[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1333 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1333

 Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American Heritage 
                                 Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 28, 2024

    Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. 
 Plaskett, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Torres of New York, and Ms. Williams of 
Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
               Committee on Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the significance of National Caribbean American Heritage 
                                 Month.

Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every State of the Union;
Whereas emigration from the Caribbean to the American colonies began as early as 
        1619 with the arrival of indentured workers in Jamestown, Virginia;
Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of 
        slaves from the Caribbean were brought to the United States;
Whereas millions of people have emigrated from the Caribbean to the United 
        States;
Whereas the current population of people in the United States who were born in 
        or have ancestry from the Caribbean is estimated at over 84.54 million;
Whereas, like the United States, the countries of the Caribbean faced obstacles 
        of slavery and colonialism and struggled for independence;
Whereas, also like the United States, the people of the Caribbean have diverse 
        racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds;
Whereas independence movements throughout the Caribbean and the consequential 
        establishment of independent democratic countries in the Caribbean 
        strengthened ties between the Caribbean and the United States;
Whereas Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father of the United States and the first 
        Secretary of the Treasury, was born in the Caribbean;
Whereas many influential Caribbean Americans have contributed to the rich 
        history of the United States, including Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, 
        the pioneer settler of Chicago; Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem 
        Renaissance; James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National 
        Anthem; Celia Cruz, the world-renowned queen of Salsa music; Sylvia 
        Winter, influential feminist, writer, and human rights activist; John 
        Brown Russwurm, co-founder of Freedom's Journal, the first Black-owned 
        newspaper; Harry Belafonte, a legendary musician, actor, and activist; 
        Sir Sydney Poitier, the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for 
        Best Actor, film director, and diplomat; Mervyn Dymally, the first 
        African-American Lieutenant Governor of California and first Caribbean 
        immigrant to serve in Congress; and Shirley Chisholm, the first African 
        American Congresswoman and first African American to run for a major 
        party's presidential nomination;
Whereas the many influential Caribbean Americans in the history of the United 
        States also include Kamala Harris, the first African-American Vice 
        President; Colin Powell, the first African-American Secretary of State; 
        Eric Holder, the first African-American Attorney General; Karine Jean-
        Pierre, the first African-American White House Press Secretary; Deval 
        Patrick, first African American Governor of Massachusetts; David 
        Paterson, first legally-blind and first African American to serve as 
        Governor of New York State; Wes Moore, the first African American 
        Governor of Maryland, Patrick Gaspard, labor union organizer and social 
        justice advocate; Earl Graves, Sr, Founder of Black Enterprise; Kareem 
        Abdul Jabbar, basketball great and social activist;
Whereas Caribbean Americans have played an active role in the civil rights 
        movement and other social and political movements in the United States;
Whereas Caribbean Americans have contributed to every aspect of our society, 
        including greatly to the fine arts, education, business, literature, 
        journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, the military, music, 
        science, medicine, engineering, technology, and other fields in the 
        United States;
Whereas Caribbean Americans share their culture through festivals, carnivals, 
        music, dance, film, food, and literature, which enrich the cultural 
        landscape of the United States;
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important economic partners of the 
        United States;
Whereas the members of the Caribbean diaspora have established a solid, 
        centuries-old track record of significant contributions to economic 
        prosperity in the United States, as well as to the sustainable economic 
        development of the Caribbean countries themselves, through, among 
        others, monetary and social remittances that represent significant 
        percentages of their GDP;
Whereas the Institute of Caribbean Studies, headquartered in Washington, DC, is 
        widely acknowledged as the leading Caribbean American diaspora 
        organization, that which for over thirty years since its founding, has 
        encouraged civic engagement through research, advocacy, education, and 
        action, and is recognized as the cradle of the celebration of June as 
        National Caribbean American Heritage Month;
Whereas Dr. Claire A. Nelson, Founding President of the Institute of Caribbean 
        Studies, is recognized as the chief architect and driving force of the 
        movement for the official proclamation of June as National Caribbean 
        American Heritage Month, and has convened a network of volunteer leaders 
        through the National Caribbean American Heritage Month Commemorative 
        Committee to serve as a leadership community to ensure continuity of the 
        official recognition for the month of June as Caribbean American 
        Heritage Month;
Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United States third border;
Whereas the people of the Caribbean share the hopes and aspirations of the 
        people of the United States for peace and prosperity throughout the 
        Western Hemisphere and the rest of the world; and
Whereas, since the passage of H. Con. Res. 71 in the 109th Congress by both the 
        Senate and the House of Representatives, a proclamation has been issued 
        annually by the President declaring June National Caribbean American 
        Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Caribbean American 
        Heritage Month;
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        Caribbean American Heritage Month with appropriate ceremonies, 
        celebrations, and activities; and
            (3) affirms that--
                    (A) the contributions of Caribbean Americans are a 
                significant part of the history, progress, and heritage 
                of the United States; and
                    (B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the United 
                States enriches and strengthens the Nation.
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