!”
Page 2
Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance
The 1st & only Latino 4-star US Army general
got his start as a young Borinqueneer officer in Korea: Richard E.
Cavazos, a Mexican-American hero!
H.R.1726: 151
Co-Sponsors
so far; 139 more
needed!
From some of our National Supporters! National Guard Asso-
ciation of the United
States (NGAUS):
“NGAUS
strongly
supports
H.R.1726
(&
S.1174).
The Congressional
Gold Medal would be
the highest award ev-
er for the 65th Infan-
try Regiment. This
distinction would hon-
or all Hispanic veter-
ans.”
Vietnam Veterans of
America (VVA):
“On be-
half of
the
mem-
bership
of
Vietnam
Veterans of America,
I want you to know
that VVA fully sup-
ports enactment of
H.R. 1726 (& S.1174),
which would award a
Congressional Gold
Medal to the 65th In-
fantry Regiment of
Puerto Rico, known
officially as the
Borinqueneers.”
Military Order of the
Purple Heart
(MOPH):
“The
Military
Order of
the Purple
Heart
(MOPH),
whose membership is
comprised entirely of
combat wounded
veterans, is pleased to
add our support for
H.R.1726.”
National Council of La
Raza (NCLR):
Awarding the Con-
gressional Gold Medal
for the
“Borinqueneers” is
consistent with
NCLR’s organizational
values of patriotism,
public service excel-
lence, and civic em-
powerment. This
honor will affirm the
indelible mark left by
the 65th Infantry Unit
and all Hispanic veter-
ans in society and the
Latino culture. NCLR
strongly urges Con-
gress to recognize the
sacrifices and
obstacles the
“Borinqueneers”
valiantly overcame in
defending our nation.”
Hispanic American
Police Command
Officers Association
(HAPCOA): “(We)
believe
that it is
now time
for Con-
gress to
recognize
the Borinqueneers for
their service, their
sacrifice, and their
bravery with the
Congressional Gold
Medal.”
League of United
Latin American
Citizens (LULAC):
“The Con-
gressional
Gold Medal
will be the
highest
award ever
for the
65th Infantry Regi-
ment and for ALL La-
tino Veterans. This
distinction will cata-
pult Hispanic veterans
into the national spot-
light and will honor all
Hispanic veterans
past, present and fu-
ture.”
American GI Forum
(AGIF):
“We hope
that the
US Con-
gress will
recognize
the sacri-
fices and
obstacles
the “Borinqueneers”
valiantly overcame as
a segregated unit de-
fending our Nation.”
Association of the
United States Army
(AUSA):
“I urge
Congress
to recog-
nize the
service
and sacri-
fice of this unique unit
which has endured the
hardships of segrega-
tion, discrimination,
language and cultural
barriers while serving
this nation.”
“Team up with
Borinqueneers
Congressional
Gold Medal
Alliance & join
this great cause
NOW!”
Page 3 In support of H.R.1726 & S.1174!
See the full text of
our endorsement
letters, & much
more, on our
website!
Borinqueneers
Congressional
Gold Medal
Alliance
“Many officers at the time thought it was the kiss
of death to be assigned to the Puerto Rican
Regiment. Critics called it the “seeeexty
feeeeth” mockingly imitating the Spanish accent
of most of the regiment’s Puerto Rican soldiers.”
“No platoon member living or dead was left
behind.”
“Arriba muchachos!”
“One general called it a regiment of “colored”
troops, unreliable and inferior to continental
“white” soldiers.”
- from Mambo on Hill 167, a captivating story
of heroism & sacrifice despite prejudice. Follow this link to read the story & learn more
about the legendary 65th Inf. Reg. Borinque-
neers in our Special Hispanic Heritage Report!
