IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 733 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should 

be established an Irish-American Heritage Month. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 16, 2006 

Mr. RYAN of Ohio (for himself, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Mr. 

PAYNE, Mr. WOLF, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. KUCINICH, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, 

Mr. RANGEL, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota, 

Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. FITZPATRICK of Pennsylvania, Ms. MCCOLLUM of 

Minnesota, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. ROTHMAN, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

of Texas, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. 

ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Ms. HART, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. 

SWEENEY, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. CARNAHAN, 

Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. HONDA, and Mr. 

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

Committee on Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

there should be established an Irish-American Heritage 

Month. 

Whereas, by 1776, nearly 300,000 people had emigrated from 

Ireland to the United States; 

Whereas, following the victory of General George Washington’s troops at Yorktown, Lord Mountjoy reported to the 

British Parliament the surrender of General Charles 


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•HRES 733 IH 

Cornwallis, proclaiming, ‘‘We have lost America through 

the exertions of the Irish’’; 

Whereas Irish-born Commodore John Barry was the first flag 

officer of the United States Navy and is endeared by 

many as the ‘‘Father of the American Navy’’; 

Whereas at least 8 signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish ancestry; 

Whereas 19 Presidents of the United States proudly claim 

Irish heritage, including the first President, George 

Washington; 

Whereas Irish-born James Hoban designed the White House, 

and he was integral in its restoration after it was severely 

damaged by fire in 1814; 

Whereas, in 1892, Annie Moore, from County Cork, Ireland, 

was the first immigrant admitted through Ellis Island, 

contributing to America’s diverse culture by offering the 

rich customs and culture of her native land; 

Whereas at least 263 recipients of the Congressional Medal 

of Honor proudly claim Ireland as their birthplace, making Irish-born individuals the largest group of foreignborn recipients of the prestigious honor; 

Whereas Irish-American social reformer Elizabeth Cady Stanton successfully championed women’s voting rights, which 

were granted in 1920 by the 19th amendment to the 

Constitution; 

Whereas pioneers of the American space program were of 

Irish descent, including Kathryn Sullivan, the first 

woman to walk in space, and Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, 

America’s first school teacher to bravely engage in space 

exploration, who ultimately gave her life to the empiricism of knowledge about the surrounding universe; 


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•HRES 733 IH 

Whereas more than 44 million American citizens are of Irish 

descent; 

Whereas each year, on March 17th, the United States and 

its citizens humbly observe St. Patrick’s Day in honor of 

the patron saint of Ireland; and 

Whereas the Irish and their descendants have toiled throughout the existence of the United States, contributing significantly to the enrichment of all aspects of life in this 

Nation, including military and public service, science, 

education, agriculture, industry, dance, music, theatre, 

film, literature, visual composition, business, technology, 

athletics, and leadership: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) an Irish-American Heritage Month should 

4 be established; and 

5 (2) the people of the United States should ob6 serve such a month with appropriate ceremonies, 

7 celebrations, and activities. 

Æ 


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