IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1139 
Acknowledging April 17, 2024, as the 500th anniversary of the discovery 
of New York Bay by Giovanni da Verrazzano. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 12, 2024 
Ms. MALLIOTAKIS (for herself, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. LAWLER, Ms. 
CLARKE of New York, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. MOLINARO, Ms. MENG, Ms. 
TENNEY, Mr. LANGWORTHY, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, 
Mr. WILLIAMS of New York, Mr. D’ESPOSITO, Mr. LALOTA, Mr. GOLD-
MAN of New York, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. PALLONE, and Mr. 
PANETTA) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Accountability 
RESOLUTION 
Acknowledging April 17, 2024, as the 500th anniversary 
of the discovery of New York Bay by Giovanni da 
Verrazzano. 
Whereas Giovanni da Verrazzano was born in 1485 in Val di 
Greve, Republic of Florence, which is now a part of the 
Italian Republic; 
Whereas King Francis I of France commissioned Verrazzano 
to lead an expedition aimed at finding a western passage 
from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean; 
Whereas Verrazzano’s discovery of New York Bay expanded 
maritime knowledge of what became the East Coast of 
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•HRES 1139 IH 
the United States and laid the foundation for future com-
merce and settlements in North America; 
Whereas Verrazzano’s voyage sparked future explorations of 
the New World, including, 85 years later, Henry Hud-
son’s 1609 voyage to New York Bay to establish New 
Amsterdam; 
Whereas New Amsterdam became New York on September 8, 
1664; 
Whereas New York City has the highest economic impact of 
any city in the United States and continues to serve as 
a major global economic hub, and New York Bay con-
tinues to be a major hub for trade and commerce; 
Whereas New York Bay, home to the Statue of Liberty, is 
where 12 million immigrants legally passed through Ellis 
Island at a rate of 5,000 people per day from 1892 to 
1954; 
Whereas the New York City metropolitan area is home to 
over 2.5 million Italian Americans; 
Whereas to commemorate and underscore the significant im-
pact of Giovanni da Verrazzano’s discovery of New York 
Bay, on March 9, 1960, Governor Nelson Rockefeller 
signed legislation that named the bridge connecting the 
boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn as the 
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge; 
Whereas the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge was inaugurated on 
November 21, 1964, was the world’s longest suspension 
bridge until 1981, and spans the Narrows; and 
Whereas the legacy of Giovanni da Verrazzano is further hon-
ored at Battery Park, New York City, and Rehoboth 
Beach, Delaware, recognizing Verrazzano’s impact as the 
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•HRES 1139 IH 
first European explorer to chart what became the East 
Coast of the United States: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) acknowledges April 17, 2024, as the 500th 
anniversary of the discovery of New York Bay by 
Giovanni da Verrazzano; and 
(2) recognizes the contributions of Giovanni da 
Verrazzano’s voyage to North America, highlighting 
Verrazzano’s pivotal role in the mapping and explo-
ration of the continent and Verrazzano’s lasting im-
pact on the foundation of New York City and the 
United States. 
Æ 
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