IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 267 

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 19, 2009 

Mr. HONDA (for himself, Mrs. MALONEY, Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California, Mr. FILNER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. WOLF, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. 

MORAN of Virginia, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MEEKS

of New York, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. FARR, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. TIERNEY, 

Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. AL GREEN of 

Texas, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mrs. TAUSCHER, Ms. WOOLSEY, 

Ms. RICHARDSON, Ms. KOSMAS, Mr. PAUL, and Ms. HIRONO) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

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; 


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•HRES 267 IH 

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

vernal equinox and celebrates the arrival of spring; 

Whereas Nowruz symbolizes a time of renewal and community, it 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 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 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 reVerDate Nov 24 2008 02:18 Mar 20, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR267.IH HR267

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•HRES 267 IH 

spect for human rights that Iranian-Americans carry 

today; 

Whereas Nowruz serves to remind the United States of the 

many noteworthy and lasting contributions of IranianAmericans to the social and economic fabric of society in 

the United States; 

Whereas Iranian-Americans continue to make contributions 

in all sectors of American public life, 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 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 House of Representatives— 

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

4 (2) expresses its appreciation for the contribu5 tions of Iranian-Americans to society in the United 

6 States in observance of Nowruz; and 

7 (3) wishes Iranian-Americans and the people of 

8 Iran and all those who observe this holiday a pros9 perous new year. 

Æ 


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