III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 94 

Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the integration of the United States 

Armed Forces. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 22, 2008 

Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. KENNEDY, and Mr. OBAMA) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the integration of the 

United States Armed Forces. 

Whereas service members representing a wide diversity of 

races and nationalities have fought in every war in the 

history of the United States; 

Whereas, on July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed 

Executive Order 9981, ordering the racial integration of 

the Armed Forces; 

Whereas President Truman declared that there should be 

equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in 

the Armed Forces, without regard to race, color, religion, 

or national origin; 

Whereas the United States could not maintain an all-volunteer force without the service of, and critical role played 


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•SCON 94 ATS 

by, service members representing a wide diversity of races 

and nationalities; 

Whereas service member diversity brings a unique perspective 

and experience to the Armed Forces; 

Whereas the Armed Forces led the way in social integration 

prior to the signal achievement of the legal victory in the 

Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education, 

347 U.S. 483 (1954), which rejected separate white and 

colored schools; 

Whereas the Armed Forces led the way in social integration 

prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 

which banned discrimination in employment practices and 

public accommodations, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 

which restored and protected voting rights, and the Civil 

Rights Act of 1968, which banned discrimination in the 

sale or rental of housing; 

Whereas the integration of the Armed Forces enhanced the 

combat effectiveness of the military 60 years ago, and 

that still holds true to the current day; 

Whereas the efforts of the Armed Forces to ensure equality 

of treatment and opportunity for their personnel significantly assisted in the advancement of that goal for all 

Americans; and 

Whereas, in 2008, members representing a wide diversity of 

races and nationalities serve in senior leadership positions 

throughout the Armed Forces, as commissioned and warrant officers, as senior noncommissioned officers, and as 

civilian leaders: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 


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•SCON 94 ATS 

1 (1) recognizes the historic significance of the 

2 60th anniversary of the integration of the Armed 

3 Forces of the United States; 

4 (2) reaffirms the commitment of the Federal 

5 Government to ensuring diversity in the military; 

6 and 

7 (3) commends African-Americans, Hispanics, 

8 Asian-Americans, Native Americans, and service 

9 members of all races and nationalities for their re10 markable achievements, sacrifices, and contributions 

11 to our Armed Forces in all conflicts in United States 

12 history in the face of discrimination, hostility, and 

13 other obstacles. 

Æ 


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