[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2782-H2785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1500
            HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3642) to award a Congressional gold medal to the 369th 
Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the ``Harlem Hellfighters'', in 
recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War 
I, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3642

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Harlem Hellfighters 
     Congressional Gold Medal Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) When the United States officially entered World War I 
     in April 1917, the Armed Forces were still segregated, even 
     though African-American soldiers had served and distinguished 
     themselves in every war since the Revolutionary War, and even 
     the Colonial Wars preceding the American Revolution.
       (2) After several years of advocacy and debate, in 1916 the 
     State of New York authorized the recruitment of the 15th New 
     York National Guard Regiment, which was called to Federal 
     service on July 25, 1917, soon after arriving for training at 
     Camp Whitman, New York.
       (3) The 15th completed its basic military practice training 
     at Camp Whitman, New York.
       (4) To receive combat training, the 15th reported, on 
     October 8, 1917, to Camp Wadsworth, in Spartanburg, South 
     Carolina, where it experienced many incidents of racial 
     discrimination.
       (5) Consequently, the government agreed to remove the 15th 
     from Camp Wadsworth, but, instead of receiving further 
     training, the regiment began preparing for deployment to 
     France in November.
       (6) The 15th arrived in Saint Nazaire, France, on January 
     1, 1918, where it was redesignated the 369th Infantry 
     Regiment
       (7) Partly because many White soldiers within the American 
     Expeditionary Forces (hereinafter, the ``AEF'') refused to 
     perform combat duty with Black soldiers, members of the 369th 
     were initially assigned manual labor tasks, such as loading 
     and unloading supplies, and constructing roads and railroads.
       (8) After receiving pressure from the 369th regimental 
     commander about not having a combat mission, the AEF attached 
     the 369th to the French Fourth Army.
       (9) By mid-March of 1918, the 369th went to the Argonne 
     Forest with the French 16th Division for training and soon 
     entered the trenches.
       (10) The 369th encountered its first German soldiers in 
     combat in April, 1918.
       (11) In May of 1918, Private Henry Johnson of the 369th 
     received the French Croix de Guerre, with Palm, for 
     extraordinary valor, becoming one of the first American 
     soldiers to be awarded this honor.
       (12) Johnson also belatedly received a Purple Heart, was 
     awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and in, 2015, was 
     awarded the Medal of Honor.
       (13) Throughout the remainder of the spring and into the 
     summer the 369th served at Minacourt, in the Champagne-Marne 
     Defensive, and during the Aisne-Marne Offensive in support of 
     the French 161st Infantry Division.
       (14) As summer turned to autumn, the 369th went on to 
     participate in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, where it captured 
     the important village of Sechault despite sustaining severe 
     losses.
       (15) On October 14, 1918, the 369th advanced to Alsace.
       (16) On November 20, 1918, the 369th reached the banks of 
     the Rhine River as part of the French Army of Occupation, the 
     first Allied unit to do so.
       (17) The 369th was relieved of its assignment with the 
     French 161st Division in December, 1918, and elements of the 
     regiment sailed for New York in late January and early 
     February, 1919.
       (18) The 369th Infantry Regiment received a parade up 5th 
     Avenue in New York City on February 17, 1919, receiving 
     applause and cheers from hundreds of thousands of onlookers.
       (19) The 369th was demobilized on February 28, 1919.
       (20) Over 170 individual members of the 369th received the 
     Croix de Guerre, many were awarded the Distinguished Service 
     Cross, and the 369th was awarded a unit citation.
       (21) It is generally believed that the 369th was dubbed the 
     ``Harlem Hellfighters'' by German soldiers, who found the men 
     to be incredibly determined and courageous in battle.
       (22) The 369th was the first regiment of African Americans 
     to deploy overseas during World War I and spent 191 days on 
     the front line in World War I, more than any other American 
     regimental sized unit.
       (23) The 369th never lost a foot of ground nor had a man 
     taken prisoner, despite suffering a high number of 
     casualties.

     SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

       (a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate 
     shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf 
     of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to the 
     369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the ``Harlem 
     Hellfighters'', in recognition of their bravery and 
     outstanding service during World War I.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award 
     referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury 
     shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, 
     and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Smithsonian Institution.--
       (1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in 
     honor of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the ``Harlem 
     Hellfighters'', the gold medal shall be given to the 
     Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as 
     appropriate and made available for research.
       (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal 
     awarded pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere, 
     particularly at other locations associated with the Harlem 
     Hellfighters.

     SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary may strike and sell 
     duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 
     3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the bronze 
     medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, 
     and overhead expenses.
       (b) Proceeds of Sales.--The amounts received from the sale 
     of duplicate medals under subsection (a) shall be deposited 
     in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
       (c) Authority to Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to 
     be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise 
     Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of 
     the medals struck under this Act.

     SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.

       The gold medal struck pursuant to this Act is a national 
     medal for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States 
     Code.

     SEC. 6. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

        The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
McHenry) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, the soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment were known 
to both their enemies and allies alike for their fierceness in battle 
and dedication to their country. They were called the Black Rattlers, 
the Men of Bronze, and Hollenkampfer, but they were best known as the 
Harlem Hellfighters.
  The Harlem Hellfighters were one of the first African-American 
regiments

[[Page H2783]]

to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Over 
the course of the war, the Harlem Hellfighters spent more time than any 
other American unit in the frontline trenches and suffered 1,500 
casualties--the most losses of any American unit.
  In addition to facing the dangers of frontline trench warfare, the 
men of the Harlem Hellfighters endured racist, derogatory attacks from 
their White compatriots, many of whom refused to perform combat duty 
with African-American soldiers. This resulted in the Harlem 
Hellfighters being transferred to a French Army where, despite racist 
warnings from American Expeditionary Forces headquarters of the alleged 
inferior nature of African-American troops, the Harlem Hellfighters 
were treated as welcome reinforcements and equals.
  Despite the racism and derogatory attacks from their fellow 
countrymen, the Harlem Hellfighters were steadfast in their devotion to 
their country. Some members considered their service to be a way to 
prove they deserved respect from their White compatriots. Even German 
propaganda targeting the Harlem Hellfighters highlighting the racism of 
a segregated U.S. military failed to diminish their resolve.
  Yet, despite their considerable sacrifices and being awarded the 
Croix de Guerre by the French Army for their efforts, the Harlem 
Hellfighters continued to face considerable racism when they returned 
home after World War I. Their bravery and accomplishments were 
similarly ignored by the broader American public. But their legacy and 
memory has been kept alive in their hometown. The annual Harlem 
Hellfighters Parade in Harlem, New York, became a marker of African-
American service to their Nation, and their service was frequently 
referenced as part of the civil rights campaign.
  This bill directs the U.S. Mint to strike a Congressional Gold Medal 
honoring the Harlem Hellfighters for their service during World War I. 
The gold medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution so that 
others may learn of the patriotism and courage displayed by the men of 
the 369th Infantry Regiment.
  So, Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Suozzi for introducing this bill. I 
urge Members to vote ``yes,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3642, a bill that awards a 
Congressional Gold Medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment commonly known 
as the Harlem Hellfighters. This gold medal is in recognition of their 
bravery and outstanding service during World War I.
  I would like to thank Congressman Suozzi and the numerous original 
cosponsors for getting this important bill to the floor today.
  I have heard from constituents who had family members and I have 
heard from folks from around the country about the importance of our 
recognizing this heroic group of--at that point--men. The 369th 
Infantry Regiment nicknamed the Harlem Hellfighters were the first 
African-American infantry unit to fight in World War I. They were also 
one of the most decorated.
  This is extraordinary. They became one of the most feared units 
fighting for the Allies in World War I, and they were notorious for 
never yielding ground to their enemies. This is extraordinary.
