[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4211 Introduced in House (IH)]
105th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4211
To establish the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, in association
with the Tuskegee University, in the State of Alabama, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 14, 1998
Mr. Riley (for himself and Mr. Hilliard) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, in association
with the Tuskegee University, in the State of Alabama, 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. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) Historic site.--The term ``historic site'' means the
Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site as established by
section 3.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(3) Tuskegee airmen.--The term ``Tuskegee Airmen'' means
the thousands of men and women who served in America's African-
American Air Force units of World War II and shared in the
Tuskegee Experience.
(4) Tuskegee university.--The term ``Tuskegee University''
means the institution of higher education by that name located
in the State of Alabama and founded by Booker T. Washington in
1881, formerly named Tuskegee Institute.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) The struggle of African-Americans for greater roles in
North American military conflicts spans the 17th, 18th, 19th,
and 20th centuries. Opportunities for African-American
participation in the United States military were always very
limited and controversial. Quotas, exclusion, and racial
discrimination were based on the prevailing attitude in the
United States, particularly on the part of the United States
military, that African-Americans did not possess the
intellectual capacity, aptitude, and skills to be successful
fighters.
(2) By the early 1940's these perceptions continued within
the United States military. Key leaders within the United
States Army Air Corps did not believe that African-Americans
possessed the capacity to become successful military pilots.
After succumbing to pressure exerted by civil rights groups and
the black press, the Army decided to train a small number of
African-American pilot cadets under special conditions.
Although prejudice and discrimination against African-Americans
was a national phenomenon, not just a southern trait, it was
more intense in the South where it had hardened into rigidly
enforced patterns of segregation. Such was the environment
where the military chose to locate the training of the Tuskegee
Airmen.
(3) The military selected Tuskegee Institute (now known as
Tuskegee University) as a civilian contractor for a variety of
reasons. These included the school's existing facilities,
engineering and technical instructors, and a climate with ideal
flying conditions year round. Tuskegee Institute's strong
interest in providing aeronautical training for African-
American youths was also an important factor. Students from the
school's civilian pilot training program had some of the best
test scores when compared to other students from programs
across the Southeast.
(4) In 1941 the United States Army Air Corps awarded a
contract to Tuskegee Institute to operate a primary flight
school at Moton Field. Tuskegee Institute (now known as
Tuskegee University) chose an African-American contractor who
designed and constructed Moton Field, with the assistance of
its faculty and students, as the site for its military pilot
training program. The field was named for the school's second
president, Robert Russa Moton. Consequently, Tuskegee Institute
was one of a very few American institutions (and the only
African-American institution) to own, develop, and control
facilities for military flight instruction.
(5) Moton Field, also known as the Primary Flying Field or
Airport Number 2, was the only primary flight training facility
for African-American pilot candidates in the United States Army
Air Corps during World War II. The facility symbolizes the
entrance of African-American pilots into the United States Army
Air Corps, although on the basis of a policy of segregation
that was mandated by the military and institutionalized in the
South. The facility also symbolizes the singular role of
Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee University) in providing
leadership as well as economic and educational resources to
make that entry possible.
(6) The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African-American
soldiers to complete their training successfully and to enter
the United States Army Air Corps. Almost 1,000 aviators were
trained as America's first African-American military pilots. In
addition, more than 10,000 military and civilian African-
American men and women served as flight instructors, officers,
bombardiers, navigators, radio technicians, mechanics, air
traffic controllers, parachute riggers, electrical and
communications specialists, medical professionals, laboratory
assistants, cooks, musicians, supply, firefighting, and
transportation personnel.
(7) Although military leaders were hesitant to use the
Tuskegee Airmen in combat, the Airmen eventually saw
considerable action in North Africa and Europe. Acceptance from
United States Army Air Corps units came slowly, but their
courageous and, in many cases, heroic performance earned them
increased combat opportunities and respect.
(8) The successes of the Tuskegee Airmen proved to the
American public that African-Americans, when given the
opportunity, could become effective military leaders and
pilots. This helped pave the way for desegregation of the
military, beginning with President Harry S Truman's Executive
Order 9981 in 1948. The Tuskegee Airmen's success also helped
set the stage for civil rights advocates to continue the
struggle to end racial discrimination during the civil rights
movement of the 1950's and 1960's.
(9) The story of the Tuskegee Airmen also reflects the
struggle of African-Americans to achieve equal rights, not only
through legal attacks on the system of segregation, but also
through the techniques of nonviolent direct action. The members
of the 477th Bombardment Group, who staged a nonviolent
demonstration to desegregate the officer's club at Freeman
Field, Indiana, helped set the pattern for direct action
protests popularized by civil rights activists in later
decades.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following:
(1) To benefit and inspire present and future generations
to understand and appreciate the heroic legacy of the Tuskegee
Airmen, through interpretation and education, and the
preservation of cultural resources at Moton Field, which was
the site of primary flight training.
