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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 71 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.71
                                                  Agreed to May 14, 2007

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
            the fourth day of January, two thousand and seven

                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association 
  (AHEPA) was founded July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia, by eight 
  visionary Greek immigrants to help unify, organize, and protect 
  against the bigotry, discrimination, and defamation faced by people 
  of all ethnic, race, and religious backgrounds perpetrated 
  predominantly by the Ku Klux Klan;

Whereas the mission of AHEPA is to promote the ideals of ancient 
  Greece, which include philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, 
  and family and individual excellence through community service and 
  volunteerism;

Whereas since its inception, AHEPA has instilled in its members an 
  understanding of their Hellenic heritage and an awareness of the 
  contributions made to the development of democratic principles and 
  governance in the United States and throughout the world;

Whereas AHEPA has done much throughout its history to foster American 
  patriotism;

Whereas members of AHEPA served in the Armed Forces of the United 
  States to protect American freedom and to preserve those democratic 
  ideals that are part of the Hellenic legacy, and specifically in 
  World War II, were parachuted behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied 
  Greece to help liberate it;

Whereas AHEPA raised more than $253 million for United States War Bonds 
  during World War II, for which AHEPA was named an official Issuing 
  Agent for United States War Bonds by the Department of the Treasury, 
  an honor that no other civic organization was able to achieve at the 
  time;

Whereas the members of AHEPA donated $612,000 toward the restoration of 
  the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New York, for which AHEPA 
  received special recognition by the Department of the Interior;

Whereas the AHEPA National Housing Program was awarded $500 million by 
  the Department of Housing and Urban Development for its Section 202 
  Program that has yielded 4,370 units in 80 properties across 21 
  States and 49 cities which has provided dignified, affordable housing 
  to senior citizens;

Whereas AHEPA was recognized by the Department of State as an 
  organization that has engaged in ``Track Two Diplomacy'' to foster 
  reconciliation and rapprochement in the Eastern Mediterranean, which 
  is in the best interest of the United States;

Whereas members of AHEPA raised $110,000 for the creation of the George 
  C. Marshall Statue erected on the grounds of the United States 
  Embassy in Athens, Greece in celebration of the historic relationship 
  between the United States and Greece, and in tribute to an 
  outstanding Statesman and Philhellene, General Marshall;

Whereas AHEPA financially supports scholarships, educational chairs, 
  medical research, and countless other charitable and philanthropic 
  causes by contributing more than $2,000,000 annually from its 
  national, district, and local levels collectively;

Whereas in the spirit of their Hellenic heritage and in commemoration 
  of the Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia, members of 
  AHEPA raised $775,000 for the ``Tribute'' to Olympism Sculpture, the 
  ``fan-like'' structure of which helped to save lives during the 
  Olympic Bombing at Centennial Olympic Park;

Whereas members of AHEPA have been Presidents and Vice Presidents of 
  the United States, United States Senators and Representatives, and 
  United States Ambassadors, and have served honorably as elected 
  officials at the local and State levels throughout the United States; 
  and

Whereas President George H.W. Bush cited AHEPA as one of America's 
  ``thousand points of light'': Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That the Congress--
        (1) recognizes the significant contributions of American 
    citizens of Hellenic heritage to the United States;
        (2) commemorates the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the 
    American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), 
    applauds its mission, and commends the many charitable 
    contributions of its members to communities around the world; and
        (3) requests the President of the United States to issue a 
    proclamation acknowledging the 85th Anniversary of AHEPA and its 
    many accomplishments.
Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.
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