BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: SCR 90
SENATOR MARK DESAULNIER, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: anderson
VERSION: 5/25/12
Analysis by: Carrie Cornwell FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 12, 2012
SUBJECT:
Tuskegee Airmen Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates a three-mile portion of State Highway
Route (SR) 15 between Miramar Road and Mercy Road in San Diego
County as the Tuskegee Airmen Highway.
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
The person being honored must have provided
extraordinary public service or some exemplary contribution
to the public good and have a connection to the community
where the highway is located.
The person being honored must be deceased.
The naming must be done without cost to the state.
Costs for signs and plaques must be paid by local or
private sources.
The author or co-author of the resolution must represent
the district in which the facility is located and the
resolution must identify the specific highway segment or
structure being named.
The segment of highway being named must not exceed five
miles in length.
The proposed designation must reflect a community
consensus and be without local opposition.
SCR 90 (ANDERSON) Page 2
The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good
faith effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the
prior designation.
This resolution designates the portion of SR 15 between Miramar
Road (milepost marker 14.285) and Mercy Road (milepost marker
17.311), in the County of San Diego, as the Tuskegee Airmen
Highway. The resolution further requests that the Department of
Transportation erect appropriate signs upon receiving donations
from non-state sources to cover the costs.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose . The author introduced this resolution to honor the
service of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II and their
contribution to the eventual integration of the United States
Armed Forces.
2.Background . Before 1940, the United States barred African
Americans from flying for the U.S. military. Civil rights
organizations and the press exerted pressure that resulted in
the formation of an all African-American pursuit squadron
based in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1941. Those serving at Tuskegee
became known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
"Tuskegee Airmen" refers to all who were involved in the
so-called "Tuskegee Experience," the Army Air Corps program to
train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft.
The Tuskegee Airmen included pilots, navigators, bombardiers,
maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the
personnel who kept the planes in the air.
The military selected the Tuskegee Institute to train pilots
because of its commitment to aeronautical training. Tuskegee
had the facilities, the engineering, and technical
instructors, as well as the climate for year-round flying.
The first students of the Civilian Pilot Training Program
completed their instruction in May 1940. The Tuskegee program
was then expanded and became the center for African-American
aviation during World War II.
The Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice to
become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of
World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen's achievements, together
with the men and women who supported them, paved the way for
SCR 90 (ANDERSON) Page 3
full integration of the U.S. military.
3.Consistent with the committee's policy . This resolution is
consistent with the provisions of the committee's policy on
highway designations.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on
Wednesday, June 6,
2012)
SUPPORT: Six individuals
OPPOSED: None received.