Expressing support for Black service members this Memorial Day who gave their lives to protect and defend the United States at home and abroad despite facing racism in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities on United States soil.

Bill: 118-hres-455
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
Introduced: 2023-05-26
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Latest action: action_date: 2023-05-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-05-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution expresses support for Black service members who gave their lives to protect and defend the United States at home and abroad.</p>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 455 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 26, 2023 Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick (for herself, Mr. Clyburn , Mr. Bishop of Georgia , Mr. Davis of North Carolina , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Lieu , Ms. Norton , Mr. Carson , Mrs. Watson Coleman , Ms. Jackson Lee , Ms. Brown , Ms. Lee of California , Mr. Thompson of Mississippi , Mr. Takano , Ms. Tlaib , Mr. Payne , Ms. Porter , Mr. Green of Texas , Ms. Williams of Georgia , Ms. Slotkin , Mr. Evans , Ms. Wilson of Florida , Ms. Houlahan , Mr. Carter of Louisiana , Mr. Meeks , Mr. Horsford , Mr. García of Illinois , Mr. Kilmer , and Ms. Crockett ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services RESOLUTION Expressing support for Black service members this Memorial Day who gave their lives to protect and defend the United States at home and abroad despite facing racism in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities on United States soil.

Whereas, for over 200 years, Black service members of the Armed Forces have fought and given their lives in every United States conflict since the Revolutionary War; Whereas over 5,000 free and enslaved Black colonials fought with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War; Whereas nearly 40,000 Black soldiers died over the course of the Civil War; Whereas more than 350,000 African Americans served in segregated units during World War I and an estimated 770 died; Whereas more than 1,200,000 African-American men and women served in segregated units in every branch of the United States Armed Forces during World War II, with over 700 dying in war operations; Whereas Black members of the Armed Forces fought the forces of fascism abroad while battling racism on United States soil and in the United States military; Whereas, in 1948, President Truman issued Executive Order 9981 to desegregate the Armed Forces, and an estimated 600,000 Black members of the Armed Forces served in the Korean War, with more than 5,000 giving their lives to stop the invasion of South Korea by communist forces; Whereas approximately 300,000 African Americans served in the Vietnam War, and 7,267 Black Americans died; Whereas nearly 25 percent of all members of the Armed Forces who served in the Persian Gulf War were Black, and 63 Black men and 3 Black women died in military operations during that war; and Whereas between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 United States individuals served in the Armed Forces during the Global War on Terror, and more than 7,000 died, with Black members of the Armed Forces making up 21 percent of the Army, 17 percent of the Marine Corps, 10 percent of the Air Force, 10 percent of the Navy, and 5.8 percent of the Coast Guard, despite representing 13 percent of the population; Now, therefore, be it—

That the House of Representatives expresses support this Memorial Day for Black service members who gave their lives to protect and defend the United States at home and abroad despite facing racism in the Armed Forces and systemic inequities on United States soil.