[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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