[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 311--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 1996 AS 
              ``NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH''

  Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bennett, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Brown, Mr. Bryan, 
Mr. Campbell, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Craig, Mr. 
D'Amato, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Exon, Mr. 
Faircloth, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hatch, Mr. 
Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Kempthorne, Mr. 
Kennedy, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lott, Ms. 
Mikulski, Ms. Moseley-Braun, Mr. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nickles, 
Mr. Pell, Mr. Pressler, Mr. Reid, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Simon, Mr. 
Specter, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Warner, and Mr. 
Wellstone) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 311

       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives were the 
     original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the 
     United States;
       Whereas American Indian tribal governments developed the 
     fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of 
     powers that form the foundation of the United States 
     Government;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have 
     traditionally exhibited a respect for the finiteness of 
     natural resources through a reverence for the earth;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have served 
     with valor in all of America's wars beginning with the 
     Revolutionary War through the conflict in the Persian Gulf, 
     and often the percentage of American Indians who served 
     exceeded significantly the percentage of American Indians in 
     the population of the United States as a whole;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have made 
     distinct and important contributions to the United States and 
     the rest of the world in many fields, including agriculture, 
     medicine, music, language, and art;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives deserve to be 
     recognized for their individual contributions to the United 
     States as local and national leaders, artists, athletes, and 
     scholars;
       Whereas this recognition will encourage self-esteem, pride, 
     and self-awareness in American Indians and Alaska Natives of 
     all ages; and
       Whereas November is a time when many Americans commemorate 
     a special time in the history of the United States when 
     American Indians and English settlers celebrated the bounty 
     of their harvest and the promise of new kinships: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates November 1996 as 
     ``National American Indian Heritage Month'' and requests that 
     the President issue a proclamation calling on the Federal 
     Government and State and local governments, interested groups 
     and organizations, and the people of the United States to 
     observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
     activities.

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