[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 344 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 344

  Expressing the sense that there should be established a ``National 
  Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month'' in April to celebrate the great 
contributions of Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United 
          States who have enriched the history of the Nation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 28, 2023

Mr. Torres of New York (for himself, Mr. Espaillat, and Ms. Velazquez) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                    on Oversight and Accountability

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense that there should be established a ``National 
  Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month'' in April to celebrate the great 
contributions of Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United 
          States who have enriched the history of the Nation.

Whereas the history of Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United 
        States is inextricably tied to the story of the Nation;
Whereas Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United States come from 
        the Central American region and have a common heritage and language that 
        goes beyond national borders;
Whereas Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage came to the United States 
        voluntarily, and are distinct from, but have an origin similar to most 
        African Americans, as both are descendants of mostly West and Central 
        Africans who were involuntarily brought to the North American Continent 
        by means of the historic Atlantic slave trade;
Whereas the West African slaves that escaped to the island eventually 
        intermarried with the Caribs and the Arawaks' Indigenous native people, 
        giving rise to what today we know as the Garifuna people;
Whereas after a battle against the British that resulted in the surrender of the 
        Garifuna people, the defeated Garifuna leaders were transported to 
        England and the rest of the Garifuna people to the island of Roatan, 
        Honduras, arriving there on April 12, 1797, which began their settlement 
        in Central America;
Whereas this year we commemorate the 226th anniversary of the arrival of the 
        Garifuna people in Central America;
Whereas ``National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month'' would provide an 
        opportunity to commemorate and recognize the contributions of the 
        Garifuna people, and highlight the history and culture of Central 
        American Black Indigenous immigrants in the United States;
Whereas language, dance, and music of the Garifuna people from Belize, 
        Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua have been inscribed on a List of 
        Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, first proclaimed in 2001 by 
        the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;
Whereas people should be aware of the Garifuna people's fight for land rights 
        against tourism, developers, and drug traffickers in the region of 
        Pintadillera, Playa Blanca, Puerto Grande, La Flor, Ciudad Morazan 
        (Choloma), Orquidea (Colon), and Prospera (Islas de la Bahia); and
Whereas raising awareness about Garifuna immigrant heritage is crucial to 
        effectively fighting disparities and injustices against Black and 
        Indigenous populations in the United States, Latin America, and across 
        the world: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) a ``National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month'' should 
        be established to celebrate the significant contributions of 
        Americans of recent Garifuna immigrant heritage to the history 
        of the United States; and
            (2) the people of the United States should observe the 
        month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities 
        to recognize that Americans of recent Garifuna immigrant 
        heritage enhance the rich diversity of and strengthen the 
        United States.
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