[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 459 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 459

Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the 
  heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of 
                 Native Americans to the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 9, 2023

 Mr. Schatz (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
 Blumenthal, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Collins, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Cramer, 
 Mr. Crapo, Mr. Daines, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fetterman, Mrs. 
 Fischer, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. 
   Hyde-Smith, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Lankford, Mr. 
Lujan, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Moran, 
Mr. Mullin, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Risch, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Rounds, 
  Mr. Schumer, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Tester, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
     Wicker, Mr. Wyden, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing National Native American Heritage Month and celebrating the 
  heritages and cultures of Native Americans and the contributions of 
                 Native Americans to the United States.

Whereas, from November 1, 2023, through November 30, 2023, the United States 
        celebrates National Native American Heritage Month;
Whereas National Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity to consider 
        and recognize the contributions of Native Americans to the history of 
        the United States;
Whereas Native Americans are descendants of the original, Indigenous inhabitants 
        of what is now the United States;
Whereas the Bureau of the Census estimates that--

    (1) in 2020, there were 9,666,058 individuals of American Indian and 
Alaska Native descent in the United States; and

    (2) in 2020, there were 680,442 individuals of Native Hawaiian descent 
in the United States;

Whereas Native Americans maintain vibrant cultures and traditions and hold a 
        deeply rooted sense of community;
Whereas Native Americans have moving stories of tragedy, triumph, and 
        perseverance that need to be shared with future generations;
Whereas Native Americans speak and write in their Indigenous languages, which 
        have influenced and contributed in a variety of ways to the United 
        States, including the naming of places and sites throughout the United 
        States;
Whereas Congress has consistently reaffirmed support for self-governance and 
        self-determination policies for Native American communities and the 
        commitment of the United States to improving the lives of all Native 
        Americans;
Whereas the United States is committed to--

    (1) strengthening the government-to-government relationship with Indian 
Tribes; and

    (2) upholding the Federal trust responsibility to Native American 
communities;

Whereas Congress has recognized the contributions of the Iroquois Confederacy 
        and the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the Founding Fathers in 
        the drafting of the Constitution of the United States with the concepts 
        of--

    (1) freedom of speech;

    (2) the separation of governmental powers; and

    (3) the system of checks and balances between the branches of 
government;

Whereas, with the enactment of the Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 
        (Public Law 111-33; 123 Stat. 1922), Congress--

    (1) reaffirmed the government-to-government relationship between the 
United States and Native American governments; and

    (2) recognized the important contributions of Native Americans to the 
culture of the United States;

Whereas Native Americans have made distinct and important contributions to the 
        United States and the world in many fields, including agriculture, 
        environmental stewardship, wayfinding, medicine, music, dance, language, 
        and art;
Whereas contemporary applications of traditional knowledge systems of Native 
        Americans have expanded scientific, environmental, and intercultural 
        understanding;
Whereas Native Americans have distinguished themselves as inventors, 
        entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and scholars;
Whereas Native Americans have served with honor and distinction in the Armed 
        Forces of the United States for centuries and have the highest per 
        capita involvement of any population currently serving in the Armed 
        Forces of the United States;
Whereas the United States has recognized the contribution of the Native American 
        code talkers in World War I and World War II, who used Indigenous 
        languages to communicate an unbreakable military code, saving countless 
        lives in both conflicts; and
Whereas the people of the United States have reason to honor the great 
        achievements and contributions of Native Americans and their ancestors: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the month of November 2023 as ``National 
        Native American Heritage Month'';
            (2) recognizes the Friday after Thanksgiving as ``Native 
        American Heritage Day'' in accordance with section 2(10) of the 
        Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-33; 
        123 Stat. 1923); and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        National Native American Heritage Month and Native American 
        Heritage Day with appropriate programs and activities.
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