[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 347 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                      October 24, 2000.
Whereas Italians, like Amerigo Vespucci and Christopher Columbus, were some of 
        the first explorers to discover the American continents and illustrate 
        the geography;
Whereas Italians and Italian Americans have made great contributions to 
        America's society economically, culturally, and politically;
Whereas Italian Americans have won prestigious prizes, such as the Nobel Prize, 
        the Pritzker Award for architecture, and the Fields Medal for 
        mathematics;
Whereas Italians and Italian Americans invented pianos, violins, calendars, 
        radios, telescopes, compasses, microscopes, thermometers, eye glasses, 
        steam engines, typewriters, and batteries;
Whereas Italian Americans have toiled and labored while helping to build our 
        Nation's infrastructure, including railroads, tunnels, highways, and 
        subways;
Whereas a great many Americans have enjoyed the entertainment provided by 
        Italian Americans, such as Hall of Fame baseball player Joe DiMaggio, 
        singer and songwriter Frank Sinatra, world-renowned composer Henry 
        Mancini, and Oscar-winning actor Robert DeNiro;
Whereas great Italian American political figures, such as Fiorella La Guardia 
        (who was both Mayor of, then Congressman from, New York City), Anthony 
        Celebrezze (who, in the Kennedy administration, was the first Italian 
        American Cabinet member), and Antonin Scalia (who, in 1982, became the 
        first Italian American Supreme Court Justice), have enriched the 
        political process and brought national pride to our country;
Whereas over 5.4 million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 
        and 1991, which today has resulted in over 26 million Americans of 
        Italian descent in the United States, making them the fifth largest 
        ethnic group; and
Whereas the Massachusetts Legislature has designated the month of October as 
        ``Italian-American Heritage Month'' in Massachusetts: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the goals and ideas of 
``Italian-American Heritage Month'' and recognizes the significant contributions 
that Italian Americans have made to the United States.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.