Charles Rangel: “I rise to pay homage to the Tuskegee Airmen, whose outstanding valor in World War II inspired revolutionary reform in…”

“I rise to pay homage to the Tuskegee Airmen, whose outstanding valor in World War II inspired revolutionary reform in the U.S. Armed Services. H.R. 1259 which I introduced on March 10, 2005 recognizes these achievements and on behalf of the people of the United States conferring upon the Tuskegee Airmen the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest award. Today, I stand before this House with unbounded joy and pride as we prepare to enact this legislation honoring the Tuskegee Airmen who are still with us and honoring those who have passed on. I feel the joy of the wives and widows sons and daughters of Tuskegee Airmen who have waited a long time for this day. I wish to thank the more than 300 Members of the House who signed on as cosponsors making this a truly bipartisan effort. I wish to commend particularly Chairman Michael Oxley and Ranking Member Barney Frank, of the authorizing Committee on Financial Services as well as Chairman Duncan Hunter and Ranking Member Ike Skelton of the Armed Services Committee who made a bipartisan appeal to the entire House in support of this bill. I would be remiss not to mention Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who commended this bill to the Members of the House. WHO ARE THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN?…”