[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 25744]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 240, designating 
National American Indian Heritage Month.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 240) designating November 2003 as 
     ``National American Indian Heritage Month.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
this matter be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 240) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 240

       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives were the 
     original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the 
     United States;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have 
     traditionally exhibited a respect for the finiteness of 
     natural resources through a reverence for the Earth;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have served 
     with valor in all of the wars of the United States, beginning 
     with the Revolutionary War and continuing through the 
     conflict in Iraq, and the percentage of Native Americans 
     serving in the United States armed services has significantly 
     exceeded the percentage of Native people in the population of 
     the United States as a whole;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have made 
     distinct and important contributions to the world in many 
     fields, including agriculture, medicine, music, language, and 
     the arts;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives should be 
     recognized for their contributions to the United States, 
     including as local and national leaders, artists, athletes, 
     and scholars;
       Whereas such recognition will encourage self-esteem, pride, 
     and self-awareness in American Indians and Alaska Natives of 
     all ages; and
       Whereas November is a month during which many Americans 
     commemorate a special time in the history of the United 
     States, when American Indians and English settlers celebrated 
     the bounty of their harvest and the promise of new kinships: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates November 2003 as ``National American Indian 
     Heritage Month''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the Federal Government and State and local 
     governments, interested groups and organizations, and the 
     people of the United States to observe the month with 
     appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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