Jackie Speier: “In Bob Marley's iconic anthem he describes the plight of the Buffalo Soldiers as "fighting on arrival, fighting for…”

“In Bob Marley's iconic anthem he describes the plight of the Buffalo Soldiers as "fighting on arrival, fighting for survival." No troops in American history have given more and received less in return than the African American regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers. They also played a pivotal role in the creation of our national parks. Each spring, these sons of slaves hiked hundreds of miles from San Francisco and Monterey to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, serving, in effect, as our country's first park rangers. Regrettably, I have lived my entire life within walking distance of the Buffalo Soldiers Trail and until recently never knew this part of our history. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4491, which directs the National Park Service to study and promote the Buffalo Soldiers.”