Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established an Irish-American Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 733) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established an Irish-American Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

From the very beginning, the United States has been changed for the better by its citizens of Irish descent. Nineteen Presidents, including George Washington, and at least eight signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish ancestry; 263 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor were born in Ireland, as was John Barry, the first flag officer of the United States Navy. And the list of contributions of Irish Americans goes on: Elizabeth Cady Stanton's successful fight for women's voting rights, James Hoban's architectural design for the White House, and Annie Moore's brave passage through Ellis Island as America's first immigrant.

What began as 300,000 Irish immigrants in 1776 has grown to 44 million Irish Americans today. In recognition of the countless ways in which these Irish Americans have advanced our Nation politically, economically and culturally, I rise today in support of H. Res. 733.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I hope this can move through unanimously. It is an important bill in the sense of paying tribute to the diversity of America and particularly to the Irish Americans.

As a graduate of Notre Dame, a German Swiss graduate of Notre Dame, although many of my colleagues here are of Irish descent who are Notre Dame grads, it is a particular pleasure for me, as a graduate of Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, to move that we unanimously adopt this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, March is a significant month for Irish Americans. March 17 honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick is commemorated for introducing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century.

March also commemorates Irish American Heritage Month, which was first proclaimed by the United States Congress in 1995.

Irish immigrants contributed a great deal to the creation of this great Nation, both during the struggle for independence and in the founding of the Republic. Nine of the people who signed our Declaration of Independence and 19 Presidents of the United States claim Irish heritage, including our first President, George Washington.

The largest wave of Irish immigrants came in the late 1840s when the great potato famine ravaged Ireland, caused 2 million people to emigrate, mostly to America. These immigrants transformed our cities and rural communities into centers of commerce and cultural diversity. Though they faced terrible discrimination and prejudice, they persevered and took jobs as laborers and built railroads to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Irish Americans have contributed significantly to the enrichment of all aspects of life in this Nation, including military and public service, science, education, dance, literature and much more. And especially, Mr. Speaker, Irish Americans are very actively and consistently involved in public activity, public service activity, public decision-making, running for office, being members of local and State governments and of our national government. I am pleased to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.