[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 71 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 71

  Expressing the sense of Congress that there should be established a 
                   Caribbean-American Heritage Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 17, 2005

Ms. Lee (for herself, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, Mrs. Jones of Ohio, 
Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Meeks of New 
 York, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Payne, Mr. Rangel, 
 Mr. Towns, Mr. Watt, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Rush, 
  Mr. Owens, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Cummings, Ms. Norton, Mr. 
   Lantos, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Ford, Mr. Engel, Mr. Meek of 
  Florida, Mr. Clay, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Waters, and Ms. 
 Jackson-Lee of Texas) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress that there should be established a 
                   Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every State of the Union;
Whereas emigration from the Caribbean region to the American Colonies began as 
        early as 1619 with the arrival of indentured workers in Jamestown, 
        Virginia;
Whereas during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of 
        slaves from the Caribbean region were brought to the United States;
Whereas since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from the Caribbean region 
        to the United States;
Whereas much like the United States, the countries of the Caribbean faced 
        obstacles of slavery and colonialism and struggled for independence;
Whereas also like the United States, the people of the Caribbean region have 
        diverse racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds;
Whereas the independence movements in many countries in the Caribbean during the 
        1960's and the consequential establishment of independent democratic 
        countries in the Caribbean strengthened ties between the region and the 
        United States;
Whereas Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States and the first 
        Secretary of the Treasury, was born in the Caribbean;
Whereas there have been many influential Caribbean-Americans in the history of 
        the United States, including Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the pioneer 
        settler of Chicago; Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance; 
        James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National Anthem; Shirley 
        Chisolm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first African-
        American woman candidate for President; and Celia Cruz, the world 
        renowned queen of Salsa music;
Whereas the many influential Caribbean-Americans in the history of the United 
        States also include Colin Powell, the first African-American Secretary 
        of State; Sidney Poitier, the first African-American actor to receive 
        the Academy Award for best actor in a leading role; Harry Belafonte, a 
        musician, actor, and activist; Marion Jones, an Olympic gold medalist; 
        Roberto Clemente, the first Latino inducted into the baseball hall of 
        fame; and Al Roker, a meteorologist and television personality;
Whereas Caribbean-Americans have played an active role in the civil rights 
        movement and other social and political movements in the United States;
Whereas Caribbean-Americans have contributed greatly to education, fine arts, 
        business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, 
        the military, music, science, technology, and other areas in the United 
        States;
Whereas Caribbean-Americans share their culture through carnivals, festivals, 
        music, dance, film, and literature that enrich the cultural landscape of 
        the United States;
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important economic partners of the 
        United States;
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United States third border;
Whereas the people of the Caribbean region share the hopes and aspirations of 
        the people of the United States for peace and prosperity throughout the 
        Western Hemisphere and the rest of the world; and
Whereas June is an appropriate month to establish a Caribbean-American Heritage 
        Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) a Caribbean-American Heritage Month should be 
        established; and
            (2) the people of the United States should observe the 
        month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and 
        activities.
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