[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 87 (Monday, June 27, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H5192-H5194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT THERE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED A CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN 
                             HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 71) expressing the sense of 
Congress that there should be established a Caribbean-American Heritage 
Month.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 71

       Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every 
     State of the Union;
       Whereas emigration from the Caribbean region to the 
     American Colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of 
     indentured workers in Jamestown, Virginia;
       Whereas during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a 
     significant number of slaves from the Caribbean region were 
     brought to the United States;
       Whereas since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from 
     the Caribbean region to the United States;
       Whereas much like the United States, the countries of the 
     Caribbean faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and 
     struggled for independence;
       Whereas also like the United States, the people of the 
     Caribbean region have diverse racial, cultural, and religious 
     backgrounds;
       Whereas the independence movements in many countries in the 
     Caribbean during the 1960's and the consequential 
     establishment of independent democratic countries in the 
     Caribbean strengthened ties between the region and the United 
     States;
       Whereas Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United 
     States and the first Secretary of the Treasury, was born in 
     the Caribbean;
       Whereas there have been many influential Caribbean-
     Americans in the history of the United States, including Jean 
     Baptiste Point du Sable, the pioneer settler of Chicago; 
     Claude McKay, a poet of the Harlem Renaissance; James Weldon 
     Johnson, the writer of the Black National Anthem; Shirley 
     Chisolm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first 
     African-American woman candidate for President; and Celia 
     Cruz, the world renowned queen of Salsa music;
       Whereas the many influential Caribbean-Americans in the 
     history of the United States also include Colin Powell, the 
     first African-American Secretary of State; Sidney Poitier, 
     the first African-American actor to receive the Academy Award 
     for best actor in a leading role; Harry Belafonte, a 
     musician, actor, and activist; Marion Jones, an Olympic gold 
     medalist; Roberto Clemente, the first Latino inducted into 
     the baseball hall of fame; and Al Roker, a meteorologist and 
     television personality;
       Whereas Caribbean-Americans have played an active role in 
     the civil rights movement and other social and political 
     movements in the United States;
       Whereas Caribbean-Americans have contributed greatly to 
     education, fine arts, business, literature, journalism, 
     sports, fashion, politics, government, the military, music, 
     science, technology, and other areas in the United States;
       Whereas Caribbean-Americans share their culture through 
     carnivals, festivals, music, dance, film, and literature that 
     enrich the cultural landscape of the United States;
       Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important 
     economic partners of the United States;
       Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United 
     States third border;
       Whereas the people of the Caribbean region share the hopes 
     and aspirations of the people of the United States for peace 
     and prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere and the rest 
     of the world; and
       Whereas June is an appropriate month to establish a 
     Caribbean-American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) a Caribbean-American Heritage Month should be 
     established; and
       (2) the people of the United States should observe the 
     month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and 
     activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I rise 
in support of House Concurrent Resolution 71, a resolution that 
recognizes the Caribbean-American community. This is a meaningful 
resolution to many Americans of Caribbean heritage, and I trust my 
colleagues will join me in support.
  Mr. Speaker, America and the islands of the Caribbean have been 
eternal neighbors, and our pasts and futures are inexorably connected. 
The first permanent European settlement in the Caribbean was 
established by Spain on Hispaniola, the island that is now Haiti and 
the Dominican Republic, in 1496. The first native Caribbean people came 
to mainland North America as indentured servants at Jamestown, 
Virginia, in 1619.
  Since the birth of our Nation, the United States has greatly 
benefited from the contributions of those of Caribbean descent. From 
Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, and founder of 
the First Bank of the United States, who was born on the island of 
Nevis, through Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was born to 
Jamaican immigrants, Caribbean-Americans have impacted all aspects of 
our Nation in tremendous ways.
  Mr. Speaker, without question America greatly values its Caribbean-
American population. This concurrent resolution is one important way 
that Congress can express its appreciation of the patriotism and honor 
of Caribbean-Americans. In addition, the United States Government 
enjoys great relationships with many island countries in the Caribbean 
as we work together on many issues including drug trafficking and 
trafficking in persons.
  This concurrent resolution enjoys strong bipartisan support, of 
course, of the Caribbean-American Cultural Association and the 
Caribbean Diaspora Empowerment Foundation, not to mention the 81 
cosponsors here in the House. I support the concurrent resolution as 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania in consideration of H. Con. Res. 71, which expresses the 
sense of Congress that June should be designated as National Caribbean-
American Heritage Month.
  This concurrent resolution, introduced by the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lee), recognizes that emigration from the Caribbean 
region to the American colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival 
of indentured workers in Jamestown, Virginia. During the 17th, 18th, 
and 19th centuries, a significant number of slaves from the Caribbean 
region were brought to the United States.
  This concurrent resolution also recognizes that millions of people 
have

