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[DOCID: f:h3392enr.txt]
H.R.3392
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and one
An Act
To name the national cemetery in Saratoga, New York, as the Gerald B.H.
Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Gerald Brooks Hunt ``Jerry'' Solomon of Glens Falls, New
York, served in the House of Representatives for 10 terms, from
January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1999, and during that service gained
a reputation for being outspoken and tenacious in presenting his
views on a wide range of issues.
(2) Congressman Solomon was born in Okeechobee, Florida, and
grew up there during the Great Depression before moving to New York
in 1945.
(3) Congressman Solomon enlisted in the United States Marine
Corps at the onset of the Korean War and served in the Marine Corps
for 8\1/2\ years on active and reserve duty.
(4) Before being elected to Congress in 1978, Congressman
Solomon was a businessman in Glens Falls, New York.
(5) During his 20-year congressional career, Congressman
Solomon served as the ranking Republican on the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, where he was recognized by the veterans
community as one of its strongest advocates. Among his other
accomplishments for veterans, Congressman Solomon spearheaded the
effort to create the Cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs
and successfully led a 15-year drive to establish the Saratoga
National Cemetery in Saratoga, New York, where he is now interred.
(6) Congressman Solomon was also recognized for his efforts to
promote pride, patriotism, and volunteerism, and when the Supreme
Court ruled that laws prohibiting the burning of the United States
flag were unconstitutional, Congressman Solomon was given the
assignment to pass a constitutional amendment to prohibit
desecration of the flag. The Solomon Amendment passed
overwhelmingly in the House, but failed by one vote in the Senate.
(7) As chairman of the Committee on Rules of the House of
Representatives, Congressman Solomon revamped the rules under which
the House operates, abolishing proxy voting, opening all meetings
to the media and the public, and making Congress subject to the
same laws that the American people live under.
(8) During his congressional career, Congressman Solomon was
the recipient of dozens of major awards from many national veterans
organizations, including the coveted ``Iron Mike Award'', presented
to him by the Marine Corps and Marine Corps League, and the
Distinguished Citizen Award, presented to him by the National
Congressional Medal of Honor Society for his legislative successes
on behalf of the United States military and veterans issues.
SEC. 2. NAME OF THE NATIONAL CEMETERY IN SARATOGA, NEW YORK.
(a) Name.--The national cemetery located in Saratoga, New York,
shall after the date of the enactment of this Act be known and
designated as the ``Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery''.
Any reference to such national cemetery in any law, regulation, map,
document, record, or other paper of the United States shall be
considered to be a reference to the ``Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga
National Cemetery''.
(b) Memorial.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide for
the placement in the national cemetery referred to in subsection (a) of
a suitable memorial to honor the memory of Gerald B.H. Solomon and his
service to the United States.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.
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