[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2198-H2200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1500
AUTHORIZING USE OF ROTUNDA FOR CEREMONY TO AWARD CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF 
                      HONOR TO THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 15) 
authorizing the Rotunda of the Capitol to be used on March 29, 2007, 
for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee 
Airmen.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 15

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on March 29, 2007, for a ceremony to award a 
     Congressional Gold Medal collectively to the Tuskegee Airmen 
     in accordance with Public Law 109-213. Physical preparations 
     for the ceremony shall be carried out in accordance with such 
     conditions as the Architect of the Capitol may prescribe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. McCarthy) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 15, 
which would authorize the use of the Capitol rotunda on March 29, 2007, 
to present a Congressional Gold Medal to members of the Tuskegee 
Airmen.
  With the passage of the Civilian Pilot Training Act of 1939, Tuskegee 
University, along with various civil rights groups and the black press, 
began an effort to transform Federal Government policies and procedures 
that excluded African Americans from pilot training programs.
  In this initial phase, Tuskegee Institute, which had a proven 
civilian pilot training program and had a history of producing 
graduates with the highest of flight aptitude exam scores, was awarded 
a contract by the U.S. Army Air Corps to help train America's first 
black military aviators.
  Between 1940 and 1946, nearly 1,000 black pilots were trained at 
Tuskegee University. This undertaking produced the unrivaled Tuskegee 
Airmen, who are credited with not losing a single bomber to enemy fire 
in more than 200 combat missions as air escorts, a record unmatched by 
any other fighter group.
  The Tuskegee Airmen destroyed some 260 enemy aircraft. These brave 
men accumulated a total of 850 medals for their service and valor. 
Tuskegee University continues its legacy of leadership in aeronautics.
  Today, it is the first and only Historically Black College or 
University to offer a degree in aerospace science

[[Page H2199]]

