[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO ESTABLISH ``NATIONAL 
  TARTAN DAY'' RECOGNIZING ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF SCOTTISH-
                               AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 9, 2005

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, on behalf of nearly six thousand 
Scottish-Americans who live in my district, I rise today as a proud 
cosponsor and in strong support of H. Res. 41. This bipartisan 
resolution supports the establishment of a `National Tartan Day' to 
recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions made by 
Scottish-Americans throughout our nation's history.
  In America's early history, many colonists pursued higher education 
at universities founded by Scottish settlers. Many of the non-Anglican 
students who were prohibited from enrolling at other institutions 
attended these universities where the Scottish-American ideals of 
universal education, religious freedom and law flourished and became 
significant influences on the development of our Nation.
  In fact, our nation's Declaration of Independence was modeled largely 
on Scotland's Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of Arbroath, 
which was signed four and a half centuries earlier. An often overlooked 
fact is that nearly half the signers of our Declaration of Independence 
were of Scottish descent.
  Throughout our Nation's history Scottish-Americans contributed to 
diverse areas of American life such as science, technology, medicine, 
government, politics, economics, architecture, literature, media, and 
visual and performing arts. President Woodrow Wilson and Andrew 
Carnegie are two examples of notable Scottish-Americans who excelled in 
these fields.
  These contributions and achievements are celebrated by more than 200 
cultural organizations throughout the United States. One of these 
organizations, the Illinois Saint Andrew Society serves the city and 
suburbs of Chicago, Illinois by honoring the culture and traditions of 
Scotland and Scottish-Americans. These organizations provide a valuable 
service by educating all Americans about the time-honored values and 
ideals of the Scottish culture.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the Scottish cultural organizations for 
documenting and promoting these contributions, and I am proud to be a 
cosponsor and support this important resolution.

                          ____________________