Bills
| 3.23.22

Awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment Known as the Borinqueneers (S. 1174)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is S. 1174?

(Updated July 18, 2017)

This bill would award a Congressional Gold Medal to the 65ht Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers. The Borinqueneers, a Puerto Rican regiment from 1899 to 1959, was the only active-duty segregated Latino military unit in United States history. Individual members have been awarded 10 Distinguished Service Crosses, 258 Silver Stars, 628 Bronze Stars, and more than 2,700 Purple Hearts. The House version of this bill is identical.  

Argument in favor

Acknowledges Puerto Rico’s contributions to American military campaigns and distinguishes the service of all Hispanic veterans past, present, and future.

Argument opposed

During the Korean War, ninety-one soldiers from the regiment abandoned their posts during a firefight, earning the servicemen one of the largest court-martials of the entire war.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would honor a race-specific unit of the armed forces in a way similar to how both the Tuskegee Airmen and the Navajo Code Talkers have previously been honored.

Cost of S. 1174

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable. Any significant impact on the federal budget is unlikely.

Additional Info