[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3656 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3656

   To direct the President to designate a month as African Diaspora 
                            Heritage Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 24, 2024

  Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, and Mr. Booker) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                             the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the President to designate a month as African Diaspora 
                            Heritage Month.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``African Diaspora Heritage Month Act 
of 2024''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the African diaspora population in the United States 
        has grown significantly in recent years, with the number of 
        African immigrants growing at a rate of almost 246 percent from 
        2000 to 2019;
            (2) the African diaspora community is one of the most 
        diverse communities in the United States, inclusive of people 
        who speak multiple languages, whose rich heritage comes from 
        all across the African continent, and whose members practice 
        various faiths;
            (3) during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a 
        significant number of enslaved people from Africa were brought 
        to the United States;
            (4) immigrants of African origin boast some of the highest 
        educational achievements of any immigrant group;
            (5) African diaspora households contribute billions of 
        dollars to the economy of the United States, with an estimated 
        $10,100,000,000 in Federal taxes, $4,700,000,000 in State and 
        local taxes, and a spending power of more than $40,300,000,000 
        in 2015;
            (6) Sub-Saharan African immigrants living in the United 
        States, Europe, and elsewhere sent back $46,000,000,000 in 
        remittances to the continent of Africa in 2021;
            (7) Government agencies, including the International 
        Development Finance Corporation, the Department of Commerce, 
        the Department of the Treasury, and the United States Trade 
        Representative are critical to investments and enduring mutual 
        partnerships between the United States and African nations;
            (8) in 2021, through the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
        (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), the United States imported 
        $6,700,000,000 in goods;
            (9) Prosper Africa and other similar Government initiatives 
        are critical to building and strengthening ties between the 
        United States and African businesses;
            (10) the total two-way goods trade with Sub-Saharan Africa 
        totaled $44,800,000,000 in 2021, a 21.8-percent increase from 
        $36,700,000,000 in 2019;
            (11) the African diaspora plays an invaluable role in 
        shaping Government policy;
            (12) members of the African diaspora have an invaluable 
        understanding of cross-cultural engagement between the United 
        States and Africa, existing relations and networks on the 
        African continent, and can support efforts to facilitate 
        stronger ties between the United States and Africa;
            (13) the United States is committed to strengthening the 
        government-to-government relationships between the United 
        States and countries throughout the African continent;
            (14) Congress strongly supports the hosting of the second 
        United States-Africa Leaders Summit by the United States, which 
        was held in December 2022, to boost collaboration between the 
        Government and the African diaspora community in the United 
        States, and to strengthen ties between the United States and 
        African nations by bringing together approximately 49 African 
        heads of state;
            (15) the African diaspora harbors a deep commitment to 
        family and community, an enduring work ethic, and a 
        perseverance to succeed and contribute to the society of the 
        United States;
            (16) all members of the African diaspora in the United 
        States deserve access to any Federal resources they are legally 
        eligible to receive and freedom to participate in civil life in 
        the United States;
            (17) the United States is committed to strengthening the 
        dialogue between the African diaspora and Government officials 
        through the creation of the President's Advisory Council on 
        African Diaspora Engagement in the United States; and
            (18) the African diaspora community significantly 
        contributes to the growth and prosperity of the United States, 
        and Congress honors this abundant and growing community.

SEC. 3. AFRICAN DIASPORA HERITAGE MONTH.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating the second section 146 as section 147; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 148. African Diaspora Heritage Month
    ``The President shall issue each year a proclamation--
            ``(1) designating a month as African Diaspora Heritage 
        Month;
            ``(2) calling on State and local governments and the people 
        of the United States to observe African Diaspora Heritage Month 
        with appropriate programs and activities; and
            ``(3) urging civil and educational authorities of States 
        and local governments to observe African Diaspora Heritage 
        Month through appropriate programs and activities.''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
item relating to the second section 146 and inserting the following:

``147. Choose Respect Day.
``148. African Diaspora Heritage Month.''.
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