[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CELEBRATING 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 9981

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Strong). The Chair recognizes the 
gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th 
anniversary of Executive Order No. 9981, which desegregated the U.S. 
Armed Forces.
  It was in my home State of Alabama--I should say, ``our home State of 
Alabama''--in 1941 that 1,000 brave Black men trained at the great 
Tuskegee University to become the first Black pilots in U.S. history. 
They challenged the status quo by showing White pilots and U.S. 
military leadership that they were more than qualified to defend the 
United States in a combat role.
  Segregation in the military finally ended on July 26, 1948, with 
President Truman's Executive Order No. 9981, but progress has been 
slow, Mr. Speaker. It took another 40 years before Colin Powell made 
history and became the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff. Furthermore, it was just 2 years ago when Lloyd Austin was 
confirmed as the very first Black Secretary of Defense in our Nation's 
history.
  The battle to end discrimination in the military is one that we are 
still fighting today. Just this month, House Republicans voted to strip 
diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from the Armed Forces, 
undermining decades of strides toward racial equality.

  That is why, yesterday, I joined Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland in 
introducing a bill to finally codify nondiscrimination in the military. 
As our servicemembers risk their lives daily to protect our country, 
the least we can do is to protect them from discrimination.
  I am immensely proud to honor the enormous contributions of the 
Tuskegee Airmen today. We must never forget the precious gift of 
freedom that is preserved because of their dedication and courage.

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