[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 33 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of Senate 
Resolution 59, and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 59) designating the month of March of 
     each year as ``Irish American Heritage Month.''

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to join 50 of my 
colleagues as sponsors of this Senate resolution to designate the month 
of March each year as ``Irish-American Heritage Month.''
  Irish-Americans have contributed to every aspect of American life--
business and labor, agriculture and industry, education and the arts, 
science and religion, at every level of government, and in all aspects 
of public service.
  From the days of the earliest settlers to our shores, immigrants from 
Ireland have found hope and opportunity and new lives in America. They 
powered our industrial revolution. They took jobs as laborers. They dug 
the canals. They built the railroads that took America to the West. 
Even today, it is said that under every railroad tie, an Irishman is 
buried.
  In all of these ways and many more, Irish-Americans have contributed 
immensely to our Nation and they continue to do so. In a very real 
sense, their greatest legacy is our modern Nation.
  Today, over 44 million Americans are of Irish descent. They are proud 
of America and proud of their Irish heritage, and it is fitting that we 
pass this resolution honoring this extraordinary aspect of our history.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and its preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating thereto 
be placed in the Record in the appropriate place as if read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 59) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, are as follows:

                               S. Res. 59

       Whereas by 1776 nearly 300,000 persons had emigrated to the 
     United States from Ireland;
       Whereas following the Revolutionary War victory of 
     Washington's troops at Yorktown, a French Major General 
     reported that Congress and America owed its existence, and 
     possibly its preservation, to the support of the Irish;
       Whereas at least 8 signers of the Declaration of 
     Independence were of Irish origin;
       Whereas more than 200 Irish Americans have been awarded the 
     Congressional Medal of Honor;
       Whereas 19 Presidents of the United States proudly claim 
     Irish heritage, including the first president, George 
     Washington;
       Whereas 44 million American citizens are of Irish descent; 
     and
       Whereas the Irish and their descendants have contributed 
     greatly to the enrichment of all aspects of life in the 
     United States, including military and government service, 
     science, education, art, agriculture, business, industry, and 
     athletics: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of March of each year as ``Irish 
     American Heritage Month''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     designating the month of March of each year as ``Irish 
     American heritage Month'' and calling on the people of the 
     United States to observe the month with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities.
     
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