[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 184 (Wednesday, October 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H5691-H5692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1230
   TUSKEGEE AIRMAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT J. FRIEND MEMORIAL POST 
                            OFFICE BUILDING

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1170) to designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 1 League in Irvine, 
California, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. 
Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1170

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

     SECTION 1. TUSKEGEE AIRMAN LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROBERT J. 
                   FRIEND MEMORIAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1 League in Irvine, California, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant 
     Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel 
     Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. 
LaTurner) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise 
and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this 
measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of H.R. 1170 to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service at 1 League 
in Irvine, California, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel 
Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''.
  Before passing away in June of 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Friend was 
one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen who took to the skies during 
World War II as the first African American military aviators.
  The roughly 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 combat sorties, 
destroyed 260 enemy aircrafts, and received 150 decorations of the 
Flying Cross and Legion of Merit, fighting the Nazi Luftwaffe while 
simultaneously striking a blow against racism back home.
  Lieutenant Colonel Friend flew fighter aircrafts for nearly 2 years 
during the war. During Lieutenant Colonel Friend's 142 combat missions, 
he destroyed critical Nazi and Axis power military assets, helping move 
the U.S. and ally forces towards victory during the war.
  In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Friend served in strategic roles as 
an operations officer for the 301st Squadron and was the final 
operations officer of the 332nd Fighter Group. Lieutenant Colonel 
Friend also served honorably in Korea and Vietnam.
  Lieutenant Colonel Friend was the recipient of multiple military 
awards for service, including the: Distinguished Flying Cross, 
Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Flying Cross, three 
Distinguished Service Medals, and an Air Medal. In addition, Lieutenant 
Colonel Friend and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the 
Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
  Following the war, Lieutenant Colonel Friend studied astrophysics at 
the Air Force Institute of Technology and business at the University of 
California in Los Angeles. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, 
he worked as a consultant on the development of missile systems and 
space-station components near his home in Irvine, California.
  Naming a post office for Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Friend is 
entirely appropriate given his distinguished, extraordinary 
contributions to his State and country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1170, which would name a 
post office after Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend, one of the last 
surviving Tuskegee Airmen.
  Lieutenant Colonel Friend was a fighter pilot for 2 years during 
World War II, and destroyed critical Nazi military assets, bolstering 
the United States. He also served in Korea and Vietnam.
  After retiring from the military, he studied astrophysics and 
business at the University of California, Los Angeles.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much 
time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Porter), the distinguished chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations of the Committee on Natural Resources.
  Ms. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for recognizing me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1170, which will 
designate the post office located at 1 League in Irvine, California, as 
the Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post 
Office Building.
  I introduced this bill to honor the legacy of a true Orange County 
hero, Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend.
  Before passing away in June of 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Friend was 
one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen who took to the skies during 
World War II as the first African American military aviators. The 
roughly 1,000 Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,000 combat sorties, destroyed 260 
enemy aircraft,

[[Page H5692]]

and received 150 decorations of the Flying Cross and Legion of Merit, 
fighting the Nazi Luftwaffe while simultaneously striking a blow 
against racism back home.
  Lieutenant Colonel Friend flew fighter aircraft for nearly 2 years 
during the war. During his 142 combat missions, he destroyed critical 
Nazi and Axis power military assets, helping move the U.S. and Allied 
forces toward victory during the war.
  Lieutenant Colonel Friend was the recipient of multiple military 
awards for valorous service, including the: Distinguished Flying Cross, 
Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star with Flying Cross, three 
Distinguished Service Medals, and Air Medal. In addition, Lieutenant 
Colonel Friend and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the 
Congressional Gold Medal in 2007.
  Following the war, Lieutenant Colonel Friend studied astrophysics at 
the Air Force Institute of Technology and business at the University of 
California, Los Angeles. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971, he 
worked as a consultant on the development of missile systems and space-
station components near our community and his home in Irvine, 
California.
  Lieutenant Colonel Friend is survived by his children: Thelma, 
Robert, Jr., Michael, Debra, Dana, Karen, and Clara Ann Browning; 18 
grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-
grandchildren. His son, Darryl, died in 2002 while on active duty in 
the military.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the other Members of the California delegation 
for signing on in support of this bill and ensuring that Lieutenant 
Colonel Friend's name is memorialized and his legacy lives on for 
future generations.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am 
prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of 
H.R. 1170. I thank Representative Porter for her strong support in 
helping to pass this important bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1170.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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