IIA 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 40 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 3, 2009 

Received 

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’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

2 Congress finds that— 

3 (1) Native Americans are the descendants of 

4 the aboriginal, indigenous, native people who were 

5 the original inhabitants of and who governed the 

6 lands that now constitute the United States; 

7 (2) Native Americans have volunteered to serve 

8 in the United States Armed Forces and have served 

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

10 from the Revolutionary War through the present 

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

12 Americans per capita served in the Armed Forces 

13 than any other group of Americans; 

14 (3) Native American tribal governments in15 cluded the fundamental principles of freedom of 

16 speech and separation of governmental powers; 

17 (4) Native Americans have made distinct and 

18 significant contributions to the United States and 

19 the rest of the world in many fields, including agri20 culture, medicine, music, language, and art, and Na21 tive Americans have distinguished themselves as in22 ventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and schol23 ars; 

24 (5) Native Americans should be recognized for 

25 their contributions to the United States as local and 

26 national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars; 


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1 (6) nationwide recognition of the contributions 

2 that Native Americans have made to the fabric of 

3 American society will afford an opportunity for all 

4 Americans to demonstrate their respect and admira5 tion of Native Americans for their important con6 tributions to the political, cultural, and economic life 

7 of the United States; 

8 (7) nationwide recognition of the contributions 

9 that Native Americans have made to the Nation will 

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

11 Native Americans of all ages; 

12 (8) designation of the Friday following Thanks13 giving of each year as Native American Heritage 

14 Day will underscore the government-to-government 

15 relationship between the United States and Native 

16 American governments; 

17 (9) designation of Native American Heritage 

18 Day will encourage public elementary and secondary 

19 schools in the United States to enhance under20 standing of Native Americans by providing curricula 

21 and classroom instruction focusing on the achieve22 ments and contributions of Native Americans to the 

23 Nation; and 

24 (10) the Friday immediately succeeding 

25 Thanksgiving Day of each year would be an approVerDate Nov 24 2008 01:20 Jun 10, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ40.RDS HJ40

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1 priate day to designate as Native American Heritage 

2 Day. 

3 SEC. 3. HONORING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE IN THE 

4 UNITED STATES. 

5 Congress encourages the people of the United States, 

6 as well as Federal, State, and local governments, and in7 terested groups and organizations to honor Native Ameri8 cans, with activities relating to— 

9 (1) appropriate programs, ceremonies, and ac10 tivities to observe Native American Heritage Day; 

11 (2) the historical status of Native American 

12 tribal governments as well as the present day status 

13 of Native Americans; 

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

15 Native Americans; and 

16 (4) the rich Native American cultural legacy 

17 that all Americans enjoy today. 

Passed the House of Representatives June 2, 2009. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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