[House Report 117-197]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 117-197
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WOMEN WHO WORKED ON THE HOME FRONT WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL ACT
_______
December 1, 2021.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 3531]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 3531) to authorize the Women Who Worked on the
Home Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the
District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 3531 is to authorize the Women Who
Worked on the Home Front Foundation to establish a
commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its
environs.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION\1\
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\1\Also see H.R. Rep. No. 116-470, at 2-3 (2020), https://
www.congress.gov/116/crpt/hrpt470/CRPT-116hrpt470.pdf--of which the
above text is largely reproduced.
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During World War II, women filled thousands of jobs across
the country that were historically filled by men in order to
allow more men to go off to war to fight for our country. As a
result, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased
from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent between 1940 and 1945,
with nearly one out of four married women working outside the
home by 1945.\2\ Women worked on farms and in defense plants,
fixed cars, flew military aircraft, and filled thousands of
other jobs previously held by men. According to the National
World War II Museum, ``[n]early 350,000 American women served
in uniform, both at home and abroad, volunteering for the newly
formed Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAACs, later renamed the
Women's Army Corps), the Navy Women's Reserve (WAVES), the
Marine Corps Women's Reserve, the Coast Guard Women's Reserve
(SPARS), the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS), the Army
Nurses Corps, and the Navy Nurse Corps. General Eisenhower felt
that he could not win the war without the aid of the women in
uniform.''\3\
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\2\The Role of Women, Nat'l Mem'l to the Women Who Worked on the
Home Front Found., https://www.whfnmf.org/projects (last visited Nov.
30, 2021).
\3\History at a Glance: Women in World War II, The Nat'l WWII
Museum, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/students-teachers/student-
resources/research-starters/women-wwii (last visited Nov. 30, 2021).
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At the end of the war, many of these women were forced out
of their jobs as men returned home. As the National World War
II Museum puts it, ``[t]he nation that needed their help in a
time of crisis, it seems, was not yet ready for the greater
social equality that would slowly come in the decades to
follow.''\4\
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\4\Id.
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H.R. 3531 would authorize the Women Who Worked on the Home
Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal
land in the District of Columbia and its environs to
commemorate the commitment and service of the nearly 350,000
American women who worked on the home front during World War
II. The legislation stipulates that the work would be
established in accordance with the Commemorative Works Act and
without the use of federal funds. The Women Who Worked on the
Home Front Commemorative Work was conceived of by District of
Columbia resident Raya Kenney when she was in fifth grade.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 3531 was introduced on May 25, 2021, by Representative
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). The bill was referred solely to
the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to
the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
On October 14, 2021, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
bill. On November 17, 2021, the Natural Resources Committee met
to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by
unanimous consent. No amendments were offered. The bill was
adopted and ordered favorably reported to the House of
Representatives by unanimous consent.
HEARINGS
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House Rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and
Public Lands held on October 14, 2021.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has been informed by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office that the bill, as noticed for
consideration under suspension of the rules, will have no
effect on revenues and will reduce direct spending by less than
$500,000.\5\
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\5\CBO, Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules 2
(Nov. 29, 2021), https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2021-11/
suspensions_week_of_November_29_0.pdf.
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The Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending
authority, or credit authority. The Committee adopts as its own
cost estimate the cost estimate of the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office and any updates thereto, should any
updates be made available before House passage of the bill.
The Committee notes that CBO's analysis of H.R. 5068
(116th), the version of the legislation from the 116th
Congress, is available and shows the bill as having a
negligible effect on direct spending and no effect on
revenues.\6\
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\6\https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-06/hr5068.pdf.
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2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and
objectives of this bill are to authorize the Women Who Worked
on the Home Front Foundation to establish a commemorative work
in the District of Columbia and its environs.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT
An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.
The Committee notes that CBO's analysis of H.R. 5068
(116th), the version of the legislation from the 116th
Congress, is available and shows the bill as not creating any
mandates for purposes of UMRA.\7\
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\7\Id.
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EXISTING PROGRAMS
This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of
the federal government known to be duplicative of another
program.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing
law.
SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS
None.
[all]