[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 364 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 364
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 24 (legislative day, July 23), 2008
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the Significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage
Month.
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 region
during the 1960s 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
Chisholm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first African-
American 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; 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;
Whereas in both June 2006 and June 2007, President George W. Bush issued a
proclamation declaring June National Caribbean-American Heritage Month
after the passage of H. Con. Res. 71 in the 109th Congress by both the
Senate and the House of Representatives; 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 Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Caribbean-American
Heritage Month;
(2) encourages the people of the United States to observe
Caribbean-American Heritage Month with appropriate ceremonies,
celebrations, and activities; and
(3) affirms that--
(A) the contributions of Caribbean-Americans are a
significant part of the history, progress, and heritage
of the United States; and
(B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the United
States enriches and strengthens the Nation.
Passed the House of Representatives July 22, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.