[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 71 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 71


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 17, 2007

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the American 
    Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading 
  association for the Nation's 1.3 million American citizens of Greek 
                      ancestry, and Philhellenes.

Whereas the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) was 
        founded July 26, 1922, in Atlanta, Georgia, by eight visionary Greek 
        immigrants to help unify, organize, and protect against the bigotry, 
        discrimination, and defamation faced by people of all ethnic, race, and 
        religious backgrounds perpetrated predominantly by the Ku Klux Klan;
Whereas the mission of AHEPA is to promote the ideals of ancient Greece, which 
        include philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, and family and 
        individual excellence through community service and volunteerism;
Whereas since its inception, AHEPA has instilled in its members an understanding 
        of their Hellenic heritage and an awareness of the contributions made to 
        the development of democratic principles and governance in the United 
        States and throughout the world;
Whereas AHEPA has done much throughout its history to foster American 
        patriotism;
Whereas members of AHEPA served in the Armed Forces of the United States to 
        protect American freedom and to preserve those democratic ideals that 
        are part of the Hellenic legacy, and specifically in World War II, were 
        parachuted behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Greece to help liberate 
        it;
Whereas AHEPA raised more than $253 million for United States War Bonds during 
        World War II, for which AHEPA was named an official Issuing Agent for 
        United States War Bonds by the Department of Treasury, an honor that no 
        other civic organization was able to achieve at the time;
Whereas the members of AHEPA donated $612,000 toward the restoration of the 
        Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, New York, for which AHEPA received 
        special recognition by the Department of the Interior;
Whereas the AHEPA National Housing Program was awarded $500 million by the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development for its Section 202 Program 
        that has yielded 4,370 units in 80 properties across 21 states and 49 
        cities which has provided dignified, affordable housing to senior 
        citizens;
Whereas AHEPA was recognized by the Department of State as an organization that 
        has engaged in ``Track Two Diplomacy'' to foster reconciliation and 
        rapprochement in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is in the best 
        interest of the United States;
Whereas members of AHEPA raised $110,000 for the creation of the George C. 
        Marshall Statue erected on the grounds of the United States Embassy in 
        Athens, Greece in celebration of the historic relationship between the 
        United States and Greece, and in tribute to an outstanding Statesman and 
        Philhellene, General Marshall;
Whereas AHEPA financially supports scholarships, educational chairs, medical 
        research, and countless other charitable and philanthropic causes by 
        contributing more than $2,000,000 annually from its national, district, 
        and local levels collectively;
Whereas in the spirit of their Hellenic heritage and in commemoration of the 
        Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia, members of AHEPA 
        raised $775,000 for the ``Tribute'' to Olympism Sculpture, the ``fan-
        like'' structure of which helped to save lives during the Olympic 
        Bombing at Centennial Olympic Park;
Whereas members of AHEPA have been Presidents and Vice Presidents of the United 
        States, United States Senators and Representatives, and United States 
        Ambassadors, and have served honorably as elected officials at the local 
        and State levels throughout the United States; and
Whereas President George H.W. Bush cited AHEPA as one of America's ``thousand 
        points of light'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes the significant contributions of American 
        citizens of Hellenic heritage to the United States,
            (2) commemorates the 85th Anniversary of the founding of 
        the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association 
        (AHEPA), applauds its mission, and commends the many charitable 
        contributions of its members to communities around the world, 
        and
            (3) requests the President of the United States to issue a 
        proclamation acknowledging the 85th Anniversary of AHEPA and 
        its many accomplishments.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 16, 2007.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.