[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 62 Considered and Passed House (CPH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. J. RES. 62
To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the
United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 13, 2007
Mr. Baca (for himself, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Wu,
Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Spratt, Mr. Costa,
Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Rodriguez, Ms.
Velazquez, Mr. Gonzalez, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Roybal-
Allard, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Honda, Mr. Kline of Minnesota, Mr.
Cuellar, Ms. Solis, Mr. Inslee, Mr. Peterson of Minnesota, Mr. Kind,
Mr. Sires, Ms. Berkley, Ms. Sutton, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas,
Mr. Becerra, Mr. Meek of Florida, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Grijalva, Mr.
Filner, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Boren, Ms. Norton,
Mrs. Capps, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Reyes,
Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Shuler,
Mrs. Napolitano, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Faleomavaega, Ms. Bordallo, Mr.
Towns, Mr. Farr, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Clyburn, Mr.
Schiff, Ms. Watson, Ms. Lee, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. Larson of
Connecticut, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Oberstar, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Smith of
Washington, Mr. Pomeroy, Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Gene Green of
Texas, Mr. Hare, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Ortiz, Mr. Larsen of
Washington, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Hinojosa, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez of
California, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Cole of Oklahoma, Mr. Meeks of New
York, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Ms.
Loretta Sanchez of California, and Mr. Issa) introduced the following
joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
Labor
November 13, 2007
Committee on Education and Labor discharged; which was considered and
passed
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the
United States, and for other purposes.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Heritage Day Act of
2007''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) Native Americans are the descendants of the aboriginal,
indigenous, native people who were the original inhabitants of
and who governed the lands that now constitute the United
States;
(2) Native Americans have volunteered to serve in the
United States Armed Forces and have served with valor in all of
the Nation's military actions from the Revolutionary War
through the present day, and in most of those actions, more
Native Americans per capita served in the Armed Forces than any
other group of Americans;
(3) Native American tribal governments developed the
fundamental principles of freedom of speech and separation of
governmental powers that were a model for those that form the
foundation of the United States Constitution;
(4) the Founding Fathers based the provisions of the
Constitution on the unique system of democracy of the Six
Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, which divided powers among
the branches of government and provided for a system of checks
and balances;
(5) Native Americans have made distinct and significant
contributions to the United States and the rest of the world in
many fields, including agriculture, medicine, music, language,
and art, and Native Americans have distinguished themselves as
inventors, entrepreneurs, spiritual leaders, and scholars;
(6) Native Americans should be recognized for their
contributions to the United States as local and national
leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars;
(7) nationwide recognition of the contributions that Native
Americans have made to the fabric of American society will
afford an opportunity for all Americans to demonstrate their
respect and admiration of Native Americans for their important
contributions to the political, cultural, and economic life of
the United States;
(8) nationwide recognition of the contributions that Native
Americans have made to the Nation will encourage self-esteem,
pride, and self-awareness in Native Americans of all ages;
(9) designation of the Friday following Thanksgiving of
each year as Native American Heritage Day will underscore the
government-to-government relationship between the United States
and Native American governments;
(10) designation of Native American Heritage Day will
encourage public elementary and secondary schools in the United
States to enhance understanding of Native Americans by
providing curricula and classroom instruction focusing on the
achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the
Nation; and
(11) the Friday immediately succeeding Thanksgiving Day of
each year would be an appropriate day to designate as Native
American Heritage Day.
SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF A NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY.
(a) Development of Model Educational Curricula.--Educational
institutions are encouraged to develop model educational curricula, in
consultation with Native American governmental leaders, for purposes of
recognizing a Native American Heritage Day, emphasizing the
contributions of Native Americans to the United States and the world,
including--
(1) the historical and constitutional status of Native
American tribal governments as well as the present day status
of Native Americans;
(2) the cultures, traditions, and languages of Native
Americans; and
(3) the rich Native American cultural legacy that all
Americans enjoy today.
(b) Celebration of Native American Heritage Day.--Congress
encourages the people of the United States, as well as Federal, State,
and local governments and interested groups and organizations to
observe a Native American Heritage Day with appropriate programs,
ceremonies, and activities.
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