THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MANDERINO, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, BARRAR, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BOBACK, BOYD, BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, DALEY, DALLY, DENLINGER, DERMODY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARKINS, HELM, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, MAJOR, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, MATZIE, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, MUNDY, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SABATINA, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, STABACK, STERN, STEVENSON, VITALI, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WATSON, YOUNGBLOOD, CLYMER, KULA, HESS, O'NEILL AND ROHRER, OCTOBER 21, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 21, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of October 2009 as "Italian-American

Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Christopher Columbus was a navigator, colonizer and

explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean led to

widespread European awareness of the American continents in the

Western Hemisphere; and

WHEREAS, Columbus' voyage in 1492 for King Ferdinand II and

Queen Isabella of Spain opened up critical routes for trade

between Spain and the New World; and

WHEREAS, Columbus also made a total of four trips to the

Caribbean and South America between 1492 and 1504; and

WHEREAS, The Commission for Social Justice division of the

Order of the Sons of Italy in America honors Christopher

Columbus and the many accomplishments of Italian Americans; and

WHEREAS, The Commission for Social Justice regularly informs

the media and general public about Italian-American

achievements, contributions, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, Italian Americans are the fifth largest ethnic group

in the United States according to the United States Census

Bureau and have made significant contributions in the arts,

athletics, education, politics, exploration and business; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania

Legislative American Italian Caucus recognize the many

accomplishments of Italian Americans and wishes to bring these

achievements to the attention of the public in this

Commonwealth; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of October 2009 as "Italian-American Heritage Month" in

Pennsylvania.