Alabama congressman introduces bill to create Tuskegee Airmen Memorial in Washington DC

U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, has introduced a bipartisan bill to establish a memorial in Washington D.C. to commemorate the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black aviators in the history of the U.S. military.

The legislation, dubbed the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Act of 2026, authorizes Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. to establish the memorial site on federal land to commemorate the “commitment and service” of the original Tuskegee Airmen.

Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and engaging with youth to inspire careers in STEM, aviation and aerospace.

“The Tuskegee Airmen are among the most heroic and consequential soldiers that our nation has ever had,” Figures said. “While facing horrific discrimination at home, these men risked their lives to defend rights and freedoms abroad.

Their courage, skill, and unwavering dedication not only contributed to the Allied victory but also helped pave the way for the desegregation of the U.S. military.”

The name for the Tuskegee Airmen derives from their training at Tuskegee Army Airfield prior to joining the Air Corps during World War II. The Black service members were influential in breaking racial barriers that helped lead to the desegregation of the military in 1948.

The legislation is also co-sponsored by Alabama’s entire House delegation including Republican Congress members.

Angela Holmes, 1st Vice President for Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., thanked Figures for introducing the bill and said it was a “vital milestone” in preserving the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

“Their contributions to our country deserve to be memorialized in our nation’s capital, and I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to make that a reality,” Figures said.

This is not the first bill Figures has introduced related to the Tuskegee Airmen. In November he presented legislation to rename the Tuskegee Post Office at 401 North Elm Street to the “Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Post Office.”

Figures’ office announced Wednesday that the post office legislation moved out of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and has bi-partisan support.

It will now move to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

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