[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 224 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 224

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a ``Haitian-
 American Heritage Month'' should be established in recognition of the 
 contributions of the Haitian people to the history and culture of the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2013

   Ms. Wilson of Florida (for herself, Ms. Waters, Mr. Conyers, Ms. 
Clarke, and Ms. Jackson Lee) submitted the following resolution; which 
    was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a ``Haitian-
 American Heritage Month'' should be established in recognition of the 
 contributions of the Haitian people to the history and culture of the 
                             United States.

Whereas freemen from the French colony of Saint-Domingue, now the Republic of 
        Haiti, fought alongside the United States Continental Army at the Siege 
        of Savannah in 1779;
Whereas Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian, built the first permanent 
        settlement of what later became the city of Chicago, Illinois, in 1779;
Whereas the significant loss of life and financial burden of the failed efforts 
        to quell Haiti's revolution prompted France to sell the territory of 
        Louisiana to the United States in 1803, a territory that now comprises 
        22.3 percent of the United States;
Whereas, on January 1, 1804, Haiti declared its independence from France to 
        become the world's first Black republic and the second democracy after 
        the United States;
Whereas Major Joseph Savary, a Haitian, was the first Black Major in the United 
        States Army, and led the Second Battalion of Freemen of Color at the 
        Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, under then-General Andrew 
        Jackson;
Whereas, in 1889, Frederick Douglass, the period's foremost spokesman on human 
        rights and prominent leader of the anti-slavery movement in the United 
        States, became the first United States Minister and Consul-General to 
        Haiti;
Whereas the longest occupancy of a foreign state by American troops was in 
        Haiti, circa 1915-1934;
Whereas over 1,000,000 persons of Haitian descent now live throughout the United 
        States;
Whereas Haitians and their descendants have contributed greatly to the arts and 
        sciences, including John James Audubon, the acclaimed naturalist and 
        wildlife artist who inspired the American conservation society that 
        bears his name, and W.E.B. DuBois, the Haitian-American author and 
        political activist, who became one of the most prominent intellectual 
        leaders of African-American society during the twentieth century;
Whereas the close proximity of Haiti to the shores of the United States, in 
        conjunction with the common bond of mutual values and commitment to 
        democracy, ensures lasting comity of nations and continued trade and 
        diplomatic relations;
Whereas Haiti, the only republic to rise from a successful slave rebellion, 
        inspires pride, solidarity, and self-reliance;
Whereas the last Sunday of May is commemorated in Haiti as Mother's Day;
Whereas the 18th of May is Flag Day, the most celebrated holiday in Haiti, and 
        is observed by people of Haitian descent throughout the world;
Whereas in Miami, Florida, home to the largest Haitian-American population in 
        the United States, there are numerous cultural events and celebrations 
        planned during the month of May to honor Haitian heritage; and
Whereas May is an appropriate month to establish a Haitian-American Heritage 
        Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation and recognition of a 
        ``Haitian-American Heritage Month''; and
            (2) calls on the people of the United States to observe the 
        month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and 
        activities.
                                 <all>