[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5652 Introduced in House (IH)]






107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5652

 To designate a paid legal public holiday in honor of Native Americans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 16, 2002

    Mr. Baca (for himself, Mr. Carson of Oklahoma, and Mr. Kildee) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To designate a paid legal public holiday in honor of Native Americans.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Native Americans were the original inhabitants of the 
        land that now constitutes the United States.
            (2) Native American tribal governments developed the 
        fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of 
        powers that form the foundation of the United States 
        Government.
            (3) Native Americans have traditionally exhibited respect 
        for our finite natural resources through a deep reverence for 
        the Earth.
            (4) Native Americans have served with valor in all of the 
        Nation's wars beginning with the Revolutionary War through the 
        present day, and often the percentage of Native American 
        Indians who served exceeded significantly the percentage of 
        Americans in the population of the United States as a whole, 
        showing the disproportionate commitment of Native Americans to 
        the Nation.
            (5) Native Americans have made distinct and important 
        contributions to the United States and the rest of the world in 
        many fields, including agriculture, medicine, music, language, 
        art, and as inventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and 
        scholars.
            (6) Native Americans deserve to be recognized for their 
        individual contributions to the United States as local and 
        national leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars.
            (7) This recognition will encourage self-esteem, pride, and 
        self-awareness in Native Americans of all ages about the 
        significant role their ancestors and heritage played in the 
        formation of the freest country in the world, the United 
        States.
            (8) This recognition will allow all Americans of whatever 
        background to show respect and admiration to Native Americans 
        for their important contributions to the political, cultural, 
        and economic life of the United States and the richness of its 
        cultural fabric.
            (9) Bringing about a legal public holiday for Native 
        Americans will show a strong united government-to-government 
        relationship between each of the Native American Nations and 
        the Federal Government.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN'S DAY.

             Congress requests that__
            (1) the President issue a proclamation designating a paid 
        legal public holiday as ``Native American's Day''; and
            (2) Federal, State, and local governments, interested 
        groups and organizations, and the people of the United States 
        to observe Native American's Day with programs, appropriate 
        ceremonies, and activities.
                                 <all>