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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 40 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.J.Res.40

                      One Hundred Eleventh Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
             the sixth day of January, two thousand and nine

                            Joint Resolution

 
 To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the 
                 United States, and for other purposes.

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Heritage Day Act of 
2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
        (1) Native Americans are the descendants of the aboriginal, 
    indigenous, native people who were the original inhabitants of and 
    who governed the lands that now constitute the United States;
        (2) Native Americans have volunteered to serve in the United 
    States Armed Forces and have served with valor in all of the 
    Nation's military actions from the Revolutionary War through the 
    present day, and in most of those actions, more Native Americans 
    per capita served in the Armed Forces than any other group of 
    Americans;
        (3) Native American tribal governments included the fundamental 
    principles of freedom of speech and separation of governmental 
    powers;
        (4) Native Americans have made distinct and significant 
    contributions to the United States and the rest of the world in 
    many fields, including agriculture, medicine, music, language, and 
    art, and Native Americans have distinguished themselves as 
    inventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and scholars;
        (5) Native Americans should be recognized for their 
    contributions to the United States as local and national leaders, 
    artists, athletes, and scholars;
        (6) nationwide recognition of the contributions that Native 
    Americans have made to the fabric of American society will afford 
    an opportunity for all Americans to demonstrate their respect and 
    admiration of Native Americans for their important contributions to 
    the political, cultural, and economic life of the United States;
        (7) nationwide recognition of the contributions that Native 
    Americans have made to the Nation will encourage self-esteem, 
    pride, and self-awareness in Native Americans of all ages;
        (8) designation of the Friday following Thanksgiving of each 
    year as Native American Heritage Day will underscore the 
    government-to-government relationship between the United States and 
    Native American governments;
        (9) designation of Native American Heritage Day will encourage 
    public elementary and secondary schools in the United States to 
    enhance understanding of Native Americans by providing curricula 
    and classroom instruction focusing on the achievements and 
    contributions of Native Americans to the Nation; and
        (10) the Friday immediately succeeding Thanksgiving Day of each 
    year would be an appropriate day to designate as Native American 
    Heritage Day.

SEC. 3. HONORING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE IN THE UNITED STATES.

    Congress encourages the people of the United States, as well as 
Federal, State, and local governments, and interested groups and 
organizations to honor Native Americans, with activities relating to--
        (1) appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to observe 
    Native American Heritage Day;
        (2) the historical status of Native American tribal governments 
    as well as the present day status of Native Americans;
        (3) the cultures, traditions, and languages of Native 
    Americans; and
        (4) the rich Native American cultural legacy that all Americans 
    enjoy today.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.
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