| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution recognizing April 26, 2005, as "Puerto Rico |
| 3 | Day" in Florida. |
| 4 |
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| 5 | WHEREAS, what is now the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was |
| 6 | discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and ceded by Spain to |
| 7 | the United States in 1898 following the Spanish-American War, |
| 8 | and |
| 9 | WHEREAS, with a population of nearly 4 million people, the |
| 10 | Commonwealth of Puerto Rico boasts an additional 2.7 million |
| 11 | Puerto Ricans who live in the continental United States, and |
| 12 | WHEREAS, under the provisions of its 1952 Constitution, |
| 13 | Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth freely associated |
| 14 | with the United States, its chief of state being the President |
| 15 | of the United States of America and its head of government being |
| 16 | an elected governor, and |
| 17 | WHEREAS, Puerto Rico, whose people enjoy a richly diverse |
| 18 | cultural and racial heritage, has one of the most dynamic |
| 19 | economies in the Caribbean region, with exports and imports |
| 20 | nearly doubling between 1987 and 1997, and the lush climate of |
| 21 | the island creates agricultural opportunities for exporting |
| 22 | sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas, and rum, and |
| 23 | WHEREAS, the State of Florida promotes the enhancement of |
| 24 | trade, business, and cultural exchanges with the Commonwealth of |
| 25 | Puerto Rico, NOW, THEREFORE, |
| 26 |
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| 27 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 28 | Florida: |
| 29 |
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| 30 | That the House of Representatives recognizes April 26, |
| 31 | 2005, as "Puerto Rico Day" in Florida, expresses its |
| 32 | appreciation of the Commonwealth's rich heritage, and extends |
| 33 | its best wishes for an increasingly bright future. |