IA 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 40 

To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the 

United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 12, 2009 

Mr. BACA introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Natural Resources 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

To honor the achievements and contributions of Native 

Americans to the United States, and for other purposes. 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Native American Her5 itage Day Act of 2009’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that— 

8 (1) Native Americans are the descendants of 

9 the aboriginal, indigenous, native people who were 


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1 the original inhabitants of and who governed the 

2 lands that now constitute the United States; 

3 (2) Native Americans have volunteered to serve 

4 in the United States Armed Forces and have served 

5 with valor in all of the Nation’s military actions 

6 from the Revolutionary War through the present 

7 day, and in most of those actions, more Native 

8 Americans per capita served in the Armed Forces 

9 than any other group of Americans; 

10 (3) Native American tribal governments devel11 oped the fundamental principles of freedom of 

12 speech and separation of governmental powers that 

13 were a model for those that form the foundation of 

14 the United States Constitution; 

15 (4) the Founding Fathers based the provisions 

16 of the Constitution on the unique system of democ17 racy of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, 

18 which divided powers among the branches of govern19 ment and provided for a system of checks and bal20 ances; 

21 (5) Native Americans have made distinct and 

22 significant contributions to the United States and 

23 the rest of the world in many fields, including agri24 culture, medicine, music, language, and art, and Na25 tive Americans have distinguished themselves as inVerDate Nov 24 2008 23:37 Mar 12, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ40.IH HJ40

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1 ventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and schol2 ars; 

3 (6) Native Americans should be recognized for 

4 their contributions to the United States as local and 

5 national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars; 

6 (7) nationwide recognition of the contributions 

7 that Native Americans have made to the fabric of 

8 American society will afford an opportunity for all 

9 Americans to demonstrate their respect and admira10 tion of Native Americans for their important con11 tributions to the political, cultural, and economic life 

12 of the United States; 

13 (8) nationwide recognition of the contributions 

14 that Native Americans have made to the Nation will 

15 encourage self-esteem, pride, and self-awareness in 

16 Native Americans of all ages; 

17 (9) designation of the Friday following Thanks18 giving of each year as Native American Heritage 

19 Day will underscore the government-to-government 

20 relationship between the United States and Native 

21 American governments; 

22 (10) designation of Native American Heritage 

23 Day will encourage public elementary and secondary 

24 schools in the United States to enhance under25 standing of Native Americans by providing curricula 


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1 and classroom instruction focusing on the achieve2 ments and contributions of Native Americans to the 

3 Nation; and 

4 (11) the Friday immediately succeeding 

5 Thanksgiving Day of each year would be an appro6 priate day to designate as Native American Heritage 

7 Day. 

8 SEC. 3. HONORING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE IN THE 

9 UNITED STATES. 

10 Congress encourages the people of the United States, 

11 as well as Federal, State, and local governments, and in12 terested groups and organizations to honor Native Ameri13 cans, with activities relating to— 

14 (1) appropriate programs, ceremonies, and ac15 tivities to observe Native American Heritage Day; 

16 (2) the historical status of Native American 

17 tribal governments as well as the present day status 

18 of Native Americans; 

19 (3) the cultures, traditions, and languages of 

20 Native Americans; and 

21 (4) the rich Native American cultural legacy 

22 that all Americans enjoy today. 

Æ 


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