Expressing the sense that there should be established a "National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month" in April to celebrate the great contributions of Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United States who have enriched the history of the Nation.

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 344 Expressing the sense that there should be established a ‘‘National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month’’ in April to celebrate the great contributions of Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United States who have enriched the history of the Nation. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 28, 2023 Mr. TORRES of New York (for himself, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability RESOLUTION Expressing the sense that there should be established a ‘‘Na- tional Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month’’ in April to celebrate the great contributions of Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United States who have enriched the history of the Nation. Whereas the history of Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United States is inextricably tied to the story of the Nation; Whereas Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage in the United States come from the Central American region and have a common heritage and language that goes be- yond national borders; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:47 Apr 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR344.IH HR344 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HRES 344 IH Whereas Americans of Garifuna immigrant heritage came to the United States voluntarily, and are distinct from, but have an origin similar to most African Americans, as both are descendants of mostly West and Central Afri- cans who were involuntarily brought to the North Amer- ican Continent by means of the historic Atlantic slave trade; Whereas the West African slaves that escaped to the island eventually intermarried with the Caribs and the Arawaks’ Indigenous native people, giving rise to what today we know as the Garifuna people; Whereas after a battle against the British that resulted in the surrender of the Garifuna people, the defeated Garifuna leaders were transported to England and the rest of the Garifuna people to the island of Roatan, Hon- duras, arriving there on April 12, 1797, which began their settlement in Central America; Whereas this year we commemorate the 226th anniversary of the arrival of the Garifuna people in Central America; Whereas ‘‘National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage Month’’ would provide an opportunity to commemorate and recog- nize the contributions of the Garifuna people, and high- light the history and culture of Central American Black Indigenous immigrants in the United States; Whereas language, dance, and music of the Garifuna people from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua have been inscribed on a List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, first proclaimed in 2001 by the United Na- tions Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; Whereas people should be aware of the Garifuna people’s fight for land rights against tourism, developers, and VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:47 Apr 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR344.IH HR344 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HRES 344 IH drug traffickers in the region of Pintadillera, Playa Blan- ca, Puerto Grande, La Flor, Ciudad Moraza´n (Choloma), Orquı´dea (Colo´n), and Pro´spera (Islas de la Bahı´a); and Whereas raising awareness about Garifuna immigrant herit- age is crucial to effectively fighting disparities and injus- tices against Black and Indigenous populations in the United States, Latin America, and across the world: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 (1) a ‘‘National Garifuna Immigrant Heritage 3 Month’’ should be established to celebrate the sig- 4 nificant contributions of Americans of recent 5 Garifuna immigrant heritage to the history of the 6 United States; and 7 (2) the people of the United States should ob- 8 serve the month with appropriate ceremonies, cele- 9 brations, and activities to recognize that Americans 10 of recent Garifuna immigrant heritage enhance the 11 rich diversity of and strengthen the United States. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:47 Apr 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR344.IH HR344 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB