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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 364 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 364

 Recognizing the Significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage 
                                 Month.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2008

Ms. Lee (for herself, Mr. Payne, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson 
 of Texas, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, 
 Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, Mr. 
 Jefferson, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Sires, 
 Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Jackson-Lee of 
    Texas, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. Clarke, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Bishop of 
 Georgia, Mr. Watt, Mr. Rush, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, and Mr. Wexler) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing the Significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage 
                                 Month.

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;
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 
        Chisholm, 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 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; 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 both June 2006 and June 2007, 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
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Caribbean-American 
        Heritage Month;
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        Caribbean-American Heritage Month with appropriate ceremonies, 
        celebrations, and activities; and
            (3) affirms that--
                    (A) the contributions of Caribbean-Americans are a 
                significant part of the history, progress, and heritage 
                of the United States; and
                    (B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the United 
                States enriches and strengthens the Nation.
                                 <all>
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