[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 193 (Tuesday, December 13, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S7150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              AFRICAN DIASPORA HERITAGE MONTH ACT OF 2022

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of 
S. 5006 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 5006) to designate the month of September as 
     African Diaspora Heritage Month.

  There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the 
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made 
and laid upon table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 5006) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 5006

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``African Diaspora Heritage 
     Month Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the African diaspora population in the United States 
     has grown significantly in recent years, with the number of 
     African immigrants growing at a rate of almost 246 percent 
     from 2000 to 2019;
       (2) the African diaspora community is one of the most 
     diverse communities in the United States, inclusive of people 
     who speak multiple languages, whose rich heritage comes from 
     all across the African continent, and whose members practice 
     various faiths;
       (3) during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a 
     significant number of enslaved people from Africa were 
     brought to the United States;
       (4) immigrants of African origin boast some of the highest 
     educational achievements of any immigrant group;
       (5) African diaspora households contribute billions of 
     dollars to the economy of the United States, with an 
     estimated $10,100,000,000 in Federal taxes, $4,700,000,000 in 
     State and local taxes, and a spending power of more than 
     $40,300,000,000 in 2015;
       (6) Sub-Saharan African immigrants living in the United 
     States, Europe, and elsewhere sent back $46,000,000,000 in 
     remittances to the continent of Africa in 2021;
       (7) Government agencies, including the International 
     Development Finance Corporation, the Department of Commerce, 
     the Department of the Treasury, and the United States Trade 
     Representative are critical to investments and enduring 
     mutual partnerships between the United States and African 
     nations;
       (8) in 2019, through the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
     (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), the United States imported 
     $8,400,000,000 in goods, up 2.4 percent as compared to 2001;
       (9) Prosper Africa and other similar Government initiatives 
     are critical to building and strengthening ties between the 
     United States and African businesses;
       (10) the total two-way goods trade with Sub-Saharan Africa 
     totaled $44,900,000,000 in 2021, a 22 percent increase from 
     $36,800,000,000 in 2019;
       (11) the African diaspora plays an invaluable role in 
     shaping Government policy;
       (12) members of the African diaspora have an invaluable 
     understanding of cross-cultural engagement between the United 
     States and Africa, existing relations and networks on the 
     African continent, and can support efforts to facilitate 
     stronger ties between the United States and Africa;
       (13) the United States is committed to strengthening the 
     government-to-government relationships between the United 
     States and countries throughout the African continent;
       (14) Congress strongly supports the United States hosting a 
     second United States-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022, 
     and urges collaboration between the Government and the 
     African diaspora community in the United States in advance, 
     during, and after the Summit as an opportunity to strengthen 
     ties between the United States and African nations;
       (15) the African diaspora harbors a deep commitment to 
     family and community, an enduring work ethic, and a 
     perseverance to succeed and contribute to the society of the 
     United States; and
       (16) all members of the African diaspora in the United 
     States deserve access to Federal resources and a voice in the 
     Government of the United States.

     SEC. 3. AFRICAN DIASPORA HERITAGE MONTH.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, 
     is amended--
       (1) by redesignating the second section 146 as section 147; 
     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 148. African Diaspora Heritage Month

       ``(a) Designation.--September is African Diaspora Heritage 
     Month.
       ``(b) Proclamations.--The President is requested to issue 
     each year a proclamation calling on the people of the United 
     States, and the chief executive officers of each State of the 
     United States, the District of Columbia, and each territory 
     and possession of the United States are requested to issue 
     each year proclamations calling on the people of their 
     respective jurisdictions, to observe African Diaspora 
     Heritage Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
     activities.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking the item relating to the second section 146 
     and inserting the following:

``147. Choose Respect Day.
``148. African Diaspora Heritage Month.''.

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