[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 731 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 731

    Expressing support for the recognition of July 2022 as ``Muslim-
 American Heritage Month'' and celebrating the heritage and culture of 
                 Muslim Americans in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 28, 2022

 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
  Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mrs. Murray) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing support for the recognition of July 2022 as ``Muslim-
 American Heritage Month'' and celebrating the heritage and culture of 
                 Muslim Americans in the United States.

Whereas the Senate is proud to recognize and commemorate ``Muslim-American 
        Heritage Month'', an observance that celebrates the contributions of 
        Muslim Americans;
Whereas, in keeping with its time-honored traditions, the Senate recognizes and 
        pays tribute to those who foster cultural pride and enhance the profile 
        of diverse communities across the United States;
Whereas the immigration of Muslims to the colonies of the United States began 
        with the arrival of indentured workers;
Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of 
        slaves of Muslim heritage were brought to the United States;
Whereas, in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, successive waves of immigration 
        brought additional Muslims to the United States, who sought to pursue 
        economic and social opportunity, as well as freedom of religion, and 
        enriched the fabric of the society of the United States as business 
        owners, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, humanitarians, 
        scientists, and students;
Whereas Muslim Americans contribute greatly to charitable organizations that 
        help people from all faiths in the United States and around the world by 
        feeding the hungry, providing recuperation efforts following natural 
        disasters, and providing medical assistance, family services, scholastic 
        supplies, and before and after school programs;
Whereas Muslim Americans have contributed to every part of the society of the 
        United States to make advancements in architecture, arts, business, 
        culture, diplomacy, government, law, medicine, the military, national 
        security, religion, and sports;
Whereas Bangladeshi-American Fazlur Rahman Khan left his mark on cityscapes in 
        the United States by pioneering a new structural system of frame tubes 
        used to construct iconic buildings like the World Trade Center in New 
        York City, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, and the 
        Willis ``Sears'' Tower in Chicago;
Whereas many Muslim Americans pursue the American dream and contribute to the 
        economy of the United States as business owners and entrepreneurs, 
        including Pakistani-born billionaire Shahid Khan, owner of the auto 
        parts company Flex-N-Gate and the National Football League team 
        Jacksonville Jaguars;
Whereas Syrian immigrant Ernest Hamwi's invention of the ice cream cone is a 
        practical confection with a near ubiquitous presence in the lives of the 
        people of the United States;
Whereas, in 2006, Keith Ellison of Minnesota was elected to the House of 
        Representatives, becoming the first Muslim American to serve in 
        Congress;
Whereas, in 2008, Ambassador Sada Cumber was appointed by President George W. 
        Bush to serve as the first Special Envoy to the Organization of the 
        Islamic Conference from the United States, representing the United 
        States to 57 Muslim-majority nations;
Whereas actor Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim American to win an Oscar 
        for his supporting role in ``Moonlight'' in 2017;
Whereas, in 2018, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota were 
        elected to the House of Representatives, becoming the first Muslim 
        American women to serve in Congress;
Whereas, in 2021, Zahid Quraishi was confirmed as the first Muslim American to 
        serve as an Article III Federal judge as a District Judge of the United 
        States District Court for the District of New Jersey;
Whereas, in 2021, Rashad Hussain was confirmed as the first Muslim American to 
        serve as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International 
        Religious Freedom;
Whereas Pakistani-American neurosurgeon Ayub Ommaya's invention of the 
        intraventricular catheter system provides chemotherapy to treat brain 
        tumors;
Whereas Muslim Americans have fought in support of the United States in every 
        major war, from Bampett Muhamed and Yusuf Ben Ali under the command of 
        General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War to Captain 
        Humayun Khan, who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2004;
Whereas Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, the first Muslim American to deliver an 
        invocation in the Senate, and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, the civil rights 
        activist and reformer also known as Malcolm X, were prominent religious 
        leaders and scholars;
Whereas Muslim American professional athletes like National Basketball 
        Association Hall of Fame members Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, 
        and Shaquille O'Neal, and 2-time world heavyweight champion Hasim 
        Shariff Rahman, thrilled sports fans around the world during their 
        respective careers;
Whereas Muslim American Olympians, such as boxer Muhammad Ali, track and field 
        athlete Dalilah Muhammad, and fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, won medals in 
        international competitions;
Whereas, with roots in at least 77 different countries, and identifying racially 
        as White, Black, Arab, and Asian, Muslim Americans are an extremely 
        diverse population;
Whereas the current population of Muslims living in the United States is 
        estimated at more than 3,450,000;
Whereas more than 7,400 Muslims serve on active duty and more than 4,000 Muslims 
        serve as selected reserve personnel in the Armed Forces of the United 
        States;
Whereas the Muslim population has been growing in the United States, and the 
        Muslim-American population is a tapestry of ethnic, racial, linguistic, 
        social, and economic groups;
Whereas nearly 50 percent of Muslim Americans have reported experiencing 
        religious discrimination, with that number rising to 64 percent for 
        Muslim Americans whose appearance identifies them as Muslim, such as 
        women who wear a hijab, or headscarf; and
Whereas the incredible contributions and heritage of Muslim Americans have 
        helped to build a better United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the month of July 2022 as ``Muslim-American 
        Heritage Month'';
            (2) honors the contributions and integral role of Muslim 
        Americans to the economy, culture, and identity of the United 
        States;
            (3) recognizes the need for public education, awareness, 
        and policies that are culturally competent when describing, 
        discussing, or addressing the impacts of being Muslim American 
        in all aspects of the society of the United States, including 
        in discourse and policy; and
            (4) urges the people of the United States to observe 
        ``Muslim-American Heritage Month'' with appropriate ceremonies, 
        programs, and activities that celebrate the contributions of 
        Muslim Americans to the United States.
                                 <all>