  Their name, Harlem Hellfighters, which was given to them by the 
Germans, is reflective of that reputation. That was a hard-won 
reputation that they had, and that name is synonymous with the fear 
that produced in our enemies. They fearlessly spent 191 consecutive 
days on the front lines, which was more time in combat than any other 
American unit during the Great War--during World War I.
  Additionally, I would be remiss if I did not point out that at least 
249 North Carolina-born African-American men served in this prestigious 
unit. These brave sons of Carolina fought valiantly just west of the 
Argonne Forest in defense of an outpost against a German raiding party. 
During this conflict, four North Carolinian Hellfighters were wounded, 
including Sergeant Henry Johnson, a native of Winston-Salem that I have 
the honor to represent.
  Not only were these men fierce fighters, they were also instrumental 
in influencing art and culture, including introducing jazz to Europe, 
and for that the Europeans should be grateful. Their leader, James 
Reese Europe, directed their regimental band to international acclaim.
  Madam Speaker, the Harlem Hellfighters of World War I deserve a 
Congressional Gold Medal as the highest recognition of national 
appreciation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I am grateful 
for the bipartisan nature of this bill and also bringing attention to 
the valiant soldiers who protected us during the Great War, especially 
this very special decorated unit of intense fighters but fantastic 
humans.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Suozzi) who is also the sponsor of this legislation.
  Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, today we have the opportunity to begin to 
right a century-old wrong. I rise to support the creation of a 
Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the Harlem Hellfighters.
  Thousands of Harlem Hellfighters were African-American soldiers who 
signed up to join the U.S. Army in World War I. Sadly, but predictably, 
White soldiers were unwilling to serve alongside Black soldiers, and 
these brave men were assigned to join the French Army. But that didn't 
stop them.
  The Harlem Hellfighters, wearing U.S. uniforms but issued weapons and 
helmets by the French, went on to face more combat time than any other 
regiment during World War I. No Harlem Hellfighter was captured as a 
prisoner of war, and they never gave up any ground.
  The bravery, dedication, and sacrifices of the Harlem Hellfighters 
who served 191 days under near-constant enemy fire impacted the outcome 
of World War I, but instead of receiving a hero's welcome, they 
returned home to racism and race-fueled violence.
  There were three dozen Hellfighters who came from my hometown of Glen 
Cove. In 2019 the family of Sergeant Leander Willett came to tell me 
about their father and grandfather. He had served in France and had 
been stabbed by a German bayonet and been the victim of mustard gas 
attacks, but never received a Purple Heart. He returned home and died 
in 1956 without ever being properly recognized and honored for his 
service to our country. He joined his fellow comrades who have been 
lost to history.
  In November of 2019 we surprised the Willett family with a posthumous 
Purple Heart for Sergeant Willett for wounds received as a result of 
hostile actions in France on October 4, 1918.
  I then approached my colleague Adriano Espaillat, who represents 
Harlem, and the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Joyce 
Beatty, about collaborating together to attain a Congressional Gold 
Medal. They both immediately and enthusiastically agreed. We went on to 
obtain 310 bipartisan cosponsors of this bill and expect strong support 
today.
  I would like to especially thank Chairwoman Waters for her and the 
Financial Services Committee's support. On behalf of the Willett 
family, the families of dozens of Harlem Hellfighters from my hometown, 
and a grateful Nation, we say thank you to this body for putting aside 
partisanship and helping to right a century-old harm. It is never too 
late to do the right thing.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Espaillat).
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Suozzi for his 
leadership on this bill and for working with me on this fight for 
justice. I also want to thank Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member 
McHenry for working with us to get this bill out of the committee.
  Today, I rise in support of this bill to honor a group of brave men 
who have yet to receive their due commendation: the Harlem 
Hellfighters.
  This distinguished group of African-American and Puerto Rican men 
were patriots of the highest valor. Their bravery, dedication, 
perseverance, and

