Senators unanimously voted to authorize award of the Congressional Gold Medal to the nearly 1,000 members of the Tuskegee Airmen, in recognition of their singular military record during World War II. The House must also approve the measure before it becomes law. According to a press release from Sen. Larry Craig, chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, the Tuskegee Airmen will be the largest group ever to receive the award.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.