[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 25 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO THE TRANSPORTATION 
                AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 23, 2010

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 
1085, which supports the goals and ideals of National African American 
History Month, celebrates the contributions that African Americans have 
made to the transportation and infrastructure of the United States, and 
urges the American people to join the House of Representatives in 
celebrating these vital contributions. H. Res. 1085 is an important 
measure that pays tribute to African Americans' crucial role in 
building our nation, innovating new technologies, and helping create 
long-lasting economic growth and prosperity.
  I thank Chairman Oberstar for his leadership in bringing this bill to 
the floor. I would also like to thank the author of this legislation, 
Congresswoman Corrine Brown, for chronicling the crucial, and often 
overlooked contributions of African Americans to our nation's growth 
and progress.
  Madam Speaker, African Americans have made significant and far-
reaching contributions to our nation's transportation systems and 
critical infrastructure. Thousands of African Americans overcame racial 
discrimination, harsh environmental conditions, and frequently physical 
danger, to build critical portions of our nation's highways, bridges, 
and transit systems. Many African Americans founded aeronautics schools 
that trained pilots who went on to serve in the military or fly 
commercial airliners. Further, African Americans were the source of 
innovative designs that helped make our transportation and 
infrastructure systems modern, efficient, and safe. For example, 
Garrett A. Morgan developed the traffic signal, which has proven 
indispensible to our transportation system. Elijah McCoy's 
``lubricating cup'' automatically oiled steam engines, making the 
railroad system dramatically more efficient. Elbert R. Robinson 
invented the electric railway trolley, which was adopted by cities 
across the country. Humphrey Reynolds produced the safety gate on 
bridges, a development that has made transportation significantly 
safer. These are only a few examples of the vital contributions of 
African Americans to transportation and infrastructure in the United 
States.
  It is perhaps even less well known that during the Civil Rights 
Movement, countless African Americans devoted themselves to tireless 
activism that led to the desegregation of our nation's transportation 
systems and improved working conditions for transportation workers of 
all races across the country. These invaluable efforts not only 
improved our roads, bridges, and transit systems, but also led to 
significant national progress in achieving racial equality and 
reconciliation. It is entirely fitting that we take this opportunity to 
honor African Americans' contributions to our transportation and 
infrastructure and appreciate the innumerable benefits that these 
efforts yielded for our nation.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 
1085.

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