Washington, D.C. – The Congressional Black Caucus released this statement following the House passage of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (FY21 NDAA).
In November 2020, the Congressional Black Caucus voted unanimously to adopt a position that the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act must include a provision mandating the redesignation of Department of Defense property honoring the Confederacy within three years. We are pleased to see that language to that effect was included in the final conference passed out of the House of Representatives today.
“This legislation is one of the most significant steps toward diversity and inclusion in our military since the armed services were integrated in the 1950s. Our military is defined by the values we set for this country, our soldiers, and ourselves. Finally removing these Jim Crow-era memorials to traitors who betrayed our country in order to keep Black men and women in bondage moves our country and military closer to our founding ideals,” said CBC Chair Karen and Bass and HASC Vice-Chair Anthony Brown. “From these values, we must build a strong foundation that fosters diversity and inclusion within our armed services to ensure every American who wants to serve their country in uniform can do so freely and fairly. This NDAA accomplishes that and more.”
