IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1139 

Acknowledging April 17, 2024, as the 500th anniversary of the discovery 

of New York Bay by Giovanni da Verrazzano. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 12, 2024 

Ms. MALLIOTAKIS (for herself, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. LAWLER, Ms. 

CLARKE of New York, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. MOLINARO, Ms. MENG, Ms. 

TENNEY, Mr. LANGWORTHY, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, 

Mr. WILLIAMS of New York, Mr. D’ESPOSITO, Mr. LALOTA, Mr. GOLDMAN of New York, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. PALLONE, and Mr. 

PANETTA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Accountability 

RESOLUTION 

Acknowledging April 17, 2024, as the 500th anniversary 

of the discovery of New York Bay by Giovanni da 

Verrazzano. 

Whereas Giovanni da Verrazzano was born in 1485 in Val di 

Greve, Republic of Florence, which is now a part of the 

Italian Republic; 

Whereas King Francis I of France commissioned Verrazzano 

to lead an expedition aimed at finding a western passage 

from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean; 

Whereas Verrazzano’s discovery of New York Bay expanded 

maritime knowledge of what became the East Coast of 


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•HRES 1139 IH 

the United States and laid the foundation for future commerce and settlements in North America; 

Whereas Verrazzano’s voyage sparked future explorations of 

the New World, including, 85 years later, Henry Hudson’s 1609 voyage to New York Bay to establish New 

Amsterdam; 

Whereas New Amsterdam became New York on September 8, 

1664; 

Whereas New York City has the highest economic impact of 

any city in the United States and continues to serve as 

a major global economic hub, and New York Bay continues to be a major hub for trade and commerce; 

Whereas New York Bay, home to the Statue of Liberty, is 

where 12 million immigrants legally passed through Ellis 

Island at a rate of 5,000 people per day from 1892 to 

1954; 

Whereas the New York City metropolitan area is home to 

over 2.5 million Italian Americans; 

Whereas to commemorate and underscore the significant impact of Giovanni da Verrazzano’s discovery of New York 

Bay, on March 9, 1960, Governor Nelson Rockefeller 

signed legislation that named the bridge connecting the 

boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn as the 

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge; 

Whereas the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge was inaugurated on 

November 21, 1964, was the world’s longest suspension 

bridge until 1981, and spans the Narrows; and 

Whereas the legacy of Giovanni da Verrazzano is further honored at Battery Park, New York City, and Rehoboth 

Beach, Delaware, recognizing Verrazzano’s impact as the 


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•HRES 1139 IH 

first European explorer to chart what became the East 

Coast of the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) acknowledges April 17, 2024, as the 500th 

3 anniversary of the discovery of New York Bay by 

4 Giovanni da Verrazzano; and 

5 (2) recognizes the contributions of Giovanni da 

6 Verrazzano’s voyage to North America, highlighting 

7 Verrazzano’s pivotal role in the mapping and explo8 ration of the continent and Verrazzano’s lasting im9 pact on the foundation of New York City and the 

10 United States. 

Æ 


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