[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 361 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 361
Expressing support for the recognition of July as ``Muslim-American
Heritage Month'' and celebrating the heritage and culture of Muslim
Americans in the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 14, 2021
Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, Mr.
Durbin, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Van Hollen)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the recognition of July as ``Muslim-American
Heritage Month'' and celebrating the heritage and culture of Muslim
Americans in the United States.
Whereas the Senate is proud to recognize and commemorate ``Muslim-American
Heritage Month'', an observance that celebrates the contributions of
Muslim Americans;
Whereas in keeping with its time-honored traditions, the Senate recognizes and
pays tribute to those who foster cultural pride and enhance the profile
of diverse communities across the United States;
Whereas immigration of Muslims to the colonies of the United States began with
the arrival of indentured workers;
Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of
slaves of Muslim heritage were brought to the United States;
Whereas, in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, successive waves of immigration
brought additional Muslims to the United States, who sought to pursue
economic and social opportunity as well as freedom of religion and
enriched the fabric of the society of the United States as business
owners, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, humanitarians,
scientists, and students;
Whereas Muslim Americans contribute greatly to charitable organizations that
help people from all faiths in the United States and around the world by
feeding the hungry, providing recuperation efforts following natural
disasters, and providing medical assistance, family services, scholastic
supplies, and before- and after-school programs;
Whereas Muslim Americans have contributed to every part of the society of the
United States to make advancements in architecture, arts, business,
culture, diplomacy, government, law, medicine, the military, national
security, religion, and sports;
Whereas Bangladeshi-American Fazlur Rahman Khan left his mark on cityscapes in
the United States by pioneering a new structural system of frame tubes
used to construct iconic buildings like the World Trade Center in New
York City, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, and the
Willis ``Sears'' Tower in Chicago;
Whereas many Muslim Americans pursue the American dream and contribute to the
Nation's economy as business owners and entrepreneurs, including
Pakistani-born billionaire Shahid Khan, owner of the auto-parts company
Flex-N-Gate and the National Football League Jacksonville Jaguars;
Whereas Syrian immigrant Ernest Hamwi's invention of the ice cream cone is a
practical confection with a near ubiquitous presence in the lives of the
people of the United States;
Whereas, in 2006, Keith Ellison of Minnesota was elected to the House of
Representatives, becoming the first Muslim American to serve in
Congress;
Whereas, in 2008, Ambassador Sada Cumber was appointed by President George W.
Bush to serve as first Special Envoy to the Organization of the Islamic
Conference from the United States, representing the United States to 57
Muslim-majority nations;
Whereas, in 2021, Zahid Quraishi was confirmed as the first Muslim American to
serve as an Article III Federal judge as a District Judge of the United
States District Court for the District of New Jersey;
Whereas Pakistani-American neurosurgeon Ayub Ommaya's invention of the
intraventricular catheter system provides chemotherapy to treat brain
tumors;
Whereas Muslim Americans have fought in support of the United States in every
major war, from Bampett Muhamed and Yusuf Ben Ali under the command of
General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War to Captain
Humayun Khan, who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2004;
Whereas Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, the first Muslim American to deliver the
invocation for the Senate, and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, the civil
rights activist and reformer also known as Malcolm X, were prominent
religious leaders and scholars;
Whereas professional athletes like National Basketball Association Hall of Fame
members Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O'Neal, and
2-time world heavyweight champion Hasim Shariff Rahman thrilled sports
fans across the Nation and around the globe during their respective
careers;
Whereas Olympians, like boxer Muhammad Ali, track and field athlete Dalilah
Muhammad, and fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, won medals in international
competitions;
Whereas, with roots in at least 77 different countries, and identifying racially
as White, Black, Arab, and Asian, Muslim Americans are an extremely
diverse population;
Whereas the current population of Muslims living in the United States is
estimated at more than 3,450,000;
Whereas more than 4,500 Muslims serve on active duty and more than 2,300 Muslims
serve as selected reserve personnel in the Armed Forces;
Whereas the Muslim population has been growing in the United States and the
Muslim-American population is a tapestry of ethnic, racial, linguistic,
social, and economic groups;
Whereas nearly 50 percent of Muslim Americans have reported experiencing
religious discrimination, with that number rising to 64 percent for
Muslim Americans whose appearance identifies them as Muslim, such as
women who wear the hijab, or headscarf;
Whereas there is a need for public education, awareness, and policies that are
culturally competent when describing, discussing, or addressing the
impacts of being Muslim American in all aspects of the society of the
United States, including in discourse and policy;
Whereas ``Muslim-American Heritage Month'' will be observed in the month of
July; and
Whereas the incredible contributions and heritage of Muslim Americans have
helped to build a better Nation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the designation of ``Muslim-American Heritage
Month'';
(2) honors the contributions and integral role of Muslim
Americans in the economy, culture, and identity of the United
States; and
(3) urges the people of the United States to observe
``Muslim-American Heritage Month'' with appropriate ceremonies,
programs, and activities that celebrate the contributions of
Muslim Americans to the United States.
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