[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12171]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 26, 
submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 26) supporting the 
     goals and ideals of the designation of the year 2011 as the 
     International Year for People of African Descent.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the 
motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening 
action or debate, and any statements related to the matter be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 26) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 26

       Whereas the year of 2011 is recognized as the 
     ``International Year for People of African Descent'';
       Whereas the African Diaspora is expansive, spanning the 
     globe from Latin America and the Caribbean to Asia, with 
     persons of African descent living on every continent, 
     including Europe;
       Whereas in recognition of the African Diaspora, on December 
     18, 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 
     Resolution 64/169, designating the year of 2011 as the 
     ``International Year for People of African Descent'';
       Whereas the historical bonds and shared experiences that 
     tie the African continent with the world must be recalled;
       Whereas the global contributions of people of African 
     descent must be recognized as a means of preserving that 
     heritage;
       Whereas a central goal of recognizing the year of 2011 as 
     the International Year for People of African descent is to 
     strengthen national actions and regional and international 
     cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent in 
     relation to--
       (1) the full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, 
     civil, and political rights for people of African descent;
       (2) the participation and integration of people of African 
     descent in all political, economic, social, and cultural 
     aspects of society; and
       (3) the promotion of greater knowledge of, and respect for, 
     the diverse heritage and culture of people of African 
     descent; and
       Whereas the Final Act of the Conference on Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe, done at Helsinki August 1, 1975, 
     states that ``participating States will respect human rights 
     and fundamental freedoms . . . for all without distinction as 
     to race, sex, language or religion'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of the designation of the 
     year of 2011 as the International Year for People of African 
     Descent;
       (2) encourages the recognition and celebration of the 
     collective history and achievements made by people of African 
     descent;
       (3) reaffirms the importance of inclusion and the full and 
     equal participation of people of African descent around the 
     world in all aspects of political, economic, social, and 
     cultural life;
       (4) recognizes bilateral and multilateral efforts to 
     promote democracy, human rights, and rule of law, including 
     those efforts that target the eradication of poverty, hunger, 
     and inequality; and
       (5) reaffirms the commitment of Congress to address racism, 
     discrimination, and intolerance in the United States and 
     around the globe.

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