IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 71
Expressing the sense of Congress that there should be established a 
Caribbean-American Heritage Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 17, 2005
Ms. LEE (for herself, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, 
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. 
MEEKS of New York, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. 
PAYNE, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. WATT, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. 
LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. RUSH, Mr. OWENS, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. WEINER, 
Mr. CUMMINGS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, 
Mr. FORD, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Mr. CLAY, Mr. JEFFER-
SON, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. WATERS, and Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas) sub-
mitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Government Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress that there should be 
established a Caribbean-American Heritage Month.
Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every 
State of the Union; 
Whereas emigration from the Caribbean region to the Amer-
ican Colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of 
indentured workers in Jamestown, Virginia;
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Whereas during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a signifi-
cant number of slaves from the Caribbean region were 
brought to the United States; 
Whereas since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from 
the Caribbean region to the United States; 
Whereas much like the United States, the countries of the 
Caribbean faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and 
struggled for independence; 
Whereas also like the United States, the people of the Carib-
bean region have diverse racial, cultural, and religious 
backgrounds; 
Whereas the independence movements in many countries in 
the Caribbean during the 1960’s and the consequential 
establishment of independent democratic countries in the 
Caribbean strengthened ties between the region and the 
United States; 
Whereas Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the 
United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury, 
was born in the Caribbean; 
Whereas there have been many influential Caribbean-Ameri-
cans in the history of the United States, including Jean 
Baptiste Point du Sable, the pioneer settler of Chicago; 
Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance; James 
Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National An-
them; Shirley Chisolm, the first African-American Con-
gresswoman and first African-American woman candidate 
for President; and Celia Cruz, the world renowned queen 
of Salsa music; 
Whereas the many influential Caribbean-Americans in the 
history of the United States also include Colin Powell, 
the first African-American Secretary of State; Sidney
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Poitier, the first African-American actor to receive the 
Academy Award for best actor in a leading role; Harry 
Belafonte, a musician, actor, and activist; Marion Jones, 
an Olympic gold medalist; Roberto Clemente, the first 
Latino inducted into the baseball hall of fame; and Al 
Roker, a meteorologist and television personality; 
Whereas Caribbean-Americans have played an active role in 
the civil rights movement and other social and political 
movements in the United States; 
Whereas Caribbean-Americans have contributed greatly to 
education, fine arts, business, literature, journalism, 
sports, fashion, politics, government, the military, music, 
science, technology, and other areas in the United States; 
Whereas Caribbean-Americans share their culture through 
carnivals, festivals, music, dance, film, and literature that 
enrich the cultural landscape of the United States; 
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important eco-
nomic partners of the United States; 
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United 
States third border; 
Whereas the people of the Caribbean region share the hopes 
and aspirations of the people of the United States for 
peace and prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere 
and the rest of the world; and 
Whereas June is an appropriate month to establish a Carib-
bean-American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) a Caribbean-American Heritage Month 
should be established; and
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(2) the people of the United States should ob-
serve the month with appropriate ceremonies, cele-
brations, and activities.
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