Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act
Floor Speech
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3642) to award a Congressional gold medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the ``Harlem Hellfighters'', in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3642
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) When the United States officially entered World War I in April 1917, the Armed Forces were still segregated, even though African-American soldiers had served and distinguished themselves in every war since the Revolutionary War, and even the Colonial Wars preceding the American Revolution.
(2) After several years of advocacy and debate, in 1916 the State of New York authorized the recruitment of the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, which was called to Federal service on July 25, 1917, soon after arriving for training at Camp Whitman, New York.
(3) The 15th completed its basic military practice training at Camp Whitman, New York.
(4) To receive combat training, the 15th reported, on October 8, 1917, to Camp Wadsworth, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it experienced many incidents of racial discrimination.
(5) Consequently, the government agreed to remove the 15th from Camp Wadsworth, but, instead of receiving further training, the regiment began preparing for deployment to France in November.
(6) The 15th arrived in Saint Nazaire, France, on January 1, 1918, where it was redesignated the 369th Infantry Regiment
(7) Partly because many White soldiers within the American Expeditionary Forces (hereinafter, the ``AEF'') refused to perform combat duty with Black soldiers, members of the 369th were initially assigned manual labor tasks, such as loading and unloading supplies, and constructing roads and railroads.
(8) After receiving pressure from the 369th regimental commander about not having a combat mission, the AEF attached the 369th to the French Fourth Army.
(9) By mid-March of 1918, the 369th went to the Argonne Forest with the French 16th Division for training and soon entered the trenches.
(10) The 369th encountered its first German soldiers in combat in April, 1918.
(11) In May of 1918, Private Henry Johnson of the 369th received the French Croix de Guerre, with Palm, for extraordinary valor, becoming one of the first American soldiers to be awarded this honor.
(12) Johnson also belatedly received a Purple Heart, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and in, 2015, was awarded the Medal of Honor.
(13) Throughout the remainder of the spring and into the summer the 369th served at Minacourt, in the Champagne-Marne Defensive, and during the Aisne-Marne Offensive in support of the French 161st Infantry Division.
(14) As summer turned to autumn, the 369th went on to participate in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, where it captured the important village of Sechault despite sustaining severe losses.
(15) On October 14, 1918, the 369th advanced to Alsace.
(16) On November 20, 1918, the 369th reached the banks of the Rhine River as part of the French Army of Occupation, the first Allied unit to do so.
(17) The 369th was relieved of its assignment with the French 161st Division in December, 1918, and elements of the regiment sailed for New York in late January and early February, 1919.
(18) The 369th Infantry Regiment received a parade up 5th Avenue in New York City on February 17, 1919, receiving applause and cheers from hundreds of thousands of onlookers.
(19) The 369th was demobilized on February 28, 1919.
(20) Over 170 individual members of the 369th received the Croix de Guerre, many were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and the 369th was awarded a unit citation.
(21) It is generally believed that the 369th was dubbed the ``Harlem Hellfighters'' by German soldiers, who found the men to be incredibly determined and courageous in battle.
(22) The 369th was the first regiment of African Americans to deploy overseas during World War I and spent 191 days on the front line in World War I, more than any other American regimental sized unit.
(23) The 369th never lost a foot of ground nor had a man taken prisoner, despite suffering a high number of casualties. SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Award Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements for the award, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of appropriate design to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the ``Harlem Hellfighters'', in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I.
(b) Design and Striking.--For the purposes of the award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury shall strike the gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by the Secretary.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--Following the award of the gold medal in honor of the 369th Infantry Regiment, the ``Harlem Hellfighters'', the gold medal shall be given to the Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal awarded pursuant to this Act available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations associated with the Harlem Hellfighters. SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under section 3, at a price sufficient to cover the costs of the bronze medals, including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
(b) Proceeds of Sales.--The amounts received from the sale of duplicate medals under subsection (a) shall be deposited in the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
(c) Authority to Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of the medals struck under this Act. SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
The gold medal struck pursuant to this Act is a national medal for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code. SEC. 6. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, the soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment were known to both their enemies and allies alike for their fierceness in battle and dedication to their country. They were called the Black Rattlers, the Men of Bronze, and Hollenkampfer, but they were best known as the Harlem Hellfighters.
The Harlem Hellfighters were one of the first African-American regiments to serve with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. Over the course of the war, the Harlem Hellfighters spent more time than any other American unit in the frontline trenches and suffered 1,500 casualties--the most losses of any American unit.
In addition to facing the dangers of frontline trench warfare, the men of the Harlem Hellfighters endured racist, derogatory attacks from their White compatriots, many of whom refused to perform combat duty with African-American soldiers. This resulted in the Harlem Hellfighters being transferred to a French Army where, despite racist warnings from American Expeditionary Forces headquarters of the alleged inferior nature of African-American troops, the Harlem Hellfighters were treated as welcome reinforcements and equals.
Despite the racism and derogatory attacks from their fellow countrymen, the Harlem Hellfighters were steadfast in their devotion to their country. Some members considered their service to be a way to prove they deserved respect from their White compatriots. Even German propaganda targeting the Harlem Hellfighters highlighting the racism of a segregated U.S. military failed to diminish their resolve.
Yet, despite their considerable sacrifices and being awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Army for their efforts, the Harlem Hellfighters continued to face considerable racism when they returned home after World War I. Their bravery and accomplishments were similarly ignored by the broader American public. But their legacy and memory has been kept alive in their hometown. The annual Harlem Hellfighters Parade in Harlem, New York, became a marker of African- American service to their Nation, and their service was frequently referenced as part of the civil rights campaign.
This bill directs the U.S. Mint to strike a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the Harlem Hellfighters for their service during World War I. The gold medal will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution so that others may learn of the patriotism and courage displayed by the men of the 369th Infantry Regiment.
So, Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Suozzi for introducing this bill.
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi) who is also the sponsor of this legislation.
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat).
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from New York an additional 1 minute.
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty).
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and I am prepared to close.
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Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
In closing, I certainly want to thank Mr. Suozzi for bringing forward this legislation. I want to thank Mr. Espaillat and Congresswoman Beatty for joining with him to bring this legislation forward. I want to thank Mr. McHenry and the members of the Financial Services Committee for joining together in support of this legislation.
The Harlem Hellfighters braved long deployments, treacherous conditions, and the scorn of their fellow patriots. So we find ourselves, I guess, 100 years later or so, understanding the important role that they played and the sacrifices that they made.
We also understand how important it is for all of us to not only give recognition to their sacrifice, but also recognize that this country has gone through some very difficult times, faced with the question of race.
Despite the fact that we have seen times in this country when we were moving forward and we thought we were erasing the kind of racism that had been present for too long, we find ourselves today fighting some of the same battles.
There are many in the history of this country who have made sacrifices in so many different ways that perhaps will never be recognized. But I am hopeful, with the cooperation, the cosponsorship, and the work for both sides of the aisle on a recognition such as this, that this will help us to continue to fight to rid this country of racism and discrimination and hatred.
I am hopeful that the word will go forward today about this recognition that we are giving to the Harlem Hellfighters and will inspire others to want to praise and honor those who are certainly ones who are so committed to justice and equality, and who love this country will be treated better, will be recognized, and certainly will be given their correct place in history.
So I urge Members to celebrate the memory of these brave men of the 369th Infantry Regiment, who, through their service, sought to realize a more equal and a more perfect union, by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 3642.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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