III 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 364 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JULY 24 (legislative day, JULY 23), 2008 
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
CONCURRENT 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 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 region during the 1960s and the con-
sequential establishment of independent democratic coun-
tries in the Caribbean strengthened ties between the re-
gion 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 Chisholm, 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; Roberto 
Clemente, the first Latino inducted into the baseball hall 
of fame; and Al Roker, a meteorologist and television per-
sonality; 
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; 
Whereas in both June 2006 and June 2007, President 
George W. Bush issued a proclamation declaring June 
National Caribbean-American Heritage Month after the 
passage of H. Con. Res. 71 in the 109th Congress by 
both the Senate and the House of Representatives; and 
Whereas June is an appropriate month to establish a Carib-
bean-American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it 
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Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(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. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 22, 2008. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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