TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MEMORIAL POST OFFICE

On 2026-09-16, Representative Hakeem S. Jeffries (D-NY-8) delivered a floor speech titled "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MEMORIAL POST OFFICE" in the House.

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MEMORIAL POST OFFICE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5933-H5935] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MEMORIAL POST OFFICE Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6006) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 North Elm Street in Tuskegee, Alabama, as the ``Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office''. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6006 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. TUSKEGEE AIRMEN MEMORIAL POST OFFICE. (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 North Elm Street in Tuskegee, Alabama, shall be known and designated as the ``Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office''. (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Comer) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky. General Leave Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Kentucky? There was no objection. Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill which would rename a post office in Tuskegee, Alabama, for the Tuskegee Airmen. The Tuskegee Airmen played a vital part in American history as the first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces. The program was established in 1941 and trained nearly 1,000 African-American pilots in Tuskegee, Alabama, among thousands of other support personnel. These men bravely participated in consequential combat roles during World War II, including more than 15,000 missions and earning over 150 distinguished Flying Crosses. These dedicated warfighters became widely recognized for their exceptional combat during World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 in remembrance of their military service, which helped pave the way for the desegregation of the military after World War II. I call on my House colleagues to support this bill in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen and their courage, sacrifice, and achievements. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6006, to name a post office in Tuskegee, Alabama, the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office. I want to say a few things about the Tuskegee Airmen. They were honorably serving our country during World War II, and that included 1,000 Black pilots who trained at the segregated Tuskegee Army Airfield out of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama starting in 1941. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Figures). Mr. FIGURES: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on my bill, H.R. 6006, to rename the post office location in my district, in Tuskegee, Alabama, after some of the most heroic and impactful servicemembers in the storied history of our military and our country: the Tuskegee Airmen. Beginning in 1941, thousands of men and women were trained at Tuskegee Institute's Moton Field and the Tuskegee Army Airfield to serve in America's African-American Air Force units during World War II. During that time, almost 1,000 aviators were trained as America's first African-American military pilots. More than 10,000 military and civilian African-American men and women served as everything from flight instructors and officers, to bombardiers, navigators, radio techs, mechanics, air traffic controllers, parachute riggers, electrical and communication specialists, medical professionals, musicians, firefighting personnel, and so much more. This history matters, and we can never forget it, particularly at a time in this administration where we recently saw efforts to remove the Tuskegee Airmen from the Air Force training materials. Fortunately, we were able to push back against that effort in a bipartisan way to rectify that. The Tuskegee Airmen played a significant role in not just this Nation's safety and security, but in this world. This world literally would not look the way it looks today absent the contributions, sacrifices, and service of the Tuskegee Airmen. Actions from these men and women highlight the need to document this rich history and memorialize these men and women every chance we get. We cannot forget that this is the same community, Tuskegee, where George Washington Carver conducted groundbreaking agricultural research, where Booker T. Washington did so much to influence the future of African Americans throughout the South, and where generations of Americans continue to fight for civil rights and equality. I am honored to represent this community. Tuskegee is part of my district, the Second Congressional District of the State of Alabama. I can assure you that my constituents are proud of their history and want it to be celebrated and recognized. Renaming this post office in Tuskegee is a fantastic way to honor the Tuskegee Airmen. A post office is one of those places where the Federal Government intersects with people in their everyday lives. Post offices are cornerstones in so many communities, particularly in rural communities like Tuskegee. Residents of Tuskegee will walk through the doors of this location to mail a package, pay a bill, receive correspondence, or perhaps even correspond with my office. When they do, they will see the name Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office, and they will be reminded of the rich history that belongs to the community they call home. They will be reminded that their home played a role in determining the future of our Nation. The Tuskegee Airmen helped move this country forward and this world forward, and my bill is a simple, yet powerful way of honoring their contributions to our Nation. The Tuskegee Airmen earned their place in American history, and it is our responsibility to make sure that that place is never diminished or forgotten. The legacy of the airmen goes well beyond the State of Alabama, which is why I also introduced the bipartisan Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Act, which I introduced with the entire delegation from the State of Alabama. It would authorize the establishment of a memorial here in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the service, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. I would like to thank Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated; all of the national chapters of Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated; leadership at Tuskegee University; the City of Tuskegee; Macon County; my colleagues in the Alabama delegation; and especially Congressman Gary Palmer of the Oversight Committee for helping advance this legislation. This is something that is very meaningful to us in Alabama. It truly is. Just last September, we recognized the passing of Lieutenant Colonel George Hardy, who was the last surviving Tuskegee Airman who flew combat missions in World War II. {time} 1450 It literally was the end of an era. It was the end of a very important era in [[Page H5934]] this Nation's history and in this world's history. This is just another way to honor the life and legacy and sacrifice of so many who paid so much for this country and this world to be what it is. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. COMER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the minority leader. Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from the Commonwealth of Virginia for yielding and for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the underlying bill to honor the heroic, brave, and patriotic Tuskegee Airmen, part of the Greatest Generation, who stood up against fascism, authoritarianism, and the forces that were trying to bring about totalitarianism all across Europe and to the rest of the world. We can learn and be inspired by the courage, the character, and the conviction of the Tuskegee Airmen. It is unfortunate that some in this administration are trying to erase their history, but that history is not just Black history. It is American history. We will never let it be erased. We must continue to be informed by it, encouraged by it, and inspired by it. As I was thinking about this on the way over, I am certainly so thankful to Congressman Shomari Figures for his leadership in advancing this legislation and for continuing, in every possible way, to stand up for his constituents of every race in the great State of Alabama. As I was thinking about the Tuskegee Airmen and the Greatest Generation who rescued the world from Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany, and fascism, I thought how ironic it is that we are on the floor today debating legislation with respect to Russia, Vladimir Putin, and their horrific invasion of Ukraine. House Democrats, led by Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer and many others, have been at the forefront of standing up for the people of Ukraine, pushing back against the effort to run them over, pushing back against tyranny and propaganda and the horrors that have been inflicted on them by Vladimir Putin and this war of aggression that Russia has launched. We will continue to, at all times, stand behind the Ukrainian people, sup

Referenced legislation: HR6006, HR6006