III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 731 

Expressing support for the recognition of July 2022 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 

JULY 28, 2022 

Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. 

KAINE, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Mrs. 

MURRAY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the recognition of July 2022 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; 


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•SRES 731 IS 

Whereas the immigration of Muslims to the colonies of the 

United States began with the arrival of indentured workers; 

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 feeding the hungry, providing recuperation efforts following natural disasters, and providing medical assistance, family services, 

scholastic supplies, and before and after school programs; 

Whereas Muslim Americans have contributed to every part of 

the society of the United States to make advancements 

in architecture, arts, business, culture, diplomacy, government, law, medicine, the military, national security, religion, and sports; 

Whereas Bangladeshi-American Fazlur Rahman Khan left his 

mark on cityscapes in 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, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, and the Willis ‘‘Sears’’ Tower in Chicago; 


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•SRES 731 IS 

Whereas many Muslim Americans pursue the American 

dream and contribute to the economy of the United 

States as business owners and entrepreneurs, including 

Pakistani-born billionaire Shahid Khan, owner of the 

auto parts company Flex-N-Gate and the National Football League team 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 lives 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; 


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•SRES 731 IS 

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; 

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 an invocation in the Senate, and ElHajj 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 National 

Basketball Association 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 around the world 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; 


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•SRES 731 IS 

Whereas the current population of Muslims living in the 

United States is estimated at more than 3,450,000; 

Whereas more than 7,400 Muslims serve on active duty and 

more than 4,000 Muslims serve as selected reserve personnel in the Armed Forces of the United States; 

Whereas the Muslim population has been growing in the 

United States, and the 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 a hijab, or headscarf; 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) designates the month of July 2022 as 

3 ‘‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’’; 

4 (2) honors the contributions and integral role of 

5 Muslim Americans to the economy, culture, and 

6 identity of the United States; 

7 (3) recognizes the need for public education, 

8 awareness, and policies that are culturally competent 

9 when describing, discussing, or addressing the im10 pacts of being Muslim American in all aspects of the 


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•SRES 731 IS 

1 society of the United States, including in discourse 

2 and policy; and 

3 (4) urges the people of the United States to ob4 serve ‘‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’’ with ap5 propriate ceremonies, programs, and activities that 

6 celebrate the contributions of Muslim Americans to 

7 the United States. 

Æ 


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