[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 134 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 134

Supporting the goals and ideals of Black History Month and honoring the 
     outstanding contributions of African-American Medal of Honor 
                              recipients.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 16, 2017

Mrs. Beatty (for herself, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Conyers, Ms. Eddie 
    Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Rush, Mr. Yarmuth, Mr. 
   Butterfield, Mr. Stivers, and Ms. Adams) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting the goals and ideals of Black History Month and honoring the 
     outstanding contributions of African-American Medal of Honor 
                              recipients.

Whereas the Medal of Honor is the highest award for personal acts of valor in 
        action above and beyond the call of duty against an enemy force which 
        can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United States Armed 
        Forces;
Whereas since its first presentation in 1863, 3,515 members of the Armed Forces 
        have received the Medal of Honor with just less than half being awarded 
        for actions during the Civil War;
Whereas African-American members of the Armed Forces have played vital roles in 
        military operations throughout the history of the United States;
Whereas 88 African-Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor for military 
        valor;
Whereas Sergeant William Harvey Carney, a member of Company C of the 54th 
        Massachusetts Colored Infantry, was the first African-American to earn 
        the Medal of Honor when, during the attack on Fort Wagner on July 18, 
        1863, he risked his own life above and beyond the call of duty to save 
        the American flag while under heavy fire and prevent its capture, 
        despite being wounded several times by Confederate fire;
Whereas William Harvey Carney was not presented with the Medal of Honor until 
        nearly 37 years after his acts of bravery;
Whereas in 1993, a study commissioned by the United States Army described 
        systematic racial discrimination in the criteria for awarding medals 
        during World War II;
Whereas after an exhaustive review, the study recommended seven African-American 
        World War II veterans be awarded the Medal of Honor; and
Whereas African-American men and women who today serve in the Armed Forces play 
        a critical role in the defense and security of the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes Black History Month as an important time to 
        acknowledge and reflect on the significant contributions of 
        African-Americans in the history of the United States; and
            (2) honors the outstanding contributions of African-
        American members of the United States Armed Forces, including 
        the 88 African-Americans who have been awarded the Medal of 
        Honor for military bravery, heroism, and valor.
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