[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent the Judiciary Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 145 and the Senate 
proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 145) designating the month of 
     November 1997 as ``National American Indian 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. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 145) was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 145

       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 1997 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.

                          ____________________