[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 61 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 61

      Supporting the goals and ideals of Dominican Heritage Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 26, 2023

Mr. Espaillat submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Supporting the goals and ideals of Dominican Heritage Month.

Whereas the House of Representatives is proud to recognize and commemorate 
        Dominican Heritage Month, an observance that celebrates the 
        contributions of Dominican Americans;
Whereas, in keeping with its time-honored traditions, we recognize and pay 
        tribute to those who foster cultural pride and enhance the profile of 
        diverse communities across the United States;
Whereas Dominicans are freedom-loving people who first began their campaign for 
        their independence in 1831 under the leadership of Juan Pablo Duarte;
Whereas, after the long and hard-fought campaign for freedom, a ceremonial 
        musket shot fired on February 27, 1844, marked the Dominican Republic's 
        first official Independence Day;
Whereas January 26 marks the beginning of the ``Mes de la Patria'' (Month of the 
        Fatherland), a period in which the country celebrates the founding 
        fathers and the symbols that identify Dominicans in the world;
Whereas it would be befitting to celebrate Dominican heritage beginning on 
        January 21, The Day of the Procession of Altagracia, the Dominican 
        Republic's most important religious celebration;
Whereas it would also be befitting to end the period of Dominican heritage on 
        February 27, the Dominican Republic's Independence Day;
Whereas Dominicans in the United States and abroad reserve the period between 
        January 21 to February 27 to celebrate and honor Dominican heritage;
Whereas celebrating Dominican Heritage Month gives the Nation the opportunity to 
        acknowledge and applaud the economic, cultural, and social contributions 
        Dominican Americans have made to the United States;
Whereas the Dominican Studies Institute of the City University of New York is 
        working on a National Register of Historic Places application for 
        submission to the National Park Service that would create a 
        noncontiguous cultural heritage district to document, acknowledge, and 
        honor the contributions of the Dominican community; and
Whereas approximately 2,400,000 people of Dominican origin currently reside in 
        the United States, and over 2,000,000 United States tourists visit the 
        Dominican Republic annually, accounting for the largest number of 
        foreign tourists to the country and bolstering its economically critical 
        tourism sector: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Dominican Heritage 
        Month;
            (2) reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the historic 
        partnership between the United States and the Dominican 
        Republic based on shared democratic values and efforts to 
        advance economic prosperity and national security;
            (3) supports the establishment of a national Dominican 
        Heritage Month to honor the Dominican people and their 
        contributions; and
            (4) encourages the people of the United States to observe a 
        national month of recognition for Dominican Americans with 
        appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities.
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