[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 455 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 455

Expressing support for Black service members this Memorial Day who gave 
their lives to protect and defend the United States at home and abroad 
 despite facing racism in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities on 
                          United States soil.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 26, 2023

   Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick (for herself, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Bishop of 
  Georgia, Mr. Davis of North Carolina, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Johnson of 
  Georgia, Mr. Lieu, Ms. Norton, Mr. Carson, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. 
    Jackson Lee, Ms. Brown, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Thompson of 
Mississippi, Mr. Takano, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Payne, Ms. Porter, Mr. Green of 
 Texas, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Slotkin, Mr. Evans, Ms. Wilson of 
    Florida, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Meeks, Mr. 
    Horsford, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Kilmer, and Ms. Crockett) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for Black service members this Memorial Day who gave 
their lives to protect and defend the United States at home and abroad 
 despite facing racism in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities on 
                          United States soil.

Whereas, for over 200 years, Black service members of the Armed Forces have 
        fought and given their lives in every United States conflict since the 
        Revolutionary War;
Whereas over 5,000 free and enslaved Black colonials fought with the Continental 
        Army during the Revolutionary War;
Whereas nearly 40,000 Black soldiers died over the course of the Civil War;
Whereas more than 350,000 African Americans served in segregated units during 
        World War I and an estimated 770 died;
Whereas more than 1,200,000 African-American men and women served in segregated 
        units in every branch of the United States Armed Forces during World War 
        II, with over 700 dying in war operations;
Whereas Black members of the Armed Forces fought the forces of fascism abroad 
        while battling racism on United States soil and in the United States 
        military;
Whereas, in 1948, President Truman issued Executive Order 9981 to desegregate 
        the Armed Forces, and an estimated 600,000 Black members of the Armed 
        Forces served in the Korean War, with more than 5,000 giving their lives 
        to stop the invasion of South Korea by communist forces;
Whereas approximately 300,000 African Americans served in the Vietnam War, and 
        7,267 Black Americans died;
Whereas nearly 25 percent of all members of the Armed Forces who served in the 
        Persian Gulf War were Black, and 63 Black men and 3 Black women died in 
        military operations during that war; and
Whereas between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 United States individuals served in the 
        Armed Forces during the Global War on Terror, and more than 7,000 died, 
        with Black members of the Armed Forces making up 21 percent of the Army, 
        17 percent of the Marine Corps, 10 percent of the Air Force, 10 percent 
        of the Navy, and 5.8 percent of the Coast Guard, despite representing 13 
        percent of the population; Now, therefore, be it--
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses support this 
Memorial Day for Black service members who gave their lives to protect 
and defend the United States at home and abroad despite facing racism 
in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities on United States soil.
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