SENATE RESOLUTION 414--RECOGNIZING NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AND CELEBRATING THE HERITAGES AND CULTURES OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 178
(Senate - November 07, 2019)
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[Pages S6481-S6482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 414--RECOGNIZING NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE
MONTH AND CELEBRATING THE HERITAGES AND CULTURES OF NATIVE AMERICANS
AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES
Mr. HOEVEN (for himself, Mr. Udall, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Wyden, Mrs.
Feinstein, Mr. Schatz, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Tester, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Wicker,
Ms. Warren, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Lankford, Ms.
McSally, Ms. Smith, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms.
Hirono, Mr. Moran, Mr. King, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Harris, Mr. Heinrich,
Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Booker, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Blumenthal, and
Mr. Sullivan) submitted the following resolution; which was considered
and agreed to:
S. Res. 414
Whereas, from November 1, 2019, through November 30, 2019,
the United States celebrates National Native American
Heritage Month;
Whereas National Native American Heritage Month is an
opportunity to consider and recognize the contributions of
Native Americans to the history of the United States;
Whereas Native Americans are descendants of the original,
indigenous inhabitants of what is now the United States;
Whereas the Bureau of the Census estimates that, in 2018,
there were more than 6,800,000 individuals of American Indian
and Alaska Native descent in the United States;
Whereas Native Americans maintain vibrant cultures and
traditions and hold a deeply rooted sense of community;
Whereas Native Americans have moving stories of tragedy,
triumph, and perseverance that need to be shared with future
generations;
Whereas Native Americans speak and preserve indigenous
languages, which have contributed to the English language by
being used as names of individuals and locations throughout
the United States;
Whereas Congress has consistently reaffirmed the support of
the United States of
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Tribal self-governance and self-determination and the
commitment of the United States to improving the lives of all
Native Americans by--
(1) enhancing health care and law enforcement resources;
and
(2) improving the housing and socioeconomic status of
Native Americans;
Whereas the United States is committed to strengthening the
government-to-government relationship that the United States
has maintained with the various Indian Tribes;
Whereas Congress has recognized the contributions of the
Iroquois Confederacy and the influence of the Iroquois
Confederacy on the Founding Fathers in the drafting of the
Constitution of the United States with the concepts of--
(1) freedom of speech;
(2) the separation of governmental powers; and
(3) the system of checks and balances between the branches
of government;
Whereas, with the enactment of the Native American Heritage
Day Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-33; 123 Stat. 1922),
Congress--
(1) reaffirmed the government-to-government relationship
between the United States and Native American governments;
and
(2) recognized the important contributions of Native
Americans to the culture of the United States;
Whereas Native Americans have made distinct and important
contributions to the United States and the rest of the world
in many fields, including the fields of agriculture,
medicine, music, language, and art;
Whereas Native Americans have distinguished themselves as
inventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and scholars;
Whereas Native Americans have served with honor and
distinction in the Armed Forces and continue to serve in the
Armed Forces in greater numbers per capita than any other
group in the United States;
Whereas the United States has recognized the contribution
of the Native American code talkers in World War I and World
War II, who used indigenous languages as an unbreakable
military code, saving countless lives in the United States;
and
Whereas the people of the United States have reason to
honor the great achievements and contributions of Native
Americans and their ancestors: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the month of November 2019 as ``National
Native American Heritage Month'';
(2) recognizes the Friday after Thanksgiving as ``Native
American Heritage Day'' in accordance with section 2(10) of
the Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-
33; 123 Stat. 1923); and
(3) urges the people of the United States to observe
National Native American Heritage Month and Native American
Heritage Day with appropriate programs and activities.
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