[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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