Florida Senate - 2016                                     SM 568
       
       
        
       By Senator Braynon
       
       
       
       
       
       36-00769-16                                            2016568__
    1                           Senate Memorial                         
    2         A memorial to the Congress of the United States,
    3         urging Congress to recognize the month of May as
    4         “Haitian Heritage Month.”
    5  
    6         WHEREAS, Haitian Heritage Month is held to salute the
    7  Haitian and Haitian-American communities and to exhibit
    8  appreciation for their culture and heritage which have
    9  immeasurably enriched the lives of the people of this nation,
   10  and
   11         WHEREAS, as educators, authors, community leaders,
   12  activists, athletes, artists, musicians, and politicians,
   13  Haitian Americans have made their mark in every facet of society
   14  and have contributed to the betterment and diversity of this
   15  nation, and
   16         WHEREAS, the close proximity of Haiti to American shores,
   17  in conjunction with our common bond of mutual values and
   18  commitment to democracy, ensures lasting comity of nations and
   19  continued trade and diplomatic relations, and
   20         WHEREAS, an estimated 1.5 million persons of Haitian
   21  descent now live throughout this nation, and
   22         WHEREAS, Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson and Congressman
   23  Kendrick B. Meek, having acknowledged the importance of Haitian
   24  Americans in this nation’s history and diversity, have proposed
   25  resolutions in the United States House of Representatives to
   26  recognize the month of May as “Haitian-American Heritage Month”
   27  in the United States, NOW, THEREFORE,
   28  
   29  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   30  
   31         That the Congress of the United States is urged to
   32  recognize the month of May as “Haitian Heritage Month” and to
   33  encourage the people of this nation to observe Haitian Heritage
   34  Month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities.
   35         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
   36  dispatched to the President of the United States, to the
   37  President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the
   38  United States House of Representatives, and to each member of
   39  the Florida delegation to the United States Congress.