Title: Commemorating the annual celebration of Día de los Muertos in the United States and around the world.
Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos.
The resolution urges the United States and the Department of Homeland Security to promote policies that uphold the human dignity of each migrant person and put an end to migrant deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Finally, this resolution calls on the United States and the Department of Health and Human Services to promote policies focused on COVID-19 protections and ensure that all communities have equal access to these to put an end to COVID-19 related deaths.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 762 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 762

   Commemorating the annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos in the 
                  United States and around the world.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 2, 2021

  Mr. Grijalva (for himself, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Vargas, Mr. 
 Lieu, Mr. Torres of New York, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Norton, 
   Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Carson, Mr. 
 Doggett, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. 
   Cardenas, Mr. Green of Texas, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Soto, Mr. 
  Correa, Mr. Gallego, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Ms. DelBene, Mrs. Watson 
Coleman, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Perlmutter, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Quigley, 
Mr. Costa, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Jacobs of California, 
 Mr. Takano, Mr. Jones, Mr. Aguilar, Mr. Sires, Mr. Danny K. Davis of 
Illinois, Mrs. Torres of California, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Meng, Ms. Sanchez, 
Ms. McCollum, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Newman, and Mr. Veasey) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
 on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland 
Security, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Commemorating the annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos in the 
                  United States and around the world.

Whereas, on November 1 and 2 of each year, the United States celebrates All 
        Souls' Day, also known as Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, to 
        honor friends, family members, and loved ones who have passed;
Whereas Dia de los Muertos includes traditions and rituals that trace their 
        origins to diverse celebrations and beliefs held by pre-Hispanic 
        cultures and indigenous groups of Mesoamerica;
Whereas the memory of loved ones is commemorated through a traditional altar 
        containing ofrendas (offerings) and honoring their memory ensures they 
        never cease to exist;
Whereas Dia de los Muertos allows individuals, families, and communities to 
        mourn, reflect, and celebrate the universal experience of death, through 
        their ancestors, loved ones, and the living;
Whereas many migrants who attempt to enter the United States arrive to the 
        region seeking safety, protection, and to be reunited with loved ones 
        and family;
Whereas immigrant communities have a tradition of providing respite and care to 
        arriving migrants;
Whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection estimates that 8,052 migrants died 
        crossing the United States-Mexico border between 1998 and 2020, not 
        including missing migrants who have never been found;
Whereas 21 migrants died in fiscal year 2020 while in custody of U.S. 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the highest number of annual deaths 
        in 15 years;
Whereas 5 migrants have died in fiscal year 2021 while in custody of U.S. 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement;
Whereas the International Organization for Migration estimates that 377 migrants 
        have died in the United States-Mexico border region thus far in 2021;
Whereas the United States has a legal obligation to uphold international law and 
        must respect the rights of people seeking asylum and to uphold the 
        inherent human dignity of each migrant person in its capacity;
Whereas migrant deaths and deaths all around the globe have been exacerbated by 
        COVID-19;
Whereas at least 741,000 individuals have died from COVID-19 in the United 
        States as of October 28, 2021;
Whereas at least 4.9 million people from around the globe have died from COVID-
        19 as of October 28, 2021; and
Whereas the United States has the responsibility to provide equitable 
        protections against COVID-19 for all peoples within the Nation's borders 
        and address disproportionate effects faced by underserved communities: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos 
        in the United States and around the world;
            (2) urges the United States and the Department of Homeland 
        Security to promote policies that uphold the inherent human 
        dignity of each migrant person and put an end to migrant deaths 
        along the United States-Mexico border; and
            (3) calls on the United States and the Department of Health 
        and Human Services to promote policies focused on COVID-19 
        protections and ensure all communities have equal access to 
        protections to put an end to COVID-19 related deaths.
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