IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1026 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Black History Month and honoring the 

outstanding contributions of African-American Congressional Medal of 

Honor recipients. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 23, 2024 

Mrs. BEATTY (for herself, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. BLUNT

ROCHESTER, Ms. BROWN, Ms. BROWNLEY, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Mr. CARSON, 

Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. 

COHEN, Mr. COSTA, Ms. CROCKETT, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, 

Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. 

EVANS, Mrs. FOUSHEE, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. GOLDMAN of New York, 

Mrs. HAYES, Mr. HORSFORD, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. KAPTUR, 

Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. NEGUSE, 

Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. SCANLON, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. DAVID

SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. SEWELL, Ms. STRICKLAND, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. 

TORRES of New York, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, and Ms. WILSON of Florida) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 

Services 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Black History Month 

and honoring the outstanding contributions of AfricanAmerican Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. 

Whereas the Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest 

award for personal acts of valor in action above and beyond the call of duty against an enemy force which can 


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•HRES 1026 IH 

be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United 

States Armed Forces; 

Whereas, since its first presentation in 1863, 3,517 members 

of the Armed Forces have received the Congressional 

Medal of Honor with just less than half being awarded 

for actions during the Civil War; 

Whereas African-American members of the Armed Forces 

have played vital roles in military operations throughout 

the history of the United States; 

Whereas 94 African Americans have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; 

Whereas Sergeant William Harvey Carney, a member of 

Company C of the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry, 

was the first African American to earn the Congressional 

Medal of Honor when, during the attack on Fort Wagner 

on July 18, 1863, he risked his own life above and beyond the call of duty to save the American flag while 

under heavy fire and prevent its capture, despite being 

wounded several times by Confederate fire; 

Whereas William Harvey Carney was not presented with the 

Congressional Medal of Honor until nearly 37 years after 

his acts of bravery; 

Whereas, in 1993, a study commissioned by the United 

States Army described systematic racial discrimination in 

the criteria for awarding medals during World War II; 

Whereas after an exhaustive review, the study recommended 

seven African-American World War II veterans be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; and 

Whereas African-American men and women who today serve 

in the Armed Forces play a critical role in the defense 

and security of the United States: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 1026 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes Black History Month as an im3 portant time to acknowledge and reflect on the sig4 nificant contributions of African Americans in the 

5 history of the United States; and 

6 (2) honors the outstanding contributions of Af7 rican-American members of the United States 

8 Armed Forces, including the 94 African Americans 

9 who have been awarded the Congressional Medal of 

10 Honor for military bravery, heroism, and valor. 

Æ 


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