[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8923-H8924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE 
              ESTABLISHED AN IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 733) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that there should be established an Irish-American 
Heritage Month.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 733

       Whereas, by 1776, nearly 300,000 people had emigrated from 
     Ireland to the United States;
       Whereas, following the victory of General George 
     Washington's troops at Yorktown, Lord Mountjoy reported to 
     the British Parliament the surrender of General Charles 
     Cornwallis, proclaiming, ``We have lost America through the 
     exertions of the Irish'';
       Whereas Irish-born Commodore John Barry was the first flag 
     officer of the United States Navy and is endeared by many as 
     the ``Father of the American Navy'';
       Whereas at least 8 signers of the Declaration of 
     Independence were of Irish ancestry;
       Whereas 19 Presidents of the United States proudly claim 
     Irish heritage, including the first President, George 
     Washington;
       Whereas Irish-born James Hoban designed the White House, 
     and he was integral in its restoration after it was severely 
     damaged by fire in 1814;
       Whereas, in 1892, Annie Moore, from County Cork, Ireland, 
     was the first immigrant admitted through Ellis Island, 
     contributing to America's diverse culture by offering the 
     rich customs and culture of her native land;
       Whereas at least 263 recipients of the Congressional Medal 
     of Honor proudly claim Ireland as their birthplace, making 
     Irish-born individuals the largest group of foreign-born 
     recipients of the prestigious honor;
       Whereas Irish-American social reformer Elizabeth Cady 
     Stanton successfully championed women's voting rights, which 
     were granted in 1920 by the 19th amendment to the 
     Constitution;
       Whereas pioneers of the American space program were of 
     Irish descent, including Kathryn Sullivan, the first woman to 
     walk in space, and Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, America's 
     first school teacher to bravely engage in space exploration, 
     who ultimately gave her life to the empiricism of knowledge 
     about the surrounding universe;
       Whereas more than 44 million American citizens are of Irish 
     descent;
       Whereas each year, on March 17th, the United States and its 
     citizens humbly observe St. Patrick's Day in honor of the 
     patron saint of Ireland; and
       Whereas the Irish and their descendants have toiled 
     throughout the existence of the United States, contributing 
     significantly to the enrichment of all aspects of life in 
     this Nation, including military and public service, science, 
     education, agriculture, industry, dance, music, theatre, 
     film, literature, visual composition, business, technology, 
     athletics, and leadership: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) an Irish-American Heritage Month should be established; 
     and
       (2) the people of the United States should observe such a 
     month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and 
     activities.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. SOUDER. 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 resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  From the very beginning, the United States has been changed for the 
better by its citizens of Irish descent. Nineteen Presidents, including 
George Washington, and at least eight signers of the Declaration of 
Independence were of Irish ancestry; 263 recipients of the 
Congressional Medal of Honor were born in Ireland, as was John Barry, 
the first flag officer of the United States Navy. And the list of 
contributions of Irish Americans goes on: Elizabeth Cady Stanton's 
successful fight for women's voting rights, James Hoban's architectural 
design for the White House, and Annie Moore's brave passage through 
Ellis Island as America's first immigrant.
  What began as 300,000 Irish immigrants in 1776 has grown to 44 
million Irish Americans today. In recognition of the countless ways in 
which these Irish Americans have advanced our Nation politically, 
economically and culturally, I rise today in support of H. Res. 733.
  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, March is a significant month for Irish Americans. March 
17 honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick is 
commemorated for introducing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth 
century.
  March also commemorates Irish American Heritage Month, which was 
first proclaimed by the United States Congress in 1995.
  Irish immigrants contributed a great deal to the creation of this 
great Nation, both during the struggle for independence and in the 
founding of the Republic. Nine of the people who signed our Declaration 
of Independence and 19 Presidents of the United States claim Irish 
heritage, including our first President, George Washington.
  The largest wave of Irish immigrants came in the late 1840s when the 
great potato famine ravaged Ireland, caused 2 million people to 
emigrate, mostly to America. These immigrants transformed our cities 
and rural communities into centers of commerce and cultural diversity. 
Though they faced terrible discrimination and prejudice, they 
persevered and took jobs as laborers and built railroads to build a 
better life for themselves and their families.
  Irish Americans have contributed significantly to the enrichment of 
all aspects of life in this Nation, including military and public 
service, science, education, dance, literature and much more. And 
especially, Mr. Speaker, Irish Americans are very actively and 
consistently involved in public activity, public service activity, 
public decision-making, running for office, being members of local and 
State governments and of our national government. I am pleased to 
support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I hope this can move through unanimously. It is an important bill in 
the sense of paying tribute to the diversity of America and 
particularly to the Irish Americans.
  As a graduate of Notre Dame, a German Swiss graduate of Notre Dame, 
although many of my colleagues here are of Irish descent who are Notre 
Dame grads, it is a particular pleasure for me, as a graduate of Notre 
Dame, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, to move that we unanimously 
adopt this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 733.

[[Page H8924]]

  The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having 
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the 
resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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