[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 209 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 209

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                      October 13, 2009.
Whereas generations of Greek-Americans have worked alongside their fellow 
        Americans to build a more perfect Union, and the United States is a 
        stronger country because of them;
Whereas Greek-Americans have served ably in their communities in numerous 
        capacities, such as government, including five-term Maryland Senator 
        Paul S. Sarbanes, and in the Armed Services in every war in which the 
        United States fought since World War I, including patriots such as 
        George Dilboy, a World War I Medal of Honor recipient;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope is a leading international organization of 
        women of Hellenic descent and Philhellenes, founded November 16, 1929, 
        in San Francisco, California, to improve the status and well-being of 
        women and their families and to provide women the opportunity to make 
        significant contributions to their community and country;
Whereas the mission of the Daughters of Penelope is to promote the ideals of 
        ancient Greece (namely, philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, 
        good citizenship, and family and individual excellence) through 
        community service and volunteerism;
Whereas the chapters of the Daughters of Penelope sponsor affordable and 
        dignified housing to the Nation's senior citizen population by 
        participating in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's 
        section 202 housing program;
Whereas Penelope House, a domestic violence shelter for women and their children 
        sponsored by the Daughters of Penelope, is the first of its kind in the 
        State of Alabama and is recognized as a model shelter for others to 
        emulate throughout the United States;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope Foundation, Inc., supports the educational 
        objectives of the Daughters of Penelope by providing tens of thousands 
        of dollars annually for scholarships, sponsoring educational seminars, 
        and donating children's books to libraries, schools, shelters, and 
        churches through the ``Open Books'' program;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope is the first ethnic organization to submit 
        oral history tapes to the Library of Congress, the tapes that provide an 
        oral history of first generation Greek-American women in the United 
        States;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope promotes awareness and research on medical 
        diseases, such as cancer, thalassemia (Cooley's anemia), 
        lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy, 
        and others;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope provides financial support for many medical 
        research and charitable organizations, such as the University of Miami 
        Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (formerly the Papanicolaou Cancer 
        Center), the Alzheimer's Foundation, the American Heart Association, the 
        Special Olympics, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Literacy, the 
        Children's Wish Foundation, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, St. Basil 
        Academy, and others;
Whereas Greek-American directors and performers, such as Elia Kazan, Olympia 
        Dukakis, and Maria Callas, enriched the arts, and medical researcher, 
        Dr. George Papanicolaou, also known as the ``The Father of Cytology'', 
        saved millions of lives by inventing the Pap Test;
Whereas countless Greek-Americans have risen to become leaders of commerce and 
        industry, thus fulfilling the ``American Dream'';
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope provides support and financial assistance to 
        victims and communities affected by natural disasters, such as 
        hurricanes, earthquakes, and forest fires;
Whereas the Daughters of Penelope, founded November 16, 1929, celebrates its 
        80th anniversary as a preeminent international women's association and 
        affiliate organization of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive 
        Association (AHEPA); and
Whereas Americans can trace the concept and ideals of democracy to the ancient 
        Greeks: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the significant 
contributions of American citizens of Greek ancestry and Philhellenes, and the 
Daughters of Penelope to the United States.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.