110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 148 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every 

State of the Union; 

Whereas emigration from the Caribbean region to the American Colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of 

indentured workers in Jamestown, Virginia; 
2 

•HCON 148 EH 

Whereas during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of slaves from the Caribbean region were 

brought to the United States; 

Whereas since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from 

the Caribbean region to the United States; 

Whereas much like the United States, the countries of the 

Caribbean faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and 

struggled for independence; 

Whereas also like the United States, the people of the Caribbean region have diverse racial, cultural, and religious 

backgrounds; 

Whereas the independence movements in many countries in 

the Caribbean region during the 1960s and the consequential establishment of independent democratic countries in the Caribbean strengthened ties between the region and the United States; 

Whereas Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the 

United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury, 

was born in the Caribbean; 

Whereas there have been many influential Caribbean-Americans in the history of the United States, including Jean 

Baptiste Point du Sable, the pioneer settler of Chicago; 

Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance; James 

Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National Anthem; Shirley Chisolm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first African-American woman candidate 

for President; and Celia Cruz, the world-renowned queen 

of Salsa music; 

Whereas the many influential Caribbean-Americans in the 

history of the United States also include Colin Powell, 

the first African-American Secretary of State; Sidney 
3 

•HCON 148 EH 

Poitier, the first African-American actor to receive the 

Academy Award for best actor in a leading role; Harry 

Belafonte, a musician, actor, and activist; Marion Jones, 

an Olympic gold medalist; Roberto Clemente, the first 

Latino inducted into the baseball hall of fame; and Al 

Roker, a meteorologist and television personality; 

Whereas Caribbean-Americans have played an active role in 

the civil rights movement and other social and political 

movements in the United States; 

Whereas Caribbean-Americans have contributed greatly to 

education, fine arts, business, literature, journalism, 

sports, fashion, politics, government, the military, music, 

science, technology, and other areas in the United States; 

Whereas Caribbean-Americans share their culture through 

carnivals, festivals, music, dance, film, and literature that 

enrich the cultural landscape of the United States; 

Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important economic partners of the United States; 

Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United 

States third border; 

Whereas the people of the Caribbean region share the hopes 

and aspirations of the people of the United States for 

peace and prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere 

and the rest of the world; 

Whereas in June 2006, President George W. Bush issued a 

proclamation declaring June National Caribbean-American Heritage Month after the passage of H. Con. Res 

71 in the 109th Congress by both the Senate and the 

House of Representatives; and 

Whereas June is an appropriate month to establish a Caribbean-American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it 
4 

•HCON 148 EH 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Caribbean4 American Heritage Month; 

5 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

6 to observe Caribbean-American Heritage Month with 

7 appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities; 

8 and 

9 (3) affirms that— 

10 (A) the contributions of Caribbean-Ameri11 cans are a significant part of the history, 

12 progress, and heritage of the United States; 

13 and 

14 (B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the 

15 United States enriches and strengthens the Na16 tion. 

Passed the House of Representatives June 18, 2007. 

Attest: 

Clerk. 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 148 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of National CaribbeanAmerican Heritage Month.