[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 29, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H6603-H6604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2245
RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INTEGRATION OF THE ARMED FORCES

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
National Security be discharged from further consideration of the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 294) recognizing the 50th 
Anniversary of the integration of the Armed Forces, and for other 
purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Indiana?
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I will not 
object, but I would ask the gentleman from Indiana to explain the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. SKELTON. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to mark an important 
historical event for the Armed Forces, and indeed, for our Nation. On 
July 26, 1948, just over 50 years ago, President Truman signed 
Executive Order 9981 ordering the racial integration of the Armed 
Forces.
  When we think about that in the context of the way things are done 
today, unlike this election year of 1948, it was a presidential 
election year, and President Truman was running for his first full term 
of office. Undeterred by those who today would have counseled him to 
wait until after the election to make such a controversial decision at 
that time for the integration of the Armed Forces, he acted in what I 
believe to be a responsible manner, and he did the right thing.
  Some may think that his choice was easy, but I believe that the 
choice at the time was not easy, and it was a courageous decision. It 
is not easy to make a decision that may profoundly affect the military 
readiness over the objections of the military leaders of that day. Yet, 
Harry Truman did just that. Today we acknowledge the overwhelming 
correctness of that decision.
  While President Truman took the first step, our military executed its 
orders with discipline and purpose. Sure there have been missteps, and 
yes, there are still areas that could be improved. Most important, 
however, is that many of America's fine young men and women were 
finally able to take their rightful place in the Armed Forces, and it 
helped transform our society.
  As we all know, thousands of young African Americans, both men and 
women, have joined the Armed Forces. They have not only joined but have 
succeeded in staying in the military, and in higher numbers than their 
majority counterparts, and are rising to the highest ranks in the 
military. In fact, today African Americans alone make up 20 percent of 
the Armed Forces.
  The many extraordinary examples of success obviously are far too 
numerous to cover adequately in these short remarks, but they include 
General Colin Powell; the Army four-star General Johnny Wilson; the 
Navy's first of many black admirals, Rear Admiral Samuel Gravely, 
Junior; and yes, here recently we honored, tragically, the deceased 
hero, the Capitol police officer, J.J. Chestnut, who served 20 years in 
the Air Force and was a Vietnam veteran.
  I believe that Officer Chestnut and many others are individuals who 
have served with honor and went on and, in turn, left the service and 
made great contributions to their communities and this country.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation of objection, first I 
wish to compliment the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters) 
for her foresight in offering this resolution.
  I think it is a very, very appropriate one, particularly realizing 
that I am from Missouri, and that this past weekend, Mr. Speaker, I had 
the honor of speaking at the commissioning of the U.S.S. Harry S. 
Truman in Norfolk, Virginia. So I think it is entirely appropriate that 
I commemorate 50 years of racial integration in the armed services.
  It was President Harry Truman, a fellow Missourian, who took the 
courageous and historic action in signing Executive Order 9981. 
President Truman had seen many examples of sacrifice by soldiers and 
airmen which proved that segregation was incompatible with the values 
of our Nation: the Tuskegee airmen, who never lost a bomber they 
accompanied, showed the high quality of black pilots; the heroism of 
Dory Miller, who manned a machine gun, in violation of the Navy's then 
segregationist policies, to defend Pearl Harbor against the Japanese 
invasion. For his brave actions, he was awarded a Navy cross for two 
confirmed kills on Japanese aircraft.
  While integration of our military has not been without difficulty, 
this executive order was a giant step forward in the quality of our 
force. Take a good look at it today. It works, and it works well.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I, too, 
would like to join my colleagues in commending what I call America's 
Congresswoman, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters), for 
shepherding this legislation through the process onto the floor of the 
House tonight.
  As this body recognizes the 50th anniversary of the integration of 
the Armed Forces, we must remember the historic role that President 
Truman's executive order played, not only in opening the military to 
African Americans, but in advancing the March for civil rights for all 
outside the military. His signature paved the way for today's Army.
  Today 27 percent of the Army is black. These proud men and women 
comprise 12 percent of the officers and 30 percent of the enlisted 
soldiers. Eight percent of all generals are black. Prior to Truman's 
executive order, successful African American soldiers were recognized 
as exceptional, as distinct.
  In 1939, the government established a segregated program at the 
Tuskegee Institute to train blacks as civilian pilots. These young men 
became known as the Tuskegee Airmen, and became successful World War II 
pilots. These brave and accomplished flyers never lost a bomber that 
they accompanied.
  Truman's executive order provided African Americans with the 
opportunity to be more than just the exception. They were the backbone 
of our enlisted soldiers, and they are our leaders. They are the 
heroes, like the

[[Page H6604]]

