[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 120, 109th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
NOTE: Feb. 14, 2006 -  [H.Con.Res.71]  CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE
MONTH--SUPPORT

Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every State of the
Union;

Whereas emigration from the Caribbean region to the American Colonies
began as early as 1619 with the arrival of indentured workers in
Jamestown, Virginia;

Whereas during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number
of slaves from the Caribbean region were brought to the United
States;

Whereas since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from the Caribbean
region to the United States;

Whereas much like the United States, the countries of the Caribbean
faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and struggled for
independence;

Whereas also like the United States, the people of the Caribbean region
have diverse racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds;

Whereas the independence movements in many countries in the Caribbean
during the 1960's and the consequential establishment of independent
democratic countries in the Caribbean strengthened ties between the
region and the United States;

Whereas Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States and
the first Secretary of the Treasury, was born in the Caribbean;

Whereas there have been many influential Caribbean-Americans in the
history of the United States, including Jean Baptiste Point du
Sable, the pioneer settler of Chicago; Claude McKay, a poet of the
Harlem Renaissance; James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black
National Anthem; Shirley Chisolm, the first African-American
Congresswoman and first African-American

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120 STAT. 3712

woman candidate for President; and Celia Cruz, the world renowned
queen of Salsa music;

Whereas the many influential Caribbean-Americans in the history of the
United States also include Colin Powell, the first African-American
Secretary of State; Sidney Poitier, the first African-American actor
to receive the Academy Award for best actor in a leading role; Harry
Belafonte, a musician, actor, and activist; Marion Jones, an Olympic
gold medalist; Roberto Clemente, the first Latino inducted into the
baseball hall of fame; and Al Roker, a meteorologist and television
personality;

Whereas Caribbean-Americans have played an active role in the civil
rights movement and other social and political movements in the
United States;

Whereas Caribbean-Americans have contributed greatly to education, fine
arts, business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics,
government, the military, music, science, technology, and other
areas in the United States;

Whereas Caribbean-Americans share their culture through carnivals,
festivals, music, dance, film, and literature that enrich the
cultural landscape of the United States;

Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important economic partners
of the United States;

Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the United States third
border;

Whereas the people of the Caribbean region share the hopes and
aspirations of the people of the United States for peace and
prosperity throughout the Western Hemisphere and the rest of the
world; and

Whereas June is an appropriate month to establish a Caribbean-American
Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) a Caribbean-American Heritage Month should be
established; and
(2) the people of the United States should observe the month
with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities.

Agreed to February 14, 2006.