IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 61 
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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 23, 2025 
Mr. CARSON (for himself, Ms. OMAR, Ms. SIMON, and Ms. TLAIB) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Over-
sight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the recognition of January as ‘‘Mus-
lim-American Heritage Month’’ and celebrating the herit-
age and culture of Muslim Americans in the United 
States. 
Whereas the House of Representatives 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 
House of Representatives 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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•HRES 61 IH 
Whereas immigration of Muslims to the American colonies 
began with the arrival of indentured workers; 
Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a signifi-
cant 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, humani-
tarians, 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, run-
ning before- and after-school programs, feeding the hun-
gry, 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 pio-
neering 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; 
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•HRES 61 IH 
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 Foot-
ball League’s Jacksonville Jaguars; 
Whereas Syrian immigrant Ernest Hamwi’s invention of the 
ice cream cone is a practical confection with a near ubiq-
uitous 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, in 2015, Andre´ Carson of Indiana, the second Mus-
lim American elected to the House of Representatives, 
became the first Muslim American to serve on the House 
Select Committee on Intelligence; 
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 Rep-
resentatives, 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 
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•HRES 61 IH 
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 Am-
bassador-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 Revolu-
tionary 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 re-
former also known as Malcolm X, were prominent reli-
gious 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 Mu-
hammad Ali, track and field athlete Dalilah Muhammad, 
and fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, won medals in inter-
national competitions; 
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•HRES 61 IH 
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; 
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 eco-
nomic groups; 
Whereas nearly 50 percent of Muslim Americans have re-
ported 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 de-
scribing, discussing, or addressing the impacts that Mus-
lim Americans have on all aspects of the society of the 
United States; 
Whereas ‘‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’’ will be ob-
served 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘Muslim-Amer-
ican Heritage Month’’; 
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(2) honors the contributions and integral role of 
Muslim Americans in the economy, culture, and 
identity of the United States; and 
(3) urges the people of the United States to ob-
serve ‘‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’’ with ap-
propriate ceremonies, programs, and activities that 
celebrate the contributions of Muslim Americans to 
the United States. 
Æ 
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