Tuskegee Airmen, and they are role models for American society, both 
black and white.
  General Colin Powell in the U.S. Army, Lieutenant General Benjamin O. 
Davis in the U.S. Air Force, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
Togo West, in today's society our young people cannot have too many 
honorable role models to help instill in them discipline, confidence, 
and self-respect.
  As we honor the integration of the military, we must not forget the 
steps it took to get us here. The road has not been easy, and we still 
have a long way to go. The military must still guard against extremists 
and racist attacks within its ranks, like the tragic incident at Fort 
Bragg where two black civilians were gunned down by Lieutenant 
Burmeister.
  We must be wary of differential treatments for blacks and whites in 
legal proceedings. While some white officers are allowed to retire 
quietly, other black enlisted personnel are sent to courts-martial.
  Let me tell Members about a recent case that has come to my 
attention. This case is of Sgt. Aidens. Sgt. Aidens became the target 
of an investigation after he refused to lie that he knew about the 
misconduct of another black serviceman.
  Coincidentally, Sgt. Aidens just last night was found to be guilty of 
using crack cocaine. The evidence used to find him guilty was a pubic 
hair sample taken by army investigators. Most of America is not aware 
of this form of drug testing because it is not proven, it is 
controversial, and gives false positives for African Americans. 
However, pubic hair testing has been used in military courts as 
evidence when accompanied with an urinalysis. Yet, in Sgt. Aiden's 
case, the Army did not give him a urinalysis. If Sgt. Aidens' verdict 
is upheld, I am very concerned for every African American in our Armed 
Forces.
  A recent article by Charles Moskos lays out some lessons that we can 
learn on race in the Army. He suggests, one, we focus on black 
opportunity channels; two, be ruthless against discrimination; three, 
affirmative action must be linked to standards; four, a level playing 
field is not enough. We need to recognize the disadvantages that 
minorities have and compensate those with additional help.
  I hope when we recognize the next 50 years of integration of our 
Armed Forces, that we look at each shortcoming and racist act not only 
as a battle lost, but a serious chipping away at the war of what it 
means to be an American and what America means to the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 294

       Whereas on July 26, 1948, President Truman issued Executive 
     Order 9981 ordering the integration of the Armed Forces;
       Whereas the President stated in the executive order that it 
     was ``essential that there be maintained in the armed 
     services of the United States the highest standards of 
     democracy, with equality of treatment and opportunity for all 
     those who serve in our country's defense'';
       Whereas in the executive order the President declared that 
     ``there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for 
     all persons in the armed services without regard to race, 
     color, religion or national origin'';
       Whereas, soon after the President issued the executive 
     order, United States forces in Korea were integrated, leading 
     the way to a fully integrated army;
       Whereas the Armed Forces have used the implementation and 
     enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as additional 
     tools to eliminate discrimination among their military and 
     civilian personnel;
       Whereas in 1998 minorities serve in senior leadership 
     positions throughout the Armed Forces, as officers, as senior 
     non-commissioned officers, and as civilian leaders;
       Whereas the Armed Forces have demonstrated a continuing 
     commitment to ensuring the equality of treatment and 
     opportunity for all military and civilian personnel of the 
     Armed Forces; and
       Whereas the efforts of the Armed Forces to ensure the 
     equality of treatment and opportunity for their personnel 
     have contributed significantly to the advancement of equality 
     of treatment and opportunity for all Americans: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) commends the Armed Forces for their efforts, 
     leadership, and success in providing equality of treatment 
     and opportunity for their military and civilian personnel 
     without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin; 
     and
       (2) recognizes the Department of Defense's celebration of 
     the 50th Anniversary of the integration of the Armed Forces.

                              {time}  2300


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Buyer

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the text.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the text offered by Mr. Buyer: 
       Page 2, line 2, strike ``That the Congress'' and all that 
     follows and insert the following:

     That the Congress commends the Armed Forces for their 
     efforts, leadership, and success in providing equality of 
     treatment and opportunity for their military and civilian 
     personnel without regard to race, color, religion, or 
     national origin.

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, this amendment makes minor modifications to 
the resolution that addresses concerns over language that may have been 
interpreted as conflicting with the House rule against commemoratives. 
These changes have been worked out in advance with the minority and the 
sponsor of the resolution, and I understand this to be 
noncontroversial.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the text 
offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).
  The amendment to the text was agreed to .
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the concurrent 
resolution.
  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.


             amendment to the preamble offered by mr. buyer

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker. I offer an amendment to the preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Buyer:
       Page, 1, in the second clause of the preamble insert ``50 
     years ago'' after ``The President stated''.

  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.


                  title amendment offered by mr. buyer

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the title.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Title amendment offered by Mr. Buyer:
       Amend the title so as to read: ``Concurrent resolution 
     commending the Armed Forces for their efforts, leadership, 
     and success in providing equality of treatment and 
     opportunity for their military and civilian personnel without 
     regard to race, color, religion, or national origin.''

  The title amendment was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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