[[Page H2784]]

service helped the United States and our Allied forces in our fight to 
secure victory. But, Madam Speaker, these fighters weren't even 
permitted to serve alongside their fellow White soldiers. Our 
government threw them to the side--assigning them to a unit of the 
French Government rather than our own.
  They put their lives on the line for the freedoms enshrined in our 
Constitution, despite doing so at a time when many like them did not 
enjoy the very freedoms they fought to protect.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from New York an 
additional 1 minute.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, these men spent 191 days in combat and 
were the most active regiment throughout the entire First World War. 
Under constant enemy fire and cast away from the nation they swore an 
oath to protect, they still persevered, fighting until the end.
  There is no doubt that their heroism impacted the outcome of the war 
and, undoubtedly, American history as well.
  This bill is a necessary first step to righting the decades-old 
injustice. It is about time the Harlem Hellfighters' invaluable 
contributions be commended and commemorated, and their service be 
formally recognized by our government. Let's finally give these men the 
Congressional Gold Medal they deserve.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Beatty).
  Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for managing 
this time.
  To the gentleman from New York, what an honor it is for me to stand 
on this House floor as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, as a 
Black woman, to urge my colleagues to support the Harlem Hellfighters 
Congressional Gold Medal Act.
  We have heard so much about them, and I am proud to join them, giving 
them the recognition that they deserve. These men of this segregated 
unit fought bravely in the First World War and distinguished themselves 
in battle across France. The men of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the 
Harlem Hellfighters, are an important chapter in the long history of 
Black Americans serving our country.
  So often we talk about Black history, but it is important to know 
that Black history is American history. And, today, we stand here 
united as Americans, Democrats, Republicans, asking our colleagues to 
make sure that we recognize the Harlem Hellfighters for the great work, 
the great bravery, for what they did for this country.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, may I inquire if there are additional 
speakers? I am prepared to close.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and I am 
prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield 
myself the balance of my time.
  There is an extraordinary story to tell about the American Armed 
Forces. There is an extraordinary story to tell about African Americans 
in our Armed Forces in the United States.
  The Harlem Hellfighters were representative of a really amazing 
achievement during the war to end all wars, World War I. But there are 
also stories before this. That was not the first group of African 
Americans to fight to defend our Nation.
  It was not the Civil War where African Americans fought for our 
Nation for the first time. It was not. It was actually our liberation 
from Great Britain. It was George Washington's army that had African 
Americans serving alongside other Americans to liberate us from Great 
Britain.
  Our founding of this Nation is one of a multiracial, multiethnic, 
multilingual, amazing group of folks who wanted the same things, which 
is freedom to make decisions for themselves and for their families. And 
it was that first integrated army, which was George Washington's army, 
the Continental Army, that begat the African Americans who served 
alongside other Americans in the Civil War.
  And, sadly, that established capacity was lost for two generations 
before the Great War, and the Harlem Hellfighters showed the American 
people that African Americans can fight just as well as any other 
American, and, in fact, do better in unmitigated harsh treatment on the 
front lines of the biggest war that anyone thought they would ever see 
in their lifetimes; which then said, during World War II, actually, we 
are all in this together; which then changed the whole face of the 20th 
century.
  So what the Harlem Hellfighters represent to us in this debate is not 
just the good work of the Congressional delegation from New York, or 
Congressman Suozzi in bringing this to the floor today, but giving us 
the opportunity to highlight what this generation of men showed to the 
American people and to our allies in Europe about who we are as 
Americans.
  So for us to honor the Harlem Hellfighters today has given us the 
opportunity to recognize 100 years of progress. Not even progress, not 
fulfillment of every dream that we have as Americans, not perfect, not 
perfect, but a whole hell of a lot better than we were 100 years ago 
when these Harlem Hellfighters showed the world not just what America 
is about, but specifically what African Americans were about and their 
capacity. Not just capacity to fight, but to be smart, to be capable, 
to deliver results, to be the best, the best.
  So the last hundred years, you can go back to that generation of 
Harlem Hellfighters and you can see what they brought to the public and 
the understanding that they brought over the last hundred years, and it 
made us better.
  So for us to have this opportunity to recognize them also lets us 
recognize ourselves as a country and who we are, and to actually say, 
you know, it is pretty amazing. We have an amazing country. And these 
men who fought and died--many who died--they loved their country. They 
love their country and they are willing to not just support it with 
words like I am right now, but with their lives.
  So, with a grateful heart, I say thank you to Congressman Suozzi and 
his constituents for bringing this debate to the floor.
  I want to thank my colleagues for doing this in a very wide, 
bipartisan way, and giving us the opportunity to have a broader look at 
history and the greatness of the last century and the improvement that 
we have as a result of what they broke through over 100 years ago in 
the Argonne Forest.
  Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  In closing, I certainly want to thank Mr. Suozzi for bringing forward 
this legislation. I want to thank Mr. Espaillat and Congresswoman 
Beatty for joining with him to bring this legislation forward. I want 
to thank Mr. McHenry and the members of the Financial Services 
Committee for joining together in support of this legislation.

  The Harlem Hellfighters braved long deployments, treacherous 
conditions, and the scorn of their fellow patriots. So we find 
ourselves, I guess, 100 years later or so, understanding the important 
role that they played and the sacrifices that they made.
  We also understand how important it is for all of us to not only give 
recognition to their sacrifice, but also recognize that this country 
has gone through some very difficult times, faced with the question of 
race.
  Despite the fact that we have seen times in this country when we were 
moving forward and we thought we were erasing the kind of racism that 
had been present for too long, we find ourselves today fighting some of 
the same battles.
  There are many in the history of this country who have made 
sacrifices in so many different ways that perhaps will never be 
recognized. But I am hopeful, with the cooperation, the cosponsorship, 
and the work for both sides of the aisle on a recognition such as this, 
that this will help us to continue to fight to rid this country of 
racism and discrimination and hatred.
  I am hopeful that the word will go forward today about this 
recognition that we are giving to the Harlem Hellfighters and will 
inspire others to want to praise and honor those who are certainly ones 
who are so committed to

[[Page H2785]]

justice and equality, and who love this country will be treated better, 
will be recognized, and certainly will be given their correct place in 
history.
  So I urge Members to celebrate the memory of these brave men of the 
369th Infantry Regiment, who, through their service, sought to realize 
a more equal and a more perfect union, by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 3642.
  Madam 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. Waters) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3642, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. BOEBERT. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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