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Whereas the current population of people in the United 
States who were born in or have ancestry from the Carib-
bean is estimated at 13,200,000; 
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— 
(1) Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, the pioneer set-
tler of Chicago; 
(2) Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem Renais-
sance; 
(3) James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black 
National Anthem; 
(4) Celia Cruz, the world-renowned queen of Salsa 
music; 
(5) Sylvia Winter, influential feminist, writer, and 
human rights activist; 
(6) John Brown Russwurm, co-founder of Freedom’s 
Journal, the first Black-owned newspaper; 
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•HRES 547 IH 
(7) Harry Belafonte, a legendary musician, actor, 
and activist; 
(8) Sir Sidney Poitier, the first Black actor to win 
the Academy Award for Best Actor, film director, and 
diplomat; 
(9) Mervyn Dymally, the first African-American 
Lieutenant Governor of California and first Caribbean 
immigrant to serve in Congress; and 
(10) Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American 
Congresswoman and first African 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— 
(1) Kamala Harris, the first African-American Vice 
President; 
(2) Colin Powell, the first African-American Sec-
retary of State; 
(3) Eric Holder, the first African-American Attorney 
General; 
(4) Karine Jean-Pierre, the first African-American 
White House Press Secretary; 
(5) Deval Patrick, first African-American Governor 
of Massachusetts; 
(6) David Paterson, first legally-blind and first Afri-
can-American to serve as Governor of New York State; 
(7) Wes Moore, the first African-American Governor 
of Maryland; 
(8) Patrick Gaspard, labor union organizer and so-
cial justice advocate; 
(9) Earl Graves, Sr., Founder of Black Enterprise; 
and 
(10) Kareem Abdul Jabbar, basketball great and so-
cial activist; 
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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 served with distinction in 
the military of the United States and include— 
(1) John Estrada, 15th Sargeant Major, United 
States Marine Corps; 
(2) Clive ‘‘Tony’’ Powell, United States Navy Com-
mand Master Chief, White House; 
(3) Brigadier-General Lorna Mahlock, first Black fe-
male two-star general in the Marine Corps; and 
(4) Navy Captain Janice G. Smith, first African 
American woman to lead the Military Sealift Command 
Atlantic; 
Whereas Caribbean Americans have contributed to every as-
pect of United States society, including greatly to the 
fine arts, education, business, literature, journalism, 
sports, fashion, politics, government, the military, music, 
science, medicine, 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; 
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, 
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•HRES 547 IH 
among others, monetary and social remittances that rep-
resent significant percentages of their GDP; 
Whereas the Institute of Caribbean Studies, headquartered in 
the District of Columbia, is widely acknowledged as the 
leading Caribbean American diaspora organization, that 
for over 30 years since its founding, has encouraged civic 
engagement through research, advocacy, education, and 
action, and is recognized as the cradle of the celebration 
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 
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 
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•HRES 547 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 
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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