[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 62 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 926
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 62
[Report No. 110-435]
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 14, 2007
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs
July 31, 2008
Reported by Mr. Dorgan, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
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,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Heritage
Day Act of 2007''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Congress finds that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) Native Americans should be recognized for
their contributions to the United States as local and national
leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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</DELETED>
<DELETED> (11) the Friday immediately succeeding
Thanksgiving Day of each year would be an appropriate day to
designate as Native American Heritage Day.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF A NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE
DAY.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the historical and constitutional status of
Native American tribal governments as well as the present day
status of Native Americans;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the cultures, traditions, and languages of
Native Americans; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the rich Native American cultural legacy that
all Americans enjoy today.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (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.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Native American Heritage Day Act of
2008''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) Native Americans are the descendants of the aboriginal,
indigenous, native people who were the original inhabitants of
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 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;
(4) Native Americans should be recognized for their
contributions to the United States as local and national
leaders, artists, athletes, and scholars;
(5) 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;
(6) 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;
(7) 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; and
(8) 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.
SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY.
Congress--
(1) designates Friday, November 28, 2008, as ``Native
American Heritage Day''; and
(2) encourages the people of the United States, as well as
Federal, State, and local governments, and interested groups
and organizations to observe Native American Heritage Day with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, including
activities relating to--
(A) the historical status of Native American tribal
governments as well as the present day status of Native
Americans;
(B) the cultures, traditions, and languages of
Native Americans; and
(C) the rich Native American cultural legacy that
all Americans enjoy today.
Calendar No. 926
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. J. RES. 62
[Report No. 110-435]
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
To honor the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the
United States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 31, 2008
Reported with an amendment