IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1333 
Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American Heritage Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 28, 2024 
Ms. LEE of California (for herself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. PLASKETT, 
Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. TORRES of New York, and Ms. WILLIAMS of Geor-
gia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Oversight and Accountability 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American 
Heritage Month. 
Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every 
State of the Union; 
Whereas emigration from the Caribbean to the American 
colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of inden-
tured workers in Jamestown, Virginia; 
Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a signifi-
cant number of slaves from the Caribbean were brought 
to the United States; 
Whereas millions of people have emigrated from the Carib-
bean to the United States; 
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•HRES 1333 IH 
Whereas the current population of people in the United 
States who were born in or have ancestry from the Carib-
bean is estimated at over 84.54 million; 
Whereas, like the United States, the countries of the Carib-
bean faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and strug-
gled for independence; 
Whereas, also like the United States, the people of the Carib-
bean have diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious 
backgrounds; 
Whereas independence movements throughout the Caribbean 
and the consequential establishment of independent 
democratic countries in the Caribbean strengthened ties 
between the Caribbean 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 many influential Caribbean Americans have contrib-
uted to the rich history of the United States, including 
Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the pioneer settler of Chi-
cago; Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance; 
James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National 
Anthem; Celia Cruz, the world-renowned queen of Salsa 
music; Sylvia Winter, influential feminist, writer, and 
human rights activist; John Brown Russwurm, co-found-
er of Freedom’s Journal, the first Black-owned news-
paper; Harry Belafonte, a legendary musician, actor, and 
activist; Sir Sydney Poitier, the first Black actor to win 
the Academy Award for Best Actor, film director, and 
diplomat; Mervyn Dymally, the first African-American 
Lieutenant Governor of California and first Caribbean 
immigrant to serve in Congress; and Shirley Chisholm, 
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•HRES 1333 IH 
the first African American Congresswoman and first Af-
rican American to run for a major party’s presidential 
nomination; 
Whereas the many influential Caribbean Americans in the 
history of the United States also include Kamala Harris, 
the first African-American Vice President; Colin Powell, 
the first African-American Secretary of State; Eric Hold-
er, the first African-American Attorney General; Karine 
Jean-Pierre, the first African-American White House 
Press Secretary; Deval Patrick, first African American 
Governor of Massachusetts; David Paterson, first legally- 
blind and first African American to serve as Governor of 
New York State; Wes Moore, the first African American 
Governor of Maryland, Patrick Gaspard, labor union or-
ganizer and social justice advocate; Earl Graves, Sr, 
Founder of Black Enterprise; Kareem Abdul Jabbar, 
basketball great and social activist; 
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 to every as-
pect of our society, including greatly to the fine arts, edu-
cation, business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion, 
politics, government, the military, music, science, medi-
cine, engineering, technology, and other fields in the 
United States; 
Whereas Caribbean Americans share their culture through 
festivals, carnivals, music, dance, film, food, and lit-
erature, which enrich the cultural landscape of the 
United States; 
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•HRES 1333 IH 
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important eco-
nomic partners of the United States; 
Whereas the members of the Caribbean diaspora have estab-
lished a solid, centuries-old track record of significant 
contributions to economic prosperity in the United 
States, as well as to the sustainable economic develop-
ment of the Caribbean countries themselves, through, 
among others, monetary and social remittances that rep-
resent significant percentages of their GDP; 
Whereas the Institute of Caribbean Studies, headquartered in 
Washington, DC, is widely acknowledged as the leading 
Caribbean American diaspora organization, that which 
for over thirty years since its founding, has encouraged 
civic engagement through research, advocacy, education, 
and action, and is recognized as the cradle of the celebra-
tion of June as National Caribbean American Heritage 
Month; 
Whereas Dr. Claire A. Nelson, Founding President of the In-
stitute of Caribbean Studies, is recognized as the chief 
architect and driving force of the movement for the offi-
cial proclamation of June as National Caribbean Amer-
ican Heritage Month, and has convened a network of vol-
unteer leaders through the National Caribbean American 
Heritage Month Commemorative Committee to serve as 
a leadership community to ensure continuity of the offi-
cial recognition for the month of June as Caribbean 
American Heritage Month; 
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United 
States third border; 
Whereas the people of the Caribbean share the hopes and as-
pirations of the people of the United States for peace and 
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•HRES 1333 IH 
prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere and the 
rest of the world; and 
Whereas, since the passage of H. Con. Res. 71 in the 109th 
Congress by both the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives, a proclamation has been issued annually by 
the President declaring June National Caribbean Amer-
ican Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Caribbean 
American Heritage Month; 
(2) encourages the people of the United States 
to observe Caribbean American Heritage Month with 
appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities; 
and 
(3) affirms that— 
(A) the contributions of Caribbean Ameri-
cans are a significant part of the history, 
progress, and heritage of the United States; 
and 
(B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the 
United States enriches and strengthens the Na-
tion. 
Æ 
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