(2) To commemorate and interpret the impact of the Tuskegee
Airmen during World War II; the training process for the
Tuskegee Airmen including the roles played by Moton Field,
other training facilities, and related sites; the strategic
role of Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee University) in the
training; the African-American struggle for greater
participation in the United States military and more
significant roles in defending their country; the significance
of successes of the Tuskegee Airmen in leading to desegregation
of the United States military shortly after World War II; and
the impacts of Tuskegee Airmen accomplishments on subsequent
civil rights advances of the 1950's and 1960's.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
(a) In General.--There is hereby established as a unit of the
National Park System the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, in
association with Tuskegee University, in the State of Alabama.
(b) Description.--The total historic site, after the conditions are
met for its full development and management, and subsequent to
agreements to donate land by Tuskegee University and the city of
Tuskegee, shall consist of approximately 90 acres, known as Moton
Field, in Macon County, Alabama, as generally depicted on a map
entitled ``Alternative C, Living History: Tuskegee Airmen Experience'',
dated June 1998. Such map shall be on file and available for public
inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
SEC. 4. PROPERTY ACQUISITION.
The Secretary may acquire by donation, exchange, or purchase with
donated or appropriated funds the real property described in section
3(b), except that any property owned by the State of Alabama or any
political subdivision thereof or Tuskegee University may be acquired
only by donation. It is understood that property donated by Tuskegee
University shall be used only for purposes consistent with this Act in
commemorating the Tuskegee Airmen. The initial donation of land by
Tuskegee University shall consist of approximately 35 acres with the
remainder of the acreage to be donated by Tuskegee University after
agreement is reached regarding the development and management of the
Tuskegee Airmen National Center. The Secretary may also acquire by the
same methods personal property associated with, and appropriate for,
the interpretation of the historic site.
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION OF HISTORIC SITE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the historic site
in accordance with this Act and the laws generally applicable to units
of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (39
Stat. 535), and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666).
(b) Role of Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site.--Tuskegee
Institute National Historic Site shall serve as the principal
administrative facility for the historic site.
(c) Role of Tuskegee University.--Tuskegee University shall serve
as the principal partner with the National Park Service, and other
Federal agencies mutually agreed upon, for the leadership,
organization, development, and management of the historic site.
(d) Role of Tuskegee Airmen.--The Tuskegee Airmen shall assist the
principal partners for the historic site in fundraising for the
development of visitor facilities and programs, and provide artifacts,
memorabilia, and historical research for interpretive exhibits.
(e) Development.--The general management plan for the operation and
development of the historic site shall reflect Alternative C, Living
History: The Tuskegee Airmen Experience, as expressed in the draft
special resource study entitled ``Moton Field/Tuskegee Airmen Special
Resource Study'', dated June 1998. Subsequent development of the
historic site, with the approval of Tuskegee University, shall reflect
Alternative D.
(f) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative
agreements with Tuskegee University, other nonhigher
educational institutions, the Tuskegee Airmen, individuals,
private and public organizations, and other Federal agencies in
furtherance of the purposes of this Act. The Secretary shall
recognize the concern of Tuskegee University for the wise
management, use, and development of the historic site, and
shall consult with Tuskegee University in the formulation of
any cooperative agreement that may affect the historic site.
(2) Tuskegee airmen national center.--The Secretary may
enter into a cooperative agreement with Tuskegee University to
define and implement the public/private partnership needed to
develop the historic site, including the Tuskegee Airmen
National Center on the grounds of the historic site. The
purpose of the center shall be to extend the ability to relate
more fully the story of the Tuskegee Airmen at Moton Field. The
center shall house a Tuskegee Airmen Memorial and provide large
exhibit space for the display of period aircraft and equipment
used by the Tuskegee Airmen and a Tuskegee University
Department of Aviation Science. It is the intent of the
Congress that interpretive programs for visitors benefit from
the school's active pilot training instruction program, and
that the training program will provide a historical continuum
of flight training in the tradition of the Tuskegee Airmen. The
Tuskegee University Department of Aviation Science may be
located in historic buildings within the Moton Field complex
until the Tuskegee Airmen National Center has been completed.
(3) Report.--Within one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary and Tuskegee University,
in consultation with the Tuskegee Airmen, shall prepare a
report on the partnership needed to develop and operate the
Tuskegee Airmen National Center, and submit the report to the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
Subject to the approval of the Congress, the Secretary and
Tuskegee University may enter into a cooperative agreement to
permit the development of the Center. Before the balance of the
land is donated and before the development of the Tuskegee
Airmen National Center can proceed, a cooperative agreement
acceptable to the Secretary and Tuskegee University must be
executed.
(g) General Management Plan.--Within 2 complete fiscal years after
funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary
shall prepare, with the full participation of Tuskegee University, a
general management plan for the historic site and submit the plan to
the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this Act.
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