[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5904 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5904

  To amend title 5, United States Code, to establish Deepavali, also 
   known as ``Diwali'', as a Federal holiday, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 5, 2021

   Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York (for herself, Mr. Khanna, Mr. 
Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Bera, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Meng, Mr. Nadler, 
  Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. 
 Rush, Ms. Ross, Mr. Costa, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Green 
of Texas, Mr. Cardenas, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Evans, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Connolly, 
    Ms. Omar, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Payne, and Ms. DelBene) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 
                                 Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 5, United States Code, to establish Deepavali, also 
   known as ``Diwali'', as a Federal holiday, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Deepavali Day Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DEEPAVALI DAY.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Deepavali, also known as the ``Festival of Lights'', is 
        celebrated as a day of thanksgiving and the beginning of the 
        New Year by more than six million Americans, including Hindu 
        Americans, Buddhist Americans, Sikh Americans, Jain Americans, 
        Indo-Caribbean Americans, and non-secular Asian Americans.
            (2) Deepavali falls on the last day of the last month or 
        the New Moon Day in the month of Kartika which occurs during 
        October or November in the Vedic lunar calendar.
            (3) Deepavali signifies the victory of light and knowledge 
        over darkness and ignorance and is an annual time for 
        celebration, reflection, prayer, and gatherings with family, 
        friends, and community.
            (4) The Deepavali holiday celebrates values that are 
        aligned with the democratic principles of the United States, 
        including the triumph of knowledge, light, justice, and freedom 
        over darkness, injustice, tyranny, fear, and oppression.

SEC. 3. DEEPAVALI DAY.

    Section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to Columbus Day the following:
            ``Deepavali Day.''.
                                 <all>