IA 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 62 

To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the 

United States, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2007 

Mr. BACA (for himself, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. WU, 

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. 

COSTA, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. 

RODRIGUEZ, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. VAN

HOLLEN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. HONDA, 

Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. CUELLAR, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. 

PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. KIND, Mr. SIRES, Ms. BERKLEY, Ms. SUTTON, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. MEEK

of Florida, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. FILNER, Mr. KENNEDY, 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. BOREN, Ms. NORTON, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. 

COHEN, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. REYES, Mr. AL

GREEN of Texas, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. SHULER, 

Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Ms. 

BORDALLO, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. FARR, Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. WATSON, Ms. LEE, Mr. FRANK

of Massachusetts, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. 

CARDOZA, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. HARE, Mr. 

HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. 

KUCINICH, Mr. HINOJOSA, Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California, Mr. 

BLUMENAUER, Mr. COLE of Oklahoma, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. 

MITCHELL, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, and Mr. ISSA) introduced the following joint 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

NOVEMBER 13, 2007 

Committee on Education and Labor discharged; which was considered and 

passed 


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JOINT RESOLUTION 

To honor the achievements and contributions of Native 

Americans to the United States, and for other purposes. 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Native American Her5 itage Day Act of 2007’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds that— 

8 (1) Native Americans are the descendants of 

9 the aboriginal, indigenous, native people who were 

10 the original inhabitants of and who governed the 

11 lands that now constitute the United States; 

12 (2) Native Americans have volunteered to serve 

13 in the United States Armed Forces and have served 

14 with valor in all of the Nation’s military actions 

15 from the Revolutionary War through the present 

16 day, and in most of those actions, more Native 

17 Americans per capita served in the Armed Forces 

18 than any other group of Americans; 

19 (3) Native American tribal governments devel20 oped the fundamental principles of freedom of 

21 speech and separation of governmental powers that 


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1 were a model for those that form the foundation of 

2 the United States Constitution; 

3 (4) the Founding Fathers based the provisions 

4 of the Constitution on the unique system of democ5 racy of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, 

6 which divided powers among the branches of govern7 ment and provided for a system of checks and bal8 ances; 

9 (5) Native Americans have made distinct and 

10 significant contributions to the United States and 

11 the rest of the world in many fields, including agri12 culture, medicine, music, language, and art, and Na13 tive Americans have distinguished themselves as in14 ventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and schol15 ars; 

16 (6) Native Americans should be recognized for 

17 their contributions to the United States as local and 

18 national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars; 

19 (7) nationwide recognition of the contributions 

20 that Native Americans have made to the fabric of 

21 American society will afford an opportunity for all 

22 Americans to demonstrate their respect and admira23 tion of Native Americans for their important con24 tributions to the political, cultural, and economic life 

25 of the United States; 


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1 (8) nationwide recognition of the contributions 

2 that Native Americans have made to the Nation will 

3 encourage self-esteem, pride, and self-awareness in 

4 Native Americans of all ages; 

5 (9) designation of the Friday following Thanks6 giving of each year as Native American Heritage 

7 Day will underscore the government-to-government 

8 relationship between the United States and Native 

9 American governments; 

10 (10) designation of Native American Heritage 

11 Day will encourage public elementary and secondary 

12 schools in the United States to enhance under13 standing of Native Americans by providing curricula 

14 and classroom instruction focusing on the achieve15 ments and contributions of Native Americans to the 

16 Nation; and 

17 (11) the Friday immediately succeeding 

18 Thanksgiving Day of each year would be an appro19 priate day to designate as Native American Heritage 

20 Day. 

21 SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF A NATIVE AMERICAN HERIT22 AGE DAY. 

23 (a) DEVELOPMENT OF MODEL EDUCATIONAL CUR24 RICULA.—Educational institutions are encouraged to de25 velop model educational curricula, in consultation with 


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1 Native American governmental leaders, for purposes of 

2 recognizing a Native American Heritage Day, emphasizing 

3 the contributions of Native Americans to the United 

4 States and the world, including— 

5 (1) the historical and constitutional status of 

6 Native American tribal governments as well as the 

7 present day status of Native Americans; 

8 (2) the cultures, traditions, and languages of 

9 Native Americans; and 

10 (3) the rich Native American cultural legacy 

11 that all Americans enjoy today. 

12 (b) CELEBRATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE

13 DAY.—Congress encourages the people of the United 

14 States, as well as Federal, State, and local governments 

15 and interested groups and organizations to observe a Na16 tive American Heritage Day with appropriate programs, 

17 ceremonies, and activities. 

Æ 


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