Last progress February 21, 2025 (1 year ago)
Introduced on February 21, 2025 by Nikema Williams
Creates and encourages observance of an “International Black Aviation Professionals Day” to honor the contributions of Black Americans to aviation, space, and related STEM fields. The measure lists historical achievements by Black pilots, flight attendants, scientists, inventors, organizations, and local leaders, urges improved educational coverage of those contributions, and asks the President to issue a proclamation recognizing their work and promoting career and educational opportunities in aviation.
States that since the birth of aviation, Black Americans have made and continue to make significant contributions to flight, space exploration, and the aviation industry despite significant adversity.
Identifies aviation trailblazers Emory C. Malick (first licensed Black pilot), James H. Banning (first Black pilot to fly across the United States), and Bessie Coleman (first licensed Black woman pilot) and notes they overcame racism and sexism to have careers in aviation.
Says William J. Powell, Jr. established the Bessie Coleman Flying Club, sponsored the first all-Black American airshow, wrote the book 'Unemployment, the Negro and Aviation', produced the documentary film 'Black Wings', and worked to mobilize Black American youth toward aviation.
Describes Cornelius Coffey and Willa Brown organizing Black air enthusiasts, establishing training classes and a school of aeronautics, and helping promote the 1939 flight of Chauncey Spencer and Dale White from Chicago to Washington, DC to campaign against racial segregation in aviation.
States the Tuskegee Army Airfield became a vital center for training Black servicemen and servicewomen as mechanics, control tower operators, and pilots, launching careers of many notable Black aviators including General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., Amelia Jones, Linkwood Williams, Lieutenant Colonel Lee A. Archer, Major Charles Hall, and Brigadier General Charles McGee.
Primary impacts are symbolic and promotional. Black aviation professionals and the broader aviation workforce could see increased public recognition, which may help with recruitment, outreach, and fundraising efforts by industry groups, schools, and nonprofits. Students and educators may be encouraged to incorporate more diverse aviation and STEM histories into curricula, potentially improving awareness of career pathways for Black students. Aviation organizations and employers might expand diversity and outreach initiatives in response, but these changes would be voluntary. There are no new federal obligations, budgetary costs, or mandates on agencies, states, or institutions, so immediate legal or fiscal impacts on governments or employers are negligible.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Updated 6 hours ago
Last progress February 12, 2026 (2 weeks ago)
