[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 534 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 534
Expressing support for the recognition of January as ``Muslim-American
Heritage Month'' and celebrating the heritage and culture of Muslim
Americans in the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 25, 2024
Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Padilla,
Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Welch, and
Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the recognition of January as ``Muslim-American
Heritage Month'' and celebrating the heritage and culture of Muslim
Americans in the United States.
Whereas the Senate is proud to recognize and commemorate ``Muslim-American
Heritage Month'', an observance that celebrates the contributions of
Muslim Americans;
Whereas in keeping with its time-honored traditions, the Senate recognizes and
pays tribute to those who foster cultural pride and enhance the profile
of diverse communities across the United States;
Whereas immigration of Muslims to the American colonies began with the arrival
of indentured workers;
Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of
slaves of Muslim heritage were brought to the United States;
Whereas in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, successive waves of immigration
brought additional Muslims to the United States, who sought to pursue
economic and social opportunity, as well as freedom of religion, and
enriched the fabric of the society of the United States as business
owners, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, humanitarians,
scientists, and students;
Whereas Muslim Americans contribute greatly to charitable organizations that
help people from all faiths in the United States and around the world by
providing medical assistance, family services, and scholastic supplies,
running before- and after-school programs, feeding the hungry, and
providing recuperation efforts following natural disasters;
Whereas Muslim Americans have contributed to every part of the society of the
United States by making advancements in architecture, arts, business,
culture, government, law, medicine, the military, religion, and sports;
Whereas Bangladeshi-American Fazlur Rahman Khan left his mark on the cityscapes
of the United States by pioneering a new structural system of frame
tubes used to construct iconic buildings like the World Trade Center in
New York City, New York, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Willis ``Sears'' Tower in Chicago,
Illinois;
Whereas many Muslim Americans pursue the American dream and contribute to the
economy of the United States as business owners and entrepreneurs,
including Pakistani-born billionaire Shahid Khan, owner of the auto-
parts company Flex-N-Gate and the National Football League's
Jacksonville Jaguars;
Whereas Syrian immigrant Ernest Hamwi's invention of the ice cream cone is a
practical confection with a near ubiquitous presence in the life of the
people of the United States;
Whereas, in 2006, Keith Ellison of Minnesota was elected to the House of
Representatives, becoming the first Muslim American to serve in
Congress;
Whereas, in 2008, Ambassador Sada Cumber was appointed by President George W.
Bush to serve as the first Special Envoy to the Organization of the
Islamic Conference from the United States, representing the United
States to 57 Muslim-majority nations;
Whereas actor Mahershala Ali became the first Muslim American to win an Oscar
for his supporting role in ``Moonlight'' in 2017;
Whereas, in 2018, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota were
elected to the House of Representatives, becoming the first Muslim-
American women to serve in Congress;
Whereas, in 2021, Zahid Quraishi was confirmed as the first Muslim American to
serve as an article III Federal judge as a district judge of the United
States District Court for the District of New Jersey;
Whereas, in 2021, Rashad Hussain was confirmed as the first Muslim American to
serve as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International
Religious Freedom;
Whereas Pakistani-American neurosurgeon Ayub Ommaya's invention of the
intraventricular catheter system provides chemotherapy to treat brain
tumors;
Whereas Muslim Americans have fought in support of the United States in every
major war, from Bampett Muhamed and Yusuf Ben Ali under the command of
General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War, to Captain
Humayun Khan, who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2004;
Whereas Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, the first Muslim American to deliver the
invocation for the Senate, and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, the civil
rights activist and reformer also known as Malcolm X, were prominent
religious leaders and scholars;
Whereas Muslim-American professional athletes like Naismith Memorial Basketball
Hall of Fame members Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille
O'Neal and 2-time world heavyweight champion Hasim Shariff Rahman
thrilled sports fans across the United States and around the globe
during their respective careers;
Whereas Muslim-American Olympians, such as boxer Muhammad Ali, track and field
athlete Dalilah Muhammad, and fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, won medals in
international competitions;
Whereas, with roots in at least 77 different countries and identifying racially
as White, Black, Arab, and Asian, Muslim Americans are an extremely
diverse population;
Whereas the current population of Muslims living in the United States is
estimated at over 3,450,000 individuals;
Whereas over 4,500 Muslims serve on active duty, and over 2,300 Muslims serve as
selected reserve personnel in the Armed Forces;
Whereas the Muslim population has been growing in the United States, and today's
Muslim-American population is a tapestry of ethnic, racial, linguistic,
social, and economic groups;
Whereas nearly 50 percent of Muslim Americans have reported experiencing
religious discrimination, with that number rising to 64 percent for
Muslim Americans whose appearance identifies them as Muslim, such as
women who wear the hijab or headscarf;
Whereas there is a need for public education, awareness, and policies that help
people be culturally competent when describing, discussing, or
addressing the impacts that Muslim Americans have on all aspects of the
society of the United States;
Whereas ``Muslim-American Heritage Month'' will be observed in the month of
January; and
Whereas the incredible contributions and heritage of Muslim Americans have
helped