[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1139 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1139

Acknowledging April 17, 2024, as the 500th anniversary of the discovery 
               of New York Bay by Giovanni da Verrazzano.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 12, 2024

Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Lawler, Ms. 
 Clarke of New York, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Molinaro, Ms. Meng, Ms. Tenney, 
Mr. Langworthy, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Williams of 
  New York, Mr. D'Esposito, Mr. LaLota, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. 
   Pascrell, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Panetta) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                           and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Acknowledging April 17, 2024, as the 500th anniversary of the discovery 
               of New York Bay by Giovanni da Verrazzano.

Whereas Giovanni da Verrazzano was born in 1485 in Val di Greve, Republic of 
        Florence, which is now a part of the Italian Republic;
Whereas King Francis I of France commissioned Verrazzano to lead an expedition 
        aimed at finding a western passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the 
        Pacific Ocean;
Whereas Verrazzano's discovery of New York Bay expanded maritime knowledge of 
        what became the East Coast of the United States and laid the foundation 
        for future commerce and settlements in North America;
Whereas Verrazzano's voyage sparked future explorations of the New World, 
        including, 85 years later, Henry Hudson's 1609 voyage to New York Bay to 
        establish New Amsterdam;
Whereas New Amsterdam became New York on September 8, 1664;
Whereas New York City has the highest economic impact of any city in the United 
        States and continues to serve as a major global economic hub, and New 
        York Bay continues to be a major hub for trade and commerce;
Whereas New York Bay, home to the Statue of Liberty, is where 12 million 
        immigrants legally passed through Ellis Island at a rate of 5,000 people 
        per day from 1892 to 1954;
Whereas the New York City metropolitan area is home to over 2.5 million Italian 
        Americans;
Whereas to commemorate and underscore the significant impact of Giovanni da 
        Verrazzano's discovery of New York Bay, on March 9, 1960, Governor 
        Nelson Rockefeller signed legislation that named the bridge connecting 
        the boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn as the Verrazzano-Narrows 
        Bridge;
Whereas the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge was inaugurated on November 21, 1964, was 
        the world's longest suspension bridge until 1981, and spans the Narrows; 
        and
Whereas the legacy of Giovanni da Verrazzano is further honored at Battery Park, 
        New York City, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, recognizing Verrazzano's 
        impact as the first European explorer to chart what became the East 
        Coast of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges April 17, 2024, as the 500th anniversary 
        of the discovery of New York Bay by Giovanni da Verrazzano; and
            (2) recognizes the contributions of Giovanni da 
        Verrazzano's voyage to North America, highlighting Verrazzano's 
        pivotal role in the mapping and exploration of the continent 
        and Verrazzano's lasting impact on the foundation of New York 
        City and the United States.
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