[[Page H5193]]

emigrated from the Caribbean region to the United States since 1820 and 
points out that Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father of the United 
States, was born in the Caribbean. Other influential Caribbean-
Americans include Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the pioneer settler of 
Chicago; Celia Cruz, the world renowned queen of Salsa music; James 
Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National Anthem; Shirley 
Chisolm, the first African American Congresswoman and first African 
American woman candidate for President; Colin Powell, the first African 
American Secretary of State; and Al Roker, a meteorologist and 
television personality.
  Caribbean-Americans have played active roles in the civil rights 
movement and other social and political movements in the United States; 
and they have contributed greatly to education, fine arts, business, 
literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, the 
military, music, science, and technology. This concurrent resolution 
will increase national awareness of contributions made by Caribbean-
Americans to U.S. culture, history, and politics.
  I am also pleased to note, Mr. Speaker, that Ambassador Sidney 
Williams is an ambassador to the Bahamas and is also a spouse of a 
Member of this body, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).
  I know that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) had wanted to 
be here to speak to her resolution; but, unfortunately, her flight was 
such that she could not make it.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Con. Res. 71, expressing the sense of Congress that there should be 
established a Caribbean-American Heritage Month and urge my colleagues 
to support its adoption. As a Caribbean-American myself, it gives me 
great pride to have been an original cosponsor of this resolution as 
well as to see it on the verge of passage in the House.
  Mr. Speaker, the contributions of the people and islands of the 
Caribbean in the fields of sports, entertainment, politics and culture 
in the 20th century alone more than makes this resolution worthwhile.
  In the fight for emancipation and liberation, my fellow Virgin 
Islander Edward Blyden, along with George Padmore, Marcus Garvey and 
Claude McKay were among the first West Indian Americans to become well 
known and well respected in the African American's struggle for racial 
equality.
  Other famous West Indian Americans include former U.S. Representative 
Shirley Chisholm; Franklin Thomas, former head of the Ford Foundation; 
Federal Judge Constance Baker Motley, the first black woman appointed 
to the Federal Judiciary; activists Stokely Carmichael--Kwarne Toure--
Roy Innis, Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan; world renowned actor Sidney 
Poitier; civil rights activist and singer, Harry Belafonte; Earl 
Greaves, philanthropist, businessman and publisher of Black Enterprise; 
and now Colin Powell the first black U.S. Secretary of State, have all 
made impressive contributions on behalf of African Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, the small nations of the Caribbean wield a cultural 
influence that has spread to the remote comers of the world. Our 
culture, notably the music--calypso, reggae, Afro-Cuban and their 
derivatives--which was created by-and-Iarge by a people who long 
considered themselves marginalized, has spread far and wide and enjoys 
unheard of popularity today.
  But more than just our musical influence, Nobel prizes for literature 
have gone to poets St. Jean Perse of Guadeloupe and Derek Walcott of 
St. Lucia from among a number of highly regarded Caribbean writers. 
Moreover, internationally admired painters Wifredo Lam of Cuba and 
Leroy Clarke of Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti's ``naive'' artists took 
inspiration from a complex cosmology born from West African religions 
and Christianity. And Trinidad and Tobago's carnival was the basis for 
the breathtaking costumed parades designed by Peter Minshall of Guyana 
and Trinidad for the Barcelona, Atlanta and Salt Lake City Olympics.
  Mr. Speaker, it is indeed fitting and proper that we honor the 
contributions of the people of the Caribbean to our history and 
culture. Indeed, if providence had not made it possible for our 
founding father Alexander Hamilton to travel to New York from my home 
island of St. Croix to further his education, we might not be 
celebrating the founding of this Nation next week and instead have 
remained a colony of the United Kingdom even today.
  I urge my colleagues to support the adoption of H. Con. Res. 71.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 71, 
supporting the establishment of a Caribbean American Heritage Month. I 
urge the approval of this resolution to support the Caribbean Americans 
who have contributed immensely to American society throughout our 
history. They overcame slavery and colonialism to fight for their 
independence, and emigrated to American colonies as early as 1619.
  The countless number of influential figures in American history who 
are of Caribbean heritage indicates the need to set aside a designated 
time to celebrate their contribution to our country. Alexander 
Hamilton, a founding father of the United States and the first 
Secretary of the Treasury, James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the 
Black National Anthem, Colin Powell, the first African-American 
Secretary of State, Marion Jones, an Olympic gold medalist, Shirley 
Chisolm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first African-
American woman candidate for President are only a few. These key 
figures in our history have left their marks on an array of fields; 
politics, art, music, business, government, and more.
  A large number of my constituents are of Caribbean heritage, 
including Haitian, Jamaican, Dominican, and others. Our community has 
benefited greatly from their presence and involvement. I advocate 
establishing a Caribbean-American Heritage month to highlight my own 
constituents as well as Caribbean Americans all over the United States. 
I support a month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and 
activities for a people who have suffered through years of slavery in 
past centuries and who have come to America to share with the rest of 
the world their dreams of freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, this is an important resolution and I therefore strongly 
urge its passage.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 71, 
to provide for the establishment of a Caribbean-American Heritage 
Month. Congresswoman Lee's resolution represents a nonpartisan appeal 
to honor the millions of Caribbean-Americans who have contributed 
greatly to the social, political, and economic life of the United 
States. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation, and urge my 
fellow colleagues to lend their support to this important measure.
  Caribbean Americans are becoming an increasingly integral part of the 
American fabric. Though the total Caribbean-American population is 
approximately 3 million, the Department of Homeland Security estimates 
4 million Caribbean people have immigrated to the United States since 
the 1820s. As a representative of New York City, where Caribbean 
Americans account for over 25% of the population, I can attest first-
hand to the size and impact of this community.
  Many Americans do not know the extent of the Caribbean-American 
contribution to the United States. Indeed, the Capitol Building in 
which we stand today was designed by a man from the British Virgin 
Islands. Alexander Hamilton, one of our country's founding fathers and 
the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury was from the Caribbean island 
of Nevis.
  The founder of Chicago, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, was born in 
Haiti, and Shirley Chisolm, the first African American woman elected to 
Congress, was also of Caribbean ancestry. Colin Powell, the first 
African American Secretary of State, is of Jamaican heritage. One could 
go on and on with the names of Caribbean Americans who have made 
significant contributions to our history and society, and that just 
serves to validate why this resolution is long overdue.
  In addition to their contribution inside the U.S., individuals of 
Caribbean descent have contributed directly to the United States even 
when they did not actually reside in the country. Many are not aware 
that the United States utilized the skill and labor of thousands of 
English speaking Caribbean workers in the construction of the Panama 
Canal in the early 1900s. So large was this group that many of their 
descendants remain in Panama, and throughout Central America, to this 
day. The immense contribution that the Canal has made to the American 
economy, and global trade in general, serves as another reminder of 
what people of Caribbean decent have given to our country.

