[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1015-E1016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HERTIAGE MONTH RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 1, 2011

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced a resolution recognizing the 
significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage month. This 
resolution acknowledges the important contributions Caribbean-Americans 
have made to our nation's history and culture.
  Let me begin by thanking my esteemed colleagues Representative Donald 
Payne, Chair of the Caribbean Caucus, Congresswomen Donna Christensen 
and Frederica Wilson, my esteemed friend Representative John Conyers, 
Congressman Ed Towns, and many others who have joined me in introducing 
this resolution today, the first day of Caribbean-American Heritage 
Month.
  I am also pleased that the President issued a Proclamation on May 31, 
2011, declaring June 2011 to be Caribbean-American Heritage Month, as 
has been the practice since Congress unanimously passed House 
Concurrent Resolution 71 in February 2006. As a long-time supporter of 
the Caribbean and a frequent visitor to the region, I was very proud to 
see us celebrate this important commemorative month for the fifth 
straight year.
  I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Claire Nelson and the Institute 
of Caribbean Studies as well as all the other Caribbean American 
organizations in Washington, my home state of California, and across 
the country that have worked and continue to work to make Caribbean-
American Heritage Month a great success.
  As the President said in his proclamation, ``Immigrants from 
Caribbean countries have come to America for centuries. Some came 
through the bondage of slavery.
  Others willfully left behind the world they knew in search of a 
better life. Regardless of the circumstances of their arrival, they had 
faith their descendants would have a chance to realize their greatest 
potential.''
  Throughout the history of the United States, this nation has been 
fortunate to benefit from countless individuals of Caribbean descent 
who have contributed to American government, politics, business, arts, 
education, and culture--including one of my personal mentors, the 
Honorable Shirley Chisholm.
  Shirley Chisholm was a woman of Ba-jan and Guyanese descent, who 
never forgot her

[[Page E1016]]

Caribbean roots. She was the first African American woman elected to 
Congress and the first woman to run for the Democratic presidential 
nomination.
  My political involvement began as a volunteer for her historic 
presidential campaign in 1972. Through her mentorship, she strengthened 
my interest in issues important to the African Diaspora both here in 
the U.S. and abroad.
  During Caribbean American Heritage Month, we recognize the important 
contributions of people like Shirley Chisholm, as well as Alexander 
Hamilton, Hazel Scott, Sidney Poitier, Wyclef Jean, Eric Holder, Colin 
Powell, Harry Belafonte, Roberto Clemente, Celia Cruz--and yes, 
Representatives Donna Christensen, Sheila Jackson Lee, Yvette Clarke, 
Frederica Wilson, Nydia Velazquez, Pedro Pierluisi--and many other 
persons of Caribbean descent who have helped shape this country.
  Caribbean American Heritage Month reminds us of the large and diverse 
constituencies of Caribbean Americans in our nation, and provides us 
with an opportunity to celebrate and share in the rich culture of the 
Caribbean American community through showcases of Caribbean art, 
festivals, concerts, and film.
  In my own district of Oakland, California, individuals and 
organizations celebrate the rich heritage of people of Caribbean 
descent through musical concerts and family picnics.
  In addition to presenting us with an occasion to celebrate the legacy 
of Caribbean Americans, this month also provides us an opportunity to 
strengthen our long-term partnership with nations of the Caribbean 
community.
  From trade, energy, and immigration to disaster preparedness and the 
challenging issues around HIV/AIDS, we have critical challenges we must 
face with our Caribbean neighbors. These challenges are regional in 
nature, so we must confront them together and in partnership.
  One issue of the region which continues to deserve special mention is 
last year's earthquake in Haiti. At the international donors' 
conference in March 2010, fifty-eight donors pledged over $5.5 billion 
to support Haiti's Action Plan for Recovery and Development. According 
to the United Nations, as of March of this year, only about 37 percent 
of these funds have been disbursed. This is unacceptable. If we are to 
break the cycle of disaster--emergency relief--disaster in which Haiti 
has been trapped for many years, we must act with the same sense of 
urgency in reconstruction as we did immediately following the quake.
  It is critical that any long-term reconstruction and development 
agenda is Haitian-led, that Haitian civil society and the Haitian 
Diaspora play a central role, and that such an agenda focuses on 
building the capacity of the Haitian Government to provide basic 
services and protect the social, civil, and political rights of its 
people.
  Only by empowering Haitians to rebuild their own lives and their own 
country will we truly ``rebuild differently.''
  I would like to end by stating that although the Caribbean faces many 
challenges, we understand that we must face them together. Despite the 
often turbulent history between the United States and Caribbean 
countries, our ties cannot be pinned down to geography alone, or 
economics alone, or even history alone. The region continues to shape 
us as Americans as much as we here continue to shape the Caribbean.
  So I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure 
to honor our nation's Caribbean American community and the rich gifts 
that they have given and continue to give this country.
  Let us continue to celebrate the rich diversity of this nation of 
immigrants and recognize that it will forever be the great blessing and 
strength of our country.

                          ____________________