Congressional Record
Proceedings, Debates of the U.S. Congress

[Page S15221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 413, S. Res. 
216.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 216) designating the Month of 
     November 1999 as ``National American Indian Heritage Month''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to this 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 216) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 216

       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives were the 
     original inhabitants of the land that now constitutes the 
     United States;
       Whereas American Indian tribal governments developed the 
     fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of 
     powers that form the foundation of the United States 
     Government;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have 
     traditionally exhibited a respect for the finiteness of 
     natural resources through a reverence for the earth;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have served 
     with valor in all of America's wars beginning with the 
     Revolutionary War through the conflict in the Persian Gulf, 
     and often the percentage of American Indians who served 
     exceeded significantly the percentage of American Indians in 
     the population of the United States as a whole;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives have made 
     distinct and important contributions to the United States and 
     the rest of the world in many fields, including agriculture, 
     medicine, music, language, and art;
       Whereas American Indians and Alaska Natives deserve to be 
     recognized for their individual contributions to the United 
     States as local and national leaders, artists, athletes, and 
     scholars;
       Whereas this recognition will encourage self-esteem, pride, 
     and self-awareness in American Indians and Alaska Natives of 
     all ages; and
       Whereas November is a time when many Americans commemorate 
     a special time in the history of the United States when 
     American Indians and English settlers celebrated the bounty 
     of their harvest and the promise of new kinships: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates November 1999 as 
     ``National American Indian Heritage Month'' and requests that 
     the President issue a proclamation calling on the Federal 
     Government and State and local governments, interested groups 
     and organizations, and the people of the United States to 
     observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
     activities.

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