PRINTER'S NO. 4362
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
994
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, YOUNGBLOOD, BURGOS, MURT, SCHLOSSBERG,
SCHLEGEL CULVER, HOHENSTEIN, HENNESSEY, BURNS, HILL-EVANS,
JONES, MILLARD, LONGIETTI, FREEMAN, McCLINTON, HOWARD, BROWN,
WILLIAMS, KINSEY, GALLOWAY, McNEILL, HARRIS, A. DAVIS,
NEILSON, GREEN, CALTAGIRONE, DRISCOLL, SAMUELSON, T. DAVIS,
CIRESI, SANCHEZ, RYAN, MENTZER, MALAGARI, READSHAW, KORTZ AND
DEASY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2020
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Observing September 15 through October 15, 2020, as "Hispanic
Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "National Hispanic Heritage Month" is celebrated in
the United States to honor the history, culture and influence of
past generations who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and
Central and South America; and
WHEREAS, Hispanics were the earliest European settlers to
arrive at our great nation, founding settlements in Florida in
the 1500s; and
WHEREAS, Mexicans established homesteads in the southwest in
the 1600s; and
WHEREAS, Spanish was the first European language spoken in
the New World; and
WHEREAS, Latinos are the largest ethnic minority in the
United States today, with approximately 975,000 residing in
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Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, The Hispanic population plays a key role in our
country's socioeconomic, political and cultural development; and
WHEREAS, Hispanic Americans share deep family values,
recognize their obligations to individuals who are less
fortunate and cherish freedom and what it means to be an
American; and
WHEREAS, Latino-owned businesses are growing in number and
importance to the American economy, contributing more than $700
billion in sales to the economy annually; and
WHEREAS, Throughout our history, Hispanic Americans have
shown their devotion to the nation through military service and
have fought in every war since the nation's founding; and
WHEREAS, As of 2019, there are more than 200,000 Hispanic
active duty service members serving in the armed forces of the
United States; and
WHEREAS, "National Hispanic Heritage Month" originated in
1968 when President Lyndon B. Johnson first proclaimed "National
Hispanic Heritage Week"; and
WHEREAS, On September 15, 1988, President Ronald Reagan
expanded the celebration into a month-long event linked to the
independence anniversaries of several Latin American nations,
including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico
and Chile; and
WHEREAS, "Hispanic Heritage Month" has become a vital
opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural traditions and
significant achievements of our Hispanic and Latino American
communities across the Commonwealth; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives observe September
15 through October 15, 2020, as "Hispanic Heritage Month" in
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Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage all
residents to celebrate the value of our diversity and the rich
culture which has made our Commonwealth and our nation so
extraordinary.
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