[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 18 (Thursday, February 17, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H756-H757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE SOLDIERS OF THE ARMY'S BLACK CORPS OF ENGINEERS

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure be discharged from 
further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 67) 
honoring the soldiers of the Army's Black Corps of Engineers for their 
contributions in constructing the Alaska-Canada highway during World 
War II and recognizing the importance of these contributions to the 
subsequent integration of the military, and ask for its immediate 
consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alaska?
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right 
to object, however, I do not intend to object, I yield to the gentleman 
from Alaska (Mr. Young) for an explanation of the resolution.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. I yield to the gentleman from 
Alaska.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas 
(Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) for introducing this resolution.
  This resolution honors the soldiers of the Army's Black Corps of 
Engineers for their contribution in construction of the Alaska-Canada 
Highway during World War II.
  There is no doubt about the enormous contribution made by these 
soldiers and the lasting legacy they left to Alaska and the security of 
our Nation.
  This is long overdue and I strongly support the gentlewoman's 
resolution and appreciate her efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, may I suggest somebody should read the great story of 
this Corps of Engineers brigade and what they were able to do, the work 
they put in, the time they put in, and the excellent job they did in 
building a highway of approximately 1,400 miles in less than 365 days 
of a year.
  Again, I commend the gentlewoman for introducing this resolution. It 
is long overdue. And for those who do not understand this, drive this 
highway someday and you will understand the work they put in.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Further reserving the right to 
object, Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk a little bit about the 
legislation that we are considering. The construction of the Alaska-
Canada Highway from Dawson Creek, Canada to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1942 
was heralded as one of America's greatest public works projects of the 
20th century.
  The emergency war measure, made necessary by the bombing of Pearl 
Harbor, was authorized by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on 
February 11, 1942. The construction of the 1,522 mile long road through 
rugged unmapped wilderness and extreme temperatures ranging between 80 
degrees below and 90 degrees above zero was completed in an astonishing 
8 months and 12 days. Upon completion, the road was the only overland 
route that strategically linked Alaska and the lower 48 States and 
facilitated the construction of airstrips for refueling planes and 
vital supply routes during World War II.
  Critical to the construction of the Alaska-Canada Highway were the 
men of the 93rd, 95th, and 97th regiments, in addition to the 388th 
battalion of the Army Corps of Engineers. Segregated by race and seldom 
recognized, members of the Black Corps of Engineers

[[Page H757]]

comprised over one-third of the total troop strength in this project.
  In spite of severe racially discriminatory policies and detestable 
living and social conditions, the soldiers of the Black Corps of 
Engineers performed notably and unselfishly on this project.

                              {time}  1400

  Regretfully, since 1942, their contributions toward this country's 
Western defense during World War II and subsequent integration of the 
military have been excluded from many of the footnotes of history; but 
this being the last day we can make presentations during Black History 
Month, I am delighted and thankful that the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 
Young) knew about them and is cosponsoring this resolution.
  It is with great pride and honor that I, with the cosponsorship of 
the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Oberstar), urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this group of 
soldiers whose works have existed in the shadows of the Nation's 
history since 1942, the Army's Black Corps of Engineers; and the 
Congressional Black Caucus joins me in supporting this. Let me thank 
again the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Conaway). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Alaska?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 67

       Whereas the bombing of Pearl Harbor necessitated 
     constructing an overland route between Alaska and the lower 
     48 States for military purposes;
       Whereas on February 11, 1942, President Franklin Delano 
     Roosevelt authorized the construction of the Alaska-Canada 
     Highway (also known as the ``Alcan Highway'');
       Whereas construction of the Alcan Highway, a 1,522-mile 
     long road from Dawson Creek, Canada, to Fairbanks, Alaska, 
     was an engineering feat of enormous challenge;
       Whereas the Alcan Highway was constructed by approximately 
     10,000 United States troops through rugged, unmapped 
     wilderness and extreme temperatures, ranging from 80-degrees-
     below to 90-degrees-above zero;
       Whereas the Corps of Engineers units assigned to construct 
     the Alcan Highway were segregated by race;
       Whereas the 93rd, 95th, and 97th Regiments and 388th 
     Battalion of the Corps of Engineers, part of a group known as 
     the ``Black Corps of Engineers'', were African American units 
     assigned to the Alcan Highway project, and these units 
     comprised one-third of the total engineering workforce on the 
     project;
       Whereas despite severe discriminatory policies, and 
     abominable living and social conditions, the soldiers of the 
     Black Corps of Engineers performed notably and unselfishly on 
     the project;
       Whereas on November 20, 1942, the Alcan Highway was 
     completed in an astonishing 8 months and 12 days, becoming 
     one of the Nation's greatest public works projects in the 
     20th century;
       Whereas the Alcan Highway became the only land route that 
     strategically linked the northern territory to the remainder 
     of the continental United States and facilitated the 
     construction of airstrips for refueling planes and vital 
     supply routes during World War II;
       Whereas although considerable praise was bestowed upon 
     soldiers for exemplary work in constructing the Alcan 
     Highway, the soldiers of the Black Corps of Engineers were 
     seldom recognized; and
       Whereas despite enduring indignities and double standards, 
     the soldiers of the Black Corps of Engineers contributed 
     unselfishly to the western defense in World War II and these 
     contributions helped lead to the subsequent integration of 
     the military: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress honors the soldiers of the Army's 
     Black Corps of Engineers for their contributions in 
     constructing the Alaska-Canada highway during World War II 
     and recognizes the importance of these contributions to the 
     subsequent integration of the military.

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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