IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 777 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives, in recognition of 
the contributions of the Haitian people to the history and culture of 
the United States, by establishing ‘‘Haitian-American Heritage Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 25, 2006 
Mr. MEEK of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives, in 
recognition of the contributions of the Haitian people 
to the history and culture of the United States, by estab-
lishing ‘‘Haitian-American Heritage Month’’. 
Whereas freemen from the French colony of Saint Domingue, 
now the Republic of Haiti, fought alongside the United 
States Continental Army at the Siege of Savannah in 
1779; 
Whereas Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian, built the 
first permanent settlement of what later became the city 
of Chicago, Illinois, in 1779; 
Whereas the significant loss of life and financial burden of 
the failed efforts to quell Haiti’s revolution prompted 
France to sell Louisiana to the United States in 1803, 
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•HRES 777 IH 
territory that now comprises 22.3 percent of the United 
States; 
Whereas, on January 1, 1804, Haiti declared its independ-
ence from France to become the world’s first Black re-
public and the second democracy after the United States; 
Whereas Major Joseph Savary, a Haitian, was the first Black 
Major in the United States Army, and led the Second 
Battalion of Freemen of Color at the Battle of New Orle-
ans, January 8, 1815, under then-General Andrew Jack-
son, who became the first Governor of the Territory of 
Florida in 1821; 
Whereas, in 1889, Frederic Douglas, the period’s foremost 
spokesman on human rights and prominent leader of the 
anti-slavery movement in the United States, became the 
first United States Minister and Consul-General to Haiti; 
Whereas the longest occupancy of a foreign state by Amer-
ican troops was in Haiti, circa 1915–1934; 
Whereas an estimated 1,200,000 persons of Haitian descent 
now live throughout the United States; 
Whereas Haitians and their descendants have contributed 
greatly to the arts and sciences, including John James 
Audubon, the acclaimed naturalist and wildlife artist who 
inspired the American conservation society that bears his 
namesake, and W.E.B. DuBois, the Haitian-American 
author and political activist, who became one of the most 
prominent, intellectual leaders of African-American soci-
ety during the twentieth century; 
Whereas the close proximity of Haiti to American shores, in 
conjunction with our common bond of mutual values and 
commitment to democracy, ensures lasting comity of na-
tions and continued trade and diplomatic relations; 
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•HRES 777 IH 
Whereas Haiti—the only republic to rise from a successful 
slave rebellion—inspires pride, solidarity, and self-reli-
ance; 
Whereas the last Sunday of May is commemorated in Haiti 
as Mother’s Day; 
Whereas the 18th of May is Flag Day, the most celebrated 
holiday in Haiti, and is observed by people of Haitian de-
scent throughout the world; 
Whereas in Miami, Florida, home to the largest Haitian- 
American population in the United States, there are nu-
merous cultural events and celebrations planned during 
the month of May to honor Haitian heritage; and 
Whereas May is an appropriate month to establish a Haitian- 
American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) ‘‘Haitian-American Heritage Month’’ be es-
tablished; and 
(2) the people of the United States should ob-
serve the month with appropriate ceremonies, cele-
brations, and activities. 
Æ 
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