Press Releases

Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:

“Doris “Dorie” Miller was a U.S. Navy sailor who served as a mess attendant aboard the USS West Virginia, helping carry wounded sailors to safety during the attack on Pearl Harbor. For his valiant efforts and extraordinary courage, Dorie Miller became the first Black recipient of the Navy Cross, the Navy’s second-highest honor, and was nominated for the Medal of Honor.

“Dorie Miller exemplifies true American heroism, as well as the vital role Black Americans played in World War II, even as they faced discrimination at home. Reports that U.S. Navy leadership is discussing renaming a Navy aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump instead of Dorie Miller are not simply about the name of a ship. They are about who we call a hero, whose sacrifice we remember, and what history we pass on to the next generation.

“We also cannot divorce this conversation from the deliberate and ongoing attempts by the Trump administration to erase Black history and appease Donald Trump’s relentless ego.

“Any decision to dishonor the legacy of Dorie Miller and the Black service members who have served our nation cannot be tolerated. Black history is not a footnote and cannot be erased; it is an integral part of American history.”