[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 107 (Friday, August 5, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE AND CULTURE MONTH

  Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Post Office and Civil Service be discharged from further 
consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 175) designating 
October 1993 and October 1994 as ``Italian-American Heritage and 
Culture Month,'' and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
  The SPEAKER por tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to 
the gentleman form New York [Mr. Engel], who is kind of a converted 
Italian-American, and who is the chief sponsor of House Joint 
Resolution 175.
  Mr. ENGEL. I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland, who is a dear 
friend, for yielding this time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleagues for joining me for 
the fifth year in passing House Joint Resolution 175, legislation which 
designates October 1994 as ``Italian-American Heritage and Culture 
month.''
  During the past 5 years, the month of October has become a time for 
great celebration for the Italian-American community in honor of the 
Achievements and contributions of Italian-Americans throughout the 
history of our country. This month is marked by activities planned at 
the national and local level in recognition and celebration of these 
contributions.
  The Italian-American community is one of the largest in this country, 
made up of some 25 million citizens who comprise thousands of 
organizations and clubs throughout the United States and who greatly 
contribute to the prosperity and progress of our Nation on a yearly 
basis. Italian-Americans contribute to this country in all aspect of 
our society: Art, science, civil service, military service, athletics, 
education, and politics.
  Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month is a time for all 
Americans to reflect on the achievements of Italians and Italian-
Americans throughout History. During this month we celebrate those 
figures of Italian heritage who have contributed to the history of this 
country and the world. We note the achievements of the great explorer, 
Christopher Columbus, for whom we have a national day of observance in 
the month of October. We honor Philip Mazzei, the noted Italian patriot 
and immigrant to whom we attribute the phrase, ``All men are created 
equal,'' and who fought for religious and political freedom during the 
American Revolution. We remember Enrico Fermi, the recipient of the 
1938 Nobel Prize in physics. Our country also celebrates the cultural 
heritage of Italian history which has given us the works of Dante, 
Giotto, Michelangelo as well a the music of Antonio Vivaldi and 
Giuseppe Verdi.
  Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month gives us all the 
opportunity to reflect on the ideals and values common to both 
Americans and Italians. Our nations are bonded by the ideals of the 
importance of individuality, the protection of basic human rights and 
freedoms, and the advancement of mankind.
  Mr. Speaker, we are giving a great honor to one of the largest ethnic 
communities in this country by passing this resolution and I am 
thankful for the many contributions that Italian-Americans have made to 
our society. I look forward to this resolution's passage in the Senate 
as well as proper Presidential recognition of this important 
commemorative Legislation.

                              {time}  1430

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
Engel] for introducing this resolution to recognize October of this 
year, as well as 1993, as Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month.
  Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, it now gives me 
pleasure to yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Barca] on this 
resolution.
  Mr. BARCA of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity, 
and I will be very brief: I just want to take a minute to add my strong 
support to this motion and to this resolution. The gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Engel] very articulately outlined the many contributions of 
Italian-Americans, and, being of Italian-American descent, personally 
this brings me great pleasure to have this opportunity to add my voice 
in support.
  It is 1 year ago that I lost my father, Peter Barca, Sr., who was of 
Italian descent, who came to this country in 1920, like so many 
Italian-Americans and people of other heritages just wanting to make a 
contribution to this great country and to raise his family with dignity 
and pride, and for that reason I am just very pleased to add my support 
to this motion.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I 
want to commend the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Barca] for the 
tribute to his father, and it is the same kind of tribute that we have 
to all of our ancestors who have come from other countries who have 
chosen this as their own.
  As someone whose married name is Morella, which is of Italian 
background, and whose maiden name was Albanese, which is also Italian 
in background, I can indicate that I do value this particular 
resolution because it does talk about the fact that we respect our 
heritage, the traditions that we in America respect the greatness of 
this country, and this is what makes this Congress so great and this 
country so great, the combination of the mosaic of different 
backgrounds, all with the common heritage which is as Americans.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of House 
Joint Resolution 175, legislation to designate October 1994 as Italian-
American Heritage and Culture Month. I am pleased to have cosponsored 
this legislation and wish to commend the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
Engel] for his sponsorship of this legislation.
  Italian-Americans in the United States represent one of the largest 
ethnic groups in our Nation. With 20 million Americans of Italian 
descent it would be difficult, if not impossible, to name the many 
contributions they have made to the formation and development of our 
great Nation.
  Perhaps the greatest contribution made by an Italian, of course, is 
the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in support of House Joint 
Resolution 175, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Menendez). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the joint resolution, as follows:

                             H.J. Res. 175

       Whereas Italians and Italian-Americans have contributed to 
     the United States in all aspects of life, including art, 
     science, civil service, military service, athletics, 
     education, law, and politics;
       Whereas Italian-Americans make up one of the largest ethnic 
     groups in the United States;
       Whereas in recognition of the accomplishments of 
     Christopher Columbus, recognized as one of the greatest 
     explorers in world history and the first to record the 
     discovery of the Americas, a national observance day was 
     established in October of every year;
       Whereas the phrase in the Declaration of Independence ``All 
     men are created equal'', was suggested by the Italian patriot 
     and immigrant Philip Mazzei;
       Whereas the people of the United States take great pride in 
     the accomplishments of the many outstanding men and women of 
     Italian descent who have enriched our Nation's history such 
     as Fiorello La Guardia, the beloved Mayor of New York City, 
     and Enrico Fermi, who won the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics;
       Whereas Italy enjoys a rich cultural heritage and has given 
     the world the great works of Dante, the breathtaking art of 
     Giotti and Michelangelo, and the inspirational music of 
     Antonio Vivaldi and Domenico Scarlatti;
       Whereas the Americas were named after the Italian explorer 
     Amerigo Vespucci;
       Whereas Giuseppe Verdi, one of the world's most renowned 
     opera composers, was born October 10, 1813;
       Whereas William Paca, an Italian-American, was one of the 
     signers of the Declaration of Independence; and
       Whereas during October 1993 and October 1994 special 
     attention will be directed at National, State, and local 
     programs that promote Italian heritage and culture: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,
       That October 1993 and October 1994 are each designated as 
     ``Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month''. The 
     President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe such 
     month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.


                    amendment offered by mrs. byrne

  Mrs. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mrs. Byrne: Page 2, strike line 3 and 
     insert ``That October 1994 is designated''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment offered by 
the gentlewoman from Virginia [Mrs. Byrne].
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third 
time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider 
was laid on the table.

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