[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 79 (Friday, May 7, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E484-E485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF MICHIGAN'S CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RASHIDA TLAIB

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 7, 2021

  Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Caribbean 
American Heritage Month and celebrate the work of Caribbean-American 
descendants and culture across the 13th Congressional District.
  National Caribbean American Heritage Month began in 1999 with 
outreach to President Bill Clinton asking for the recognition of August 
as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. This resulted in the 
first White House Caribbean American Community Briefing being held at 
the Clinton White House in 1999. In June 2000, the Institute of 
Caribbean Studies (ICS) took leadership of the project, organizing 
numerous events in Washington, D.C. In 2001, ICS, in collaboration with 
TransAfrica Forum and the Caribbean Staff Association of the World 
Bank, continued to organize events during June, promoting recognition 
of June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month, bringing even 
more interest in National Caribbean American Heritage Month.
  The effort gained even more traction in 2004 when an Official 
Campaign for June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month was 
launched upon the tabling of a Bill in the US Congress by Congresswoman 
Barbara Lee, with language provided by ICS Founder and President, Dr. 
Claire Nelson. ICS worked with the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee 
to galvanize support for the Bill from organizations across the country 
and organized events on Capitol Hill in recognition of June in 2004. 
The Bill was reintroduced and passed the House in June 2005, and the 
Senate in February 2006. A Proclamation making the Resolution official 
was signed by President George Bush on June 5, 2006.
  Please join me in recognizing National Caribbean American Heritage 
Month and the contributions of Caribbean Americans in our country and 
in the 13th Congressional District.

[[Page E485]]

  

                          ____________________