The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PROCLAMATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E829-E830 on May 1, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PROCLAMATION
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HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 3, 2003, the Chicago ``DODO'' Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated, in concert with Black Pilots of America will honor three of aviation's pioneer women of color, Bessie Coleman, Willa Beatrice Brown and Janet Harmon;
Bessie Coleman journeyed to France in 1920 to enter the field of aviation, planning to return to America to open an aviation program for African Americans; and
Bessie Coleman died on April 30, 1926, while preparing for an air show to benefit the Negro Welfare League of Jacksonville, Florida;
In 1939, Willa B. Brown held a limited commercial pilot's license issued by the United States Commerce Department; and
Managed the Coffey School of Aeronautics, which was awarded a government contract to train the first group of African-American aviators, and was the first African-American woman to hold a United States Civil Air Patrol Commission;
Janet Harmon was one of the first African-American women to purchase an airplane, which she then made available to the Challenger Air Pilots Association for training purposes; and
Served as surrogate advisor to the first group of African-American aviation cadets for the United States Army Air Force:
Now, therefore be it resolved that I, Danny K. Davis, duly elected by the people of the Illinois 7th Congressional District, do hereby join with the ``DODO'' Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated, in concert with Black Pilots of America hereby proclaim;
Saturday, May 3, 2003, to be the day we celebrate as Aviation Pioneer Women of Color Day in Chicago and all over America; and urge all people to take note of the pioneering contributions to aviation made by these women of color;
Done, this 3rd day of May, 2003.
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