Title: A resolution recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of Native Americans to the United States.
Policy area: Native Americans

Summary:
This resolution recognizes November 2021 as National Native American Heritage Month and the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 440 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 440

Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the 
  heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of 
                 Native Americans to the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 4, 2021

Mr. Schatz (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. 
 Booker, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. 
 Hoeven, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Lujan, Ms. 
 Lummis, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Moran, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Shaheen, 
  Ms. Sinema, Ms. Smith, Mr. Tester, Ms. Warren, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. 
Sullivan) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the 
  heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of 
                 Native Americans to the United States.

Whereas, from November 1, 2021, through November 30, 2021, the United States 
        celebrates National Native American Heritage Month;
Whereas National Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity to consider 
        and recognize the contributions of Native Americans to the history of 
        the United States;
Whereas Native Americans are descendants of the original, Indigenous inhabitants 
        of what is now the United States;
Whereas the Bureau of the Census estimates that--

    (1) in 2020, there were 9,666,058 individuals of American Indian and 
Alaska Native descent in the United States; and

    (2) in 2019, there were 607,010 individuals of Native Hawaiian descent 
in the United States;

Whereas Native Americans maintain vibrant cultures and traditions and hold a 
        deeply rooted sense of community;
Whereas Native Americans have moving stories of tragedy, triumph, and 
        perseverance that need to be shared with future generations;
Whereas Native Americans speak and preserve Indigenous languages, which have 
        contributed to the English language by being used as names of 
        individuals and locations throughout the United States;
Whereas Congress has consistently reaffirmed support for Tribal self-governance 
        and self-determination policies for Native American communities and the 
        commitment of the United States to improving the lives of all Native 
        Americans by--

    (1) enhancing health care and law enforcement resources; and

    (2) improving the housing and socioeconomic status of Native Americans;

Whereas the United States is committed to strengthening the government-to-
        government relationship that the United States has maintained with the 
        various Indian Tribes;
Whereas Congress has recognized the contributions of the Iroquois Confederacy 
        and the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the Founding Fathers in 
        the drafting of the Constitution of the United States with the concepts 
        of--

    (1) freedom of speech;

    (2) the separation of governmental powers; and

    (3) the system of checks and balances between the branches of 
government;

Whereas, with the enactment of the Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 
        (Public Law 111-33; 123 Stat. 1922), Congress--

    (1) reaffirmed the government-to-government relationship between the 
United States and Native American governments; and

    (2) recognized the important contributions of Native Americans to the 
culture of the United States;

Whereas Native Americans have made distinct and important contributions to the 
        United States and the rest of the world in many fields, including the 
        fields of agriculture, environmental stewardship, wayfinding, medicine, 
        music, dance, language, and art;
Whereas contemporary applications of traditional knowledge systems of Native 
        Americans have expanded scientific, environmental, and intercultural 
        understanding;
Whereas Native Americans have distinguished themselves as inventors, 
        entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and scholars;
Whereas Native Americans have served with honor and distinction in the Armed 
        Forces and continue to serve in the Armed Forces in greater numbers per 
        capita than any other group in the United States;
Whereas the United States has recognized the contribution of the Native American 
        code talkers in World War I and World War II, who used Indigenous 
        languages as an unbreakable military code, saving countless lives in the 
        United States; and
Whereas the people of the United States have reason to honor the great 
        achievements and contributions of Native Americans and their ancestors: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the month of November 2021 as ``National 
        Native American Heritage Month'';
            (2) recognizes the Friday after Thanksgiving as ``Native 
        American Heritage Day'' in accordance with section 2(10) of the 
        Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-33; 
        123 Stat. 1923); and
            (3) urges the people of the United States to observe 
        National Native American Heritage Month and Native American 
        Heritage Day with appropriate programs and activities.
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