III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 534 

Expressing support for the recognition of January as ‘‘Muslim-American 

Heritage Month’’ and celebrating the heritage and culture of Muslim 

Americans in the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 25, 2024 

Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. FETTERMAN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. PADILLA, 

Mr. KAINE, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. 

WELCH, and Mr. DURBIN) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the recognition of January as ‘‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’’ and celebrating the heritage and culture of Muslim Americans in the United 

States. 

Whereas the Senate is proud to recognize and commemorate 

‘‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’’, an observance that 

celebrates the contributions of Muslim Americans; 

Whereas in keeping with its time-honored traditions, the Senate recognizes and pays tribute to those who foster cultural pride and enhance the profile of diverse communities across the United States; 

Whereas immigration of Muslims to the American colonies 

began with the arrival of indentured workers; 


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•SRES 534 IS 

Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of slaves of Muslim heritage were brought 

to the United States; 

Whereas in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, successive 

waves of immigration brought additional Muslims to the 

United States, who sought to pursue economic and social 

opportunity, as well as freedom of religion, and enriched 

the fabric of the society of the United States as business 

owners, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, humanitarians, scientists, and students; 

Whereas Muslim Americans contribute greatly to charitable 

organizations that help people from all faiths in the 

United States and around the world by providing medical 

assistance, family services, and scholastic supplies, running before- and after-school programs, feeding the hungry, and providing recuperation efforts following natural 

disasters; 

Whereas Muslim Americans have contributed to every part of 

the society of the United States by making advancements 

in architecture, arts, business, culture, government, law, 

medicine, the military, religion, and sports; 

Whereas Bangladeshi-American Fazlur Rahman Khan left his 

mark on the cityscapes of the United States by pioneering a new structural system of frame tubes used to 

construct iconic buildings like the World Trade Center in 

New York City, New York, the Hubert H. Humphrey 

Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Willis 

‘‘Sears’’ Tower in Chicago, Illinois; 

Whereas many Muslim Americans pursue the American 

dream and contribute to the economy of the United 

States as business owners and entrepreneurs, including 


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Pakistani-born billionaire Shahid Khan, owner of the 

auto-parts company Flex-N-Gate and the National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars; 

Whereas Syrian immigrant Ernest Hamwi’s invention of the 

ice cream cone is a practical confection with a near ubiquitous presence in the life of the people of the United 

States; 

Whereas, in 2006, Keith Ellison of Minnesota was elected to 

the House of Representatives, becoming the first Muslim 

American to serve in Congress; 

Whereas, in 2008, Ambassador Sada Cumber was appointed 

by President George W. Bush to serve as the first Special 

Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference 

from the United States, representing the United States 

to 57 Muslim-majority nations; 

Whereas actor Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim 

American to win an Oscar for his supporting role in 

‘‘Moonlight’’ in 2017; 

Whereas, in 2018, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan 

Omar of Minnesota were elected to the House of Representatives, becoming the first Muslim-American women 

to serve in Congress; 

Whereas, in 2021, Zahid Quraishi was confirmed as the first 

Muslim American to serve as an article III Federal judge 

as a district judge of the United States District Court for 

the District of New Jersey; 

Whereas, in 2021, Rashad Hussain was confirmed as the 

first Muslim American to serve as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom; 


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Whereas Pakistani-American neurosurgeon Ayub Ommaya’s 

invention of the intraventricular catheter system provides 

chemotherapy to treat brain tumors; 

Whereas Muslim Americans have fought in support of the 

United States in every major war, from Bampett 

Muhamed and Yusuf Ben Ali under the command of 

General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War, to Captain Humayun Khan, who made the 

ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2004; 

Whereas Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, the first Muslim 

American to deliver the invocation for the Senate, and 

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, the civil rights activist and reformer also known as Malcolm X, were prominent religious leaders and scholars; 

Whereas Muslim-American professional athletes like Naismith 

Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members Kareem 

Abdul Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal 

and 2-time world heavyweight champion Hasim Shariff 

Rahman thrilled sports fans across the United States and 

around the globe during their respective careers; 

Whereas Muslim-American Olympians, such as boxer Muhammad Ali, track and field athlete Dalilah Muhammad, 

and fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, won medals in international competitions; 

Whereas, with roots in at least 77 different countries and 

identifying racially as White, Black, Arab, and Asian, 

Muslim Americans are an extremely diverse population; 

Whereas the current population of Muslims living in the 

United States is estimated at over 3,450,000 individuals; 


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Whereas over 4,500 Muslims serve on active duty, and over 

2,300 Muslims serve as selected reserve personnel in the 

Armed Forces; 

Whereas the Muslim population has been growing in the 

United States, and today’s Muslim-American population 

is a tapestry of ethnic, racial, linguistic, social, and economic groups; 

Whereas nearly 50 percent of Muslim Americans have reported experiencing religious discrimination, with that 

number rising to 64 percent for Muslim Americans whose 

appearance identifies them as Muslim, such as women 

who wear the hijab or headscarf; 

Whereas there is a need for public education, awareness, and 

policies that help people be culturally competent when describing, discussing, or addressing the impacts that Muslim Americans have on all aspects of the society of the 

United States; 

Whereas ‘‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’’ will be observed in the month of January; and 

Whereas the incredible contributions and heritage of Muslim 

Americans have helped to build a better United States: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Muslim-Amer3 ican Heritage Month’’; 

4 (2) honors the contributions and integral role of 

5 Muslim Americans in the economy, culture, and 

6 identity of the United States; and 


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1 (3) urges the people of the United States to ob2 serve ‘‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’’ with ap3 propriate ceremonies, programs, and activities that 

4 celebrate the contributions of Muslim Americans to 

5 the United States. 

Æ 


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