[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH LEGISLATION

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                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 17, 2004

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
designating a Caribbean-American Heritage month. This resolution 
acknowledges the contributions of Caribbean-Americans from the 
inception of our country to the present.
  Alexander Hamilton, Hazel Scott, Sidney Poitier, Jean Michel 
Basquiat, Eric Holder, Colin Powell, Edwidge Danticat, Jean Baptiste 
Point du Sable, Sidney Ponson, Maryse Conde, Harry Belafonte, Sidney 
Poitier, Celia Cruz, Mervyn Dymally and Shirley Chisolm are just a few 
of the many Caribbean-Americans who helped shape American government, 
politics, business, arts, education, science, and culture.
  Many of us in Congress focus on ``hot spots'' in the Caribbean--Cuba 
and Haiti--and forget that we have many constituents with roots from 
Suriname to the Bahamas and from Belize to Barbados.
  The recent revitalization of a bi-partisan Congressional Caribbean 
Caucus forced many of us to re-evaluate the policy between CARICOM and 
the United States, and to discuss proposed and pending U.S. legislation 
that will have a direct impact on bilateral relations.
  It is also important that we remember that our policies in the 
Caribbean affect the relatives of our constituents. I wrote this 
resolution to remind the American public that there are Caribbean-
Americans who reside in every state of the union, and make sure that 
are recognized and celebrated.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure to 
honor the Caribbean-American community, and create a month designated 
to annually acknowledge their service to our society.




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