  Caribbean-Americans also help to maintain the economic vitality of 
the region. As we all know the United States provides significant 
financial assistance to the Caribbean. However, this amount is dwarfed 
by the $1.6 billion that Caribbean Americans send to the region in the 
form of remittances to family members. This is needed more than ever as 
the nations of the Caribbean continue to face many obstacles related to 
their small economies, and frequent natural disasters.
  As we reflect on the contributions of the Caribbean community, there 
is much that we can learn from them. The Caribbean is quite arguably 
the most diverse region in the Western Hemisphere. With a population 
consisting of Asians, East Indians, Africans, Europeans, Native 
Americans, and even Middle Easterners, the Caribbean has thrived in its 
diversity, and Caribbean Americans have brought this culture of 
tolerance and inclusion with

[[Page H5194]]

them as they have integrated into American society.
  As we now find ourselves with the passage of this resolution 
appropriately recognizing the Caribbean American community, I find it 
appropriate to point out a little-known, but ironic, fact. The first 
country to recognize the fledging United States in 1776 was the 
Caribbean island of St. Eustatius. At a time when the odds where 
stacked against our Nation, the Caribbean was the first to extend the 
hand of friendship. Now we have the opportunity to return the favor 
with H. Con. Res. 71. I thank the gentlewomen from California for her 
introduction of this resolution, and I am confident that my colleagues 
will follow her lead.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as an original 
cosponsor to H. Con. Res. 71, which expresses the sense of Congress 
that there should be the institution of a Caribbean-American Heritage 
Month. Persons of Caribbean descent played a fundamental role in the 
establishment of our Nation--these same Diasporic communities continue 
to contribute to the well being of the United States today.
  Beginning with the emigration of indentured servants from the 
Caribbean to Jamestown, Virginia in 1619--through the slave trade the 
following three centuries, it is not surprising to find people of 
Caribbean heritage in every State of the Union. It is upon these first 
individual's works and merits that a large part of this country was 
built.
  Although the countries of the Caribbean faced obstacles of slavery 
and colonialism, their struggles for independence prevailed. This 
racially, culturally, and religiously diverse region of the world 
contributes greatly to the economy of our own Nation. While the 
Caribbean is a vital supplier to the sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, gold, 
tobacco, and banana industries, their contributions exceed monetary 
value.
  There have been many influential Caribbean-Americans in the history 
of the United States, including: Colin Powell, the first African-
American Secretary of State. Shirley Chisolm, the first African-
American Congresswoman and first African-American woman candidate for 
President. Sidney Poitier, the first African-American actor to receive 
the Academy Award for the best actor in a leading role. Harry 
Belafonte, a musician, actor, and activist. Claude McKay, a poet of the 
Harlem Renaissance. Celia Cruz, world renowned queen of Salsa music. 
Roberto Clemente, the first Latino inducted into the baseball hall of 
fame; and Al Roker, meteorologist and television personality.
  From this short list, we see that Caribbean-Americans shared not only 
their culture, and expertise in education, fine arts, business, 
literature, jounalism, politics, and science, but the people of the 
Caribbean region also share the hopes and aspirations of the people of 
the Unites States for peace and prosperity throughout the world. Given 
their contributions to our Nation, it would only be appropriate of the 
people of the United Sates to observe the month of June with fitting 
ceremonies, activities, and celebrations. It is on these grounds that I 
request that Congress honor the establishment of Caribbean-American 
Heritage Month.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DENT. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support House Concurrent 
Resolution 71, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 71.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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