engineering. Since 1983, it has produced the largest number of black 
aerospace engineers of any institution in America.
  In spite of the adversity and limited opportunities, African 
Americans have played a significant role in the U.S. Navy and military 
history. The Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice to 
become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II.
  So on March 29, 2007, the President of the United States will present 
the Congressional Gold Medal to the survivors expected to attend the 
ceremony, after which the medal will be given to the Smithsonian 
Institution and will be displayed in the future as appropriate.
  Last year, the House and Senate unanimously passed legislation 
brought to the floor by the Financial Services Committee to authorize 
the Congressional Gold Medal, which became Public Law 109-213. The bill 
had 310 cosponsors in the House and 77 in the Senate. Our colleague, 
the Honorable Charlie Rangel of New York, has worked tirelessly as the 
lead House sponsor of this legislation, and he has been the catalyst to 
ensure that these men got their rightful spot in history.
  Since the House Administration Committee has jurisdiction over 
matters relating to the Smithsonian Institution, I am especially 
pleased that language was able to be worked out in the bill which would 
allow the Smithsonian to accept this historic medal on behalf of the 
American people and to display it as appropriate, including a location 
associated with the Tuskegee Airmen.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. Con. Res. 15, which 
authorizes the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the ceremony to 
award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen.
  I would like to thank the distinguished chairman from New York (Mr. 
Rangel) for sponsoring the House version of this resolution. I would 
also like to thank my Chair of House Administration for her work as 
well.
  All of our men and women of the armed services deserve our praise and 
recognition for the contributions they have made in defense of our 
country. It is notable that in the case of the Tuskegee Airmen they 
were fighting not one but two battles. As they bravely flew and 
maintained combat aircraft in World War II, these men also fought 
against the notion that somehow the color of their skin would affect 
their ability to courageously protect our Nation.
  In 1941, the formation of the all African American squadron based in 
Tuskegee, Alabama, a group that would come to be known as the Tuskegee 
Airmen, was largely regarded as an experiment of the U.S. military to 
test the combat readiness of the all-black fighting squadron. Sadly, 
there were some at the time who expected or perhaps even hoped that the 
experiment would fail. Instead, the Tuskegee Airmen became one of the 
most highly regarded units of the war, fighting bravely with 
distinction.
  Among the honors bestowed upon them, they were awarded 150 
Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 14 Bronze Stars, and 8 
Purple Hearts. I proudly support authorization of the use of the 
Capitol rotunda where they will be recognized once more for their 
bravery and for blazing a trail, not only in the sky, but in the 
history as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from the great State of California (Mr. 
Daniel E. Lungren).
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support 
of this resolution authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol 
for the ceremony honoring the Tuskegee Airmen with the Congressional 
Gold Medal. I am pleased that S. Con. Res. 15 is currently under 
consideration.
  As we all know, the Tuskegee Airmen were young men who enlisted to 
become America's first black military airmen at a time where, sadly in 
this country, there were many people who argued that black men lacked 
the necessary skills or ability to be part of an effective military 
force. Well, the Tuskegee Airmen effectively dispelled that notion that 
in any way African Americans were second-class citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, although the term ``hero'' is perhaps overused in 
today's discourse, there is no better description of the Tuskegee 
Airmen. Not only were they the first black airmen to perform as they 
did, but they put their lives on the line for all Americans, regardless 
of color.
  For that, we are all eternally grateful and eternally in their debt; 
and it is not only appropriate, but fitting, for us to take this step 
today. As one in his younger years who had an opportunity to meet some 
of these Tuskegee Airmen, I can tell you that they carried themselves 
with a great deal of pride in the contribution they had made to this 
Nation, and any conversations I had with such airmen, that is what they 
stressed, their contribution to this Nation.
  So it is fitting that we take the time, as a thankful Nation, to give 
them this respect and honor them in this singular way with a 
Congressional Gold Medal and to have this done here at the center, at 
the heart of our democracy, the rotunda of the United States Capitol.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. On March 29 of this year, this Nation will 
give to its Americans, rightfully, the Congressional Gold Medal that 
they deserve
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Con. Res. 78, which authorizes the use of the Capitol Rotunda for 
a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee 
Airmen. I strongly support the resolution because it is an appropriate 
and fitting tribute to one of the greatest groups of the Greatest 
Generation.
  On July 19, 1941, the American Air Force created an all black flight 
training program at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The Tuskegee 
Airmen were not only unique in their military record, but they inspired 
revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces, paving the way for 
integration of the Armed Services in the U.S.
  The first class of cadets began in July of 1941 with 13 men, all of 
whom had college degrees, some with PhDs and all had pilot's licenses. 
From all accounts, the training of the Tuskegee Airmen was an 
experiment established to prove that ``coloreds'' were incapable of 
operating expensive and complex combat aircraft. Stationed in the 
segregated South, the black cadets were denied rifles.
  The Tuskegee Airmen were credited with 261 aircraft destroyed, 148 
aircraft damaged, 15,553 combat sorties and 1,578 missions over Italy 
and North Africa. They destroyed or damaged over 950 units of ground 
transportation and escorted more than 200 bombing missions. ``We proved 
that the antidote to racism is excellence in performance,'' said 
retired LTC Herbert Carter, who started his military career as a pilot 
and maintenance officer with the Tuskegee Airmen's 99th Fighter 
Squadron. Clearly, the experiment, as it was called, was an unqualified 
success.
  The Tuskegee Airmen were awarded 3 Presidential Unit Citations, 150 
Distinguished Flying Crosses and Legions of Merit, along with The Red 
Star of Yugoslavia, 9 Purple Hearts, 14 Bronze Stars and more than 700 
Air Medals and clusters. On February 28, 2006, the House passed H. Con. 
Res. 1259, authorizing the award of a Congressional Gold Medal on 
behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen. The President signed the legislation and 
it became Public Law 109-213 on April 11, 2006. The concurrent 
resolution before us authorizes the use of the Capitol Rotunda on March 
29, 2007, for the award ceremony.
  I would like to thank Congressman Rangel for his tenacity in seeing 
to it that the contributions of Tuskegee Airmen are fully recognized 
and acknowledged by the people of the United States. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting the resolution.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) that the House 
suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. 
Con. Res. 15.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the Senate concurrent resolution was concurred 
in.

[[Page H2200]]

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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