Whereas the Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award for personal acts of valor in action above and beyond the call of duty against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United States Armed Forces; Whereas, since its first presentation in 1863, 3,517 members of the Armed Forces have received the Congressional Medal of Honor with just less than half being awarded for actions during the Civil War; Whereas African-American members of the Armed Forces have played vital roles in military operations throughout the history of the United States; Whereas 94 African Americans have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; Whereas Sergeant William Harvey Carney, a member of Company C of the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry, was the first African American to earn the Congressional Medal of Honor when, during the attack on Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, he risked his own life above and beyond the call of duty to save the American flag while under heavy fire and prevent its capture, despite being wounded several times by Confederate fire; Whereas William Harvey Carney was not presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor until nearly 37 years after his acts of bravery; Whereas, in 1993, a study commissioned by the United States Army described systematic racial discrimination in the criteria for awarding medals during World War II; Whereas after an exhaustive review, the study recommended seven African-American World War II veterans be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; and Whereas African-American men and women who today serve in the Armed Forces play a critical role in the defense and security of the United States: Now, therefore, be it