20 Co-Sponsors of US Senate bill S.1174 to date;
47 MORE NEEDED to hit the 67 minimum required...
Florida
Sen. Marco Rubio (R)
Sen. Bill Nelson (D)
Georgia
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R)
Hawaii
Sen. Brian Schatz (D)
Illinois
Sen. Dick Durbin (D)
Sen. Mark Kirk (R)
Massachusetts
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) Sen. Edward J. Markey (D)
New Jersey
Sen. Robert Menendez (D)
New York
Sen. Charles Schumer (D)
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D)
Pennsylvania
Sen. Bob Casey (D)
Sen. Pat Toomey (R)
West Virginia
Sen. Joe Manchin (D)
Thank You Very
Much!!! Alaska
Sen. Mark Begich (D) Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R)
Colorado
Sen. Michael Bennet (D)
Connecticut
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) Sen. Chris Murphy (D)
Delaware
Sen. Christopher Coons (D)
Page 4 Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance
H.R.1726:
At left, pictured with
Borinqueneer
veterans, Rep. Pedro
Pierluisi (D-PR) &
Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL)
introduced H.R.1726
in the US House of
Representatives on
April 25, 2013. It’s
already been six
months since the bill
was introduced.
S.1174: Above, Sen. Richard
Blumenthal (D-CT)
announces his introduction
of the US Senate bill S.1174
on June 18, 2013.
BORINQUENEERS
CONGRESSIONAL
GOLD MEDAL
ALLIANCE
Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance
We think it’s time!
¿Tú también?
Website
Facebook Page
YouTube Video
In the News!
US House H.R.1726
Co-Sponsor Countdown
US Senate S.1174
Co-Sponsor Countdown
Email our National Chair
Frank Medina
Executive Sponsor:
You Are Strong! Center on
Veterans Health and
Human Services
See
new
Flan Chart
(pie chart)
at right!
See page 1
for info
on
contacting
your US
lawmakers
AHORA!
Gracias!
Twenty-one new Co-Sponsors of bill H.R.1756 in the US House of Representatives put the
Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance (BCGMA) at 151 or 52% of the 290 Co-
Sponsors needed to pass the House version of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal
Act, the alliance reported this morning. The U.S. House of Representatives bill was introduced this
spring by Representatives Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR) and Bill Posey (R-FL). The U.S. Senate companion bill, S. 1174, was introduced in June by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-
CT), and has 20 of the necessary 67 Co-Sponsors. This type of legislation requires two-thirds of the membership of each chamber of Congress to
become Co-Sponsors for passage of the bills. Similar in nature to the famed Tuskegee Airmen and other segregated U.S. military units, the 65th
Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers were the largest, longest-standing, and only active-duty
segregated Latino military unit in U.S. history. Like the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code
Talkers, Nisei Soldiers, and Montford Point Marines who’ve already been recognized with the Con-
gressional Gold Medal, the Borinqueneers overwhelmingly distinguished themselves in battle all the
while enduring the additional hardships of segregation and discrimination. Hailing from Puerto Rico, the US Army unit was active from 1899-1959. Emblematic of all US
military veterans, including the hundreds of thousands of Latino-American veterans, the
Borinqueneers served and sacrificed in the cause of freedom with great pride The youngest of
these remaining Latino-American heroes are in their 80’s and 90’s, having served in the Korean
War, 60 years ago or more. A nationwide, non-partisan, all-volunteer group, the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal
Alliance has been advocating the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to these elderly veter-
ans since late last year. Made up of veterans, Latino-Americans, and like-minded patriots, the organ-
ization has worked closely with members of the U.S. Congress to facilitate the successful introduc-
tion and subsequent support of this special bipartisan legislation. The alliance’s national chair, Frank Medina, a 2002 West Point graduate and Iraqi war Veteran, is
coordinating intense efforts this fall, particularly in the lead up to Veterans Day, to encourage
individuals and organizations to reach out to additional Members of Congress to request their Co-
Sponsorship of the bills.
See page 1 of this update to learn how you can help this historic cause by contacting your US
lawmakers! Thank you very much!