[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 340 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 340
To direct the President to designate a month as African Diaspora
Heritage Month.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 30, 2025
Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, and Mr. Booker) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the President to designate a month as African Diaspora
Heritage Month.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``African Diaspora Heritage Month Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the African diaspora population in the United States
has grown significantly in recent years, with the number of
African immigrants growing at a rate of almost 246 percent from
2000 to 2019;
(2) as of 2024, the African diaspora in the United States
was comprised of approximately 50,000,000 people;
(3) the African diaspora community is one of the most
diverse communities in the United States, inclusive of people
who speak multiple languages, whose rich heritage comes from
all across the African continent, and whose members practice
various faiths;
(4) during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a
significant number of enslaved people from Africa were brought
to the United States;
(5) immigrants of African origin boast some of the highest
educational achievements of any immigrant group;
(6) African diaspora households contribute billions of
dollars to the economy of the United States, with an estimated
$10,100,000,000 in Federal taxes, $4,700,000,000 in State and
local taxes, and a spending power of more than $40,300,000,000
in 2015;
(7) Sub-Saharan African immigrants living in the United
States, Europe, and elsewhere sent back $46,000,000,000 in
remittances to the continent of Africa in 2021;
(8) Government agencies, including the International
Development Finance Corporation, the Department of Commerce,
the Department of the Treasury, and the United States Trade
Representative are critical to investments and enduring mutual
partnerships between the United States and African nations;
(9) in 2023, through the African Growth and Opportunity Act
(19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), the United States imported
$9,700,000,000 in goods and resources;
(10) Prosper Africa and other similar Government
initiatives are critical to building and strengthening ties
between the United States and African businesses;
(11) the total two-way goods trade with Sub-Saharan Africa
totaled $47,500,000,000 in 2023, a 6.2 percent increase from
$44,700,000,000 in 2021;
(12) the African diaspora plays an invaluable role in
shaping Government policy;
(13) members of the African diaspora have an invaluable
understanding of cross-cultural engagement between the United
States and Africa, existing relations and networks on the
African continent, and can support efforts to facilitate
stronger people-to-people ties between the United States and
Africa;
(14) the United States is committed to strengthening the
government-to-government relationships between the United
States and countries throughout the African continent;
(15) Congress strongly supports the hosting of the second
United States-Africa Leaders Summit by the United States, which
was held in December 2022, to boost collaboration between the
Government and the African diaspora community in the United
States, and to strengthen ties between the United States and
African nations by bringing together approximately 49 African
heads of state;
(16) the African diaspora harbors a deep commitment to
family and community, an enduring work ethic, and a
perseverance to succeed and contribute to the society of the
United States;
(17) all members of the African diaspora in the United
States deserve access to any Federal resources they are legally
eligible to receive and freedom to participate in civil life in
the United States; and
(18) the African diaspora community significantly
contributes to the growth and prosperity of the United States,
and Congress honors this abundant and growing community.
SEC. 3. AFRICAN DIASPORA HERITAGE MONTH.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 149. African Diaspora Heritage Month
``The President shall issue each year a proclamation--
``(1) designating a month as African Diaspora Heritage
Month;
``(2) calling on State and local governments and the people
of the United States to observe African Diaspora Heritage Month
with appropriate programs and activities; and
``(3) urging civil and educational authorities of States
and local governments to observe African Diaspora Heritage
Month through appropriate programs and activities.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 148 the following:
``149. African Diaspora Heritage Month.''.
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