A05780
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1709
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY CALTAGIRONE, ROZZI, MILLARD, TOEPEL, COHEN,
THOMAS, KOTIK, HENNESSEY, DUSH, SONNEY, McNEILL, YOUNGBLOOD,
DiGIROLAMO, VEREB, BARBIN, KIM, D. COSTA, V. BROWN, HAHN,
NEILSON, WATSON, HARHART, A. HARRIS, WHEELAND, COX, SCHWEYER,
SAMUELSON, GROVE, WARD, MARSICO, MAHONEY, READSHAW, FARINA,
MAJOR, BENNINGHOFF AND JOZWIAK, NOVEMBER 18, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, NOVEMBER 18, 2015
AN ACT
Designating the bridge carrying U.S. Route 222 Business State
Route 2005 (Business Route 222) over the Schuylkill River,
Riverfront Drive and Norfolk Southern Railroad in the City of
Reading, Berks County, commonly referred to as the Bingaman
Street Bridge, as the 65th U.S. Infantry Regiment,
Borinqueneers Memorial Bridge.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. 65th U.S. Infantry Regiment, Borinqueneers
Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds as follows:
(1) "The Borinqueneers" were the only all-Hispanic unit
in the history of the United States Army.
(2) "The Borinqueneers" is a nickname for the 65th
Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Division in the United States
Army, an all-volunteer Puerto Rican unit. The name was
derived from the name borinquen meaning "land of the brave
lord."
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(3) The unit was founded in 1899 and remained a vital
part of the United States Armed Forces until 1956.
(4) "The Borinqueneers" displayed valiant and
meritorious service in World War I, World War II and the
Korean War.
(5) More than 62,000 Puerto Ricans joined the military
during World War II and more than 43,000 Puerto Ricans served
in the Korean War.
(6) While in Korea, "the Borinqueneers" served in nine
separate military campaigns, where hundreds of men gave their
lives in service to their country.
(7) In 1959, the regiment was allotted to the Puerto
Rico Army National Guard, where the 1st Battalion, 65th
Infantry still serves.
(8) Since inception of the unit, more than 20,000 Puerto
Ricans have served as "Borinqueneers," but their
contributions and sacrifices have gone largely unnoticed by
the country at large.
(9) While defending the United States, these brave
soldiers have earned 628 Bronze Stars, 258 Silver Stars, 10
Distinguished Service Crosses and more than 2,700 Purple
Hearts.
(b) Designation.--The bridge carrying U.S. Route 222
Business State Route 2005 (Business Route 222) over the
Schuylkill River, Riverfront Drive and Norfolk Southern Railroad
in the City of Reading, Berks County, commonly referred to as
the Bingaman Street Bridge, is hereby designated the 65th U.S.
Infantry Regiment, Borinqueneers Memorial Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
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traffic in both directions on the bridge.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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