III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 463 

Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz, expressing 

appreciation to Iranian-Americans for their contributions to society, and 

wishing Iranian-Americans and the people of Iran a prosperous new 

year. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 22 (legislative day, MARCH 19), 2010 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. WEBB, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. 

BYRD, Mr. BURRIS, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. HATCH, Mr. KAUFMAN, Mr. 

MCCAIN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BROWN of 

Ohio, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. CASEY, and Mr. CARDIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of 

Nowruz, expressing appreciation to Iranian-Americans 

for their contributions to society, and wishing IranianAmericans and the people of Iran a prosperous new 

year. 

Whereas Nowruz marks the traditional Iranian New Year, 

which originated in ancient Persia, and dates back more 

than 3,000 years; 

Whereas Nowruz, meaning a ‘‘New Day’’, occurs on the 

vernal equinox and celebrates the arrival of spring; 


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•SRES 463 ATS 

Whereas Nowruz symbolizes a time of renewal and community, harkens the departure from the trials and tribulations of the previous year, and brings hope for the New 

Year; 

Whereas Nowruz is celebrated by nearly 300,000,000 Iranians and other peoples all over the world, including in 

the United States, Iran, and other countries in Central 

Asia, South Asia, Caucasus, Crimea, and the Balkan regions; 

Whereas Nowruz is celebrated by more than 1,000,000 Iranian-Americans of all backgrounds, including those with 

Baha’i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Zoroastrian, and nonreligious backgrounds; 

Whereas the people of Iran have a long history of celebrating 

Nowruz and are congratulated for their bringing in of the 

New Year; 

Whereas Nowruz embodies the tradition that each individual’s thinking, speaking, and conduct should always be 

virtuous and the ideal of compassion for our fellow 

human beings regardless of ethnicity or religion, and 

symbolizes a time of renewal and community; 

Whereas the United States is a melting pot of ethnicities and 

religion and Nowruz contributes to the richness of American culture and is consistent with our founding principles of peace and prosperity for all; 

Whereas in 539 B.C., Cyrus the Great established one of the 

earliest charters on human rights, which abolished slavery and allowed for freedom of religion, and this marker 

in Iranian history has had significant impact on the respect for human rights that Iranian-Americans carry 

today; 


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•SRES 463 ATS 

Whereas Nowruz serves to remind the people of the United 

States of the many noteworthy and lasting contributions 

of Iranian-Americans to the social and economic fabric of 

society in the United States; 

Whereas Iranian-Americans continue to make contributions 

in all sectors of public life in the United States, including 

as government, military, and law enforcement officials 

working to uphold the Constitution of the United States 

and to protect all people in the United States; 

Whereas Iranian-Americans are vibrant, peaceful, and lawabiding citizens, many of whom are of the Baha’i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian faiths; and 

Whereas the Iranian-American community continues to enrich the tapestry of the diversity in the United States: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the cultural and historical signifi3 cance of Nowruz; 

4 (2) encourages the peaceful observance of the 

5 Nowruz holiday in Iran, and strongly supports the 

6 right of all Iranians to exercise freedom of assembly, 

7 freedom of expression, and freedom of speech; 

8 (3) expresses its appreciation for the contribu9 tions of Iranian-Americans to society in the United 

10 States in observance of Nowruz; and 


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•SRES 463 ATS 

1 (4) wishes Iranian-Americans and the people of 

2 Iran and all those who observe this holiday a pros3 perous new year. 

Æ 


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