H. Con. Res. 71
Agreed to February 14, 2006
One Hundred Ninth Congress
of the
United States of America 
AT THE SECOND SESSION 
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, 
the third day of January, two thousand and six 
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every State 
of the Union; 
Whereas emigration from the Caribbean region to the American 
Colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of indentured 
workers in Jamestown, Virginia;
Whereas during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant 
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 Carib-
bean faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and struggled 
for independence; 
Whereas also like the United States, the people of the Caribbean 
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 strength-
ened 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-Americans 
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 Anthem; Shirley Chisolm, the first 
African-American Congresswoman 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 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;
H. Con. Res. 71—2
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 edu-
cation, 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 car-
nivals, festivals, music, dance, film, and literature that enrich 
the cultural landscape of the United States; 
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important economic 
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 Caribbean-
American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) a Caribbean-American Heritage Month should be estab-
lished; and 
(2) the people of the United States should observe the 
month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities. 
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.