PRINTER'S NO. 3100
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2586
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY BOBACK, D. WILLIAMS, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN, PICKETT,
M. MACKENZIE, LONGIETTI, SAPPEY, KIRKLAND, KINSEY,
POLINCHOCK, MILLARD, GUENST, PARKER, HELM, COX, RYAN,
MALAGARI, ROTHMAN, C. WILLIAMS, DeLUCA, SANCHEZ, B. MILLER,
O'MARA, MARSHALL, DEASY, MIZGORSKI, MOUL, KAUFER, TWARDZIK,
GREINER, FLOOD, MATZIE, STEPHENS, MEHAFFIE, HARKINS, HEFFLEY,
HENNESSEY, MERSKI, McCLINTON, DELOZIER, GAYDOS, SHUSTERMAN,
PENNYCUICK, NEILSON, STAATS, DELLOSO, McNEILL, HANBIDGE,
DeLISSIO, COVINGTON, MENTZER, PASHINSKI AND CIRESI,
MAY 11, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, MAY 11, 2022
AN ACT
Amending Title 38 (Holidays and Observances) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in veteran recognition, providing for
Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 38 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
ยง 1304. Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.
(a) Legislative findings and declarations.--The General
Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) During World War I, African Americans were
prohibited from serving as military pilots in the United
States Armed Forces due to their race.
(2) In response to advocacy by civil rights leaders and
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the National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People, the Congress of the United States approved funding
designated for the training of African-American military
pilots in 1939.
(3) On March 22, 1941, the United States Army Air Corps
99th Pursuit Squadron was activated to become the first
African-American fighter squadron.
(4) The members of the 99th Pursuit Squadron were the
first to be known as Tuskegee Airmen because they had
received their initial flight training at Moton Field, a
segregated air base in Tuskegee, Alabama.
(5) Other Tuskegee Airmen would later form the famous
332nd Fighter Group, also known as the "Red Tails" due to the
distinctive red marking on the tail of their aircraft.
(6) Between 1941 and 1946, nearly 1,000 African-American
military pilots were trained in Tuskegee, Alabama.
(7) During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen flew more
than 15,000 sorties and lost only 66 men in the line of duty,
one of the lowest loss records of any escort fighter group.
(8) The courage, dedication and service of the men and
women of the Tuskegee Airmen continues to inspire both
military personnel and civilians of all backgrounds
throughout this country.
(b) Designation.--March 29 of each year is designated as
Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day.
(c) Proclamation.--The Governor shall issue annually a
proclamation encouraging all public schools and educational
institutions to observe Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day and to
conduct exercises recognizing the contributions of the Tuskegee
Airmen and remembering the sacrifices they made for their
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country. The proclamation may not mandate a public school or
educational institution to participate in the observance.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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