[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.
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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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