[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 409 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 409

      Honoring the dedication and courage of the Buffalo Soldiers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 15, 2018

Ms. Harris (for herself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
  Coons, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
Booker, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. 
 Cardin, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Scott, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. McCaskill, 
Mr. Carper, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Klobuchar, and Mr. 
 Peters) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Honoring the dedication and courage of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Whereas by the Act of July 28, 1866 (14 Stat. 332, chapter 299), after the end 
        of the Civil War, African-American men were allowed to serve in 
        segregated units of the United States Army;
Whereas the first Buffalo Soldiers were former slaves and former African-
        American soldiers that fought in the Civil War;
Whereas the first Buffalo Soldiers comprised the 9th and 10th cavalry regiments 
        and were the first African Americans to serve in the United States Army 
        during peacetime;
Whereas, in the history of the United States, Buffalo Soldiers have made many 
        significant military contributions and have fought to preserve and 
        protect the United States;
Whereas Buffalo Soldiers fought shoulder-to-shoulder with White soldiers in many 
        battles;
Whereas Buffalo Soldiers were instrumental in the exploration and settlement of 
        land in the West;
Whereas Buffalo Soldiers participated in the tragic history of removing Native 
        Americans from the land on which Native Americans lived;
Whereas Native Americans in the Midwest bestowed the nickname ``Buffalo 
        Soldiers'' to the members of the 9th and 10th cavalry regiments for--

    (1) the bravery and courage that the members exhibited; and

    (2) the jackets of buffalo fur that the members wore during the cold 
winter months;

Whereas the Buffalo Soldiers rode alongside Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough 
        Riders in Cuba during the Spanish-American War;
Whereas Buffalo Soldiers were among the first park rangers to serve in the newly 
        created National Park Service under President Theodore Roosevelt;
Whereas Buffalo Soldiers from the 9th, 10th, 24th, and 25th regiments served in 
        Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park and helped arrest 
        poachers, fight forest fires, and preserve the natural resources of the 
        United States;
Whereas, serving nobly as park rangers, Buffalo Soldiers--

    (1) constructed in Yosemite National Park one of the first arboretums 
in the United States;

    (2) cleared miles of forest;

    (3) built trail roads into national parks for the enjoyment of all 
people in the United States; and

    (4) helped build the first trail to the summit of Mount Whitney in 
Sequoia National Park;

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers were subjected to racial prejudice but continued--

    (1) to serve honorably and bravely in the United States Army; and

    (2) to fulfill the duties conferred on them with pride and distinction;

Whereas, earning a reputation for being courageous and daring--

    (1) more than 200,000 African Americans served in World War I; and

    (2) more than 1,000,000 African Americans served in World War II;

Whereas during World War II, Buffalo Soldiers branched out and formed other 
        famous units, including the famed Tuskegee Airmen and the Fighter ``Red 
        Tails'' Group;
Whereas 23 Buffalo Soldiers have received the highest military distinction of 
        the Congressional Medal of Honor;
Whereas, in 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which--

    (1) stipulated equal treatment and opportunity for all African-American 
service members; and

    (2) brought an end to the Buffalo Soldiers;

Whereas Buffalo Soldiers have honorably answered the call to duty, serving with 
        great valor and distinction in the armed forces of the United States;
Whereas the Buffalo Soldiers are a significant part of the history of the United 
        States; and
Whereas there are currently over 20 chapters of the 9th and 10th Cavalry 
        Association in the United States and one in Germany: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the dedication and courage of the Buffalo 
        Soldiers;
            (2) recognizes the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers; and
            (3) recognizes the contributions that the Buffalo Soldiers 
        have made to the National Park System and to military history 
        in the United States and throughout the world.
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