[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14469]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 561--RECOGNIZING NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE 
 MONTH AND CELEBRATING THE HERITAGES AND CULTURES OF NATIVE AMERICANS 
     AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Johnson of South Dakota, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Tester, Mr. 
Franken, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, and Mr. Johanns) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Indian 
Affairs.

                              S. Res. 561

       Whereas from November 1, 2012, through November 30, 2012, 
     the United States celebrates National Native American 
     Heritage Month;
       Whereas Native Americans are descendants of the original, 
     indigenous inhabitants of what is now the United States;
       Whereas the United States Bureau of the Census estimated in 
     2009 that there were almost 5,000,000 individuals in the 
     United States of Native American descent;
       Whereas Native Americans maintain vibrant cultures and 
     traditions and hold a deeply rooted sense of community;
       Whereas Native Americans have moving stories of tragedy, 
     triumph, and perseverance that need to be shared with future 
     generations;
       Whereas Native Americans speak and preserve indigenous 
     languages, which have contributed to the English language by 
     being used as names of individuals and locations throughout 
     the United States;
       Whereas Congress has recently reaffirmed its support of 
     tribal self-governance and its commitment to improving the 
     lives of all Native Americans by enhancing health care 
     services, increasing law enforcement resources, and approving 
     settlements of litigation involving Indian tribes and the 
     United States;
       Whereas Congress is committed to improving the housing 
     conditions and socioeconomic status of Native Americans;
       Whereas the United States is committed to strengthening the 
     government-to-government relationship that it has maintained 
     with the various Indian tribes;
       Whereas Congress has recognized the contributions of the 
     Iroquois Confederacy, and its influence on the Founding 
     Fathers in the drafting of the Constitution of the United 
     States with the concepts of freedom of speech, the separation 
     of governmental powers, and the system of checks and balances 
     between the branches of government;
       Whereas with the enactment of the Native American Heritage 
     Day Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-33; 123 Stat. 1922), 
     Congress--
       (1) reaffirmed the government-to-government relationship 
     between the United States and Native American governments; 
     and
       (2) recognized the important contributions of Native 
     Americans to the culture of the United States;
       Whereas Native Americans have made distinct and important 
     contributions to the United States and the rest of the world 
     in many fields, including the fields of agriculture, 
     medicine, music, language, and art, and Native Americans have 
     distinguished themselves as inventors, entrepreneurs, 
     spiritual leaders, and scholars;
       Whereas Native Americans have served with honor and 
     distinction in the Armed Forces of the United States, and 
     continue to serve in the Armed Forces in greater numbers per 
     capita than any other group in the United States;
       Whereas the United States has recognized the contribution 
     of the Native American code talkers in World War I and World 
     War II, who used indigenous languages as an unbreakable 
     military code, saving countless Americans; and
       Whereas the people of the United States have reason to 
     honor the great achievements and contributions of Native 
     Americans and their ancestors: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the month of November 2012 as National 
     Native American Heritage Month;
       (2) recognizes the Friday after Thanksgiving as ``Native 
     American Heritage Day'' in accordance with the Native 
     American Heritage Day Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-33; 123 
     Stat. 1922); and
       (3) urges the people of the United States to observe 
     National Native American Heritage Month and Native American 
     Heritage Day with appropriate programs and activities.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Committee on Indian 
Affairs, I am sponsoring a resolution, co-sponsored by Senators 
Barrasso, Inouye, Crapo, Johnson of South Dakota, Murkowski, Cantwell, 
Tester, Franken, and Udall of New Mexico, designating November as 
National Native American Heritage Month and November 23rd of this year 
as Native American Heritage Day.
  This resolution recognizes the contributions of Native Americans and 
their cultures to our country, recognizes Congress' commitment to 
improving the socioeconomic status of Native Americans, and reaffirms 
the unique, government-to-government relationship between Native 
governments and the United States. This resolution encourages the 
people of the United States to observe National Native American 
Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Day.
  I call upon all of my colleagues to stand with me in support of this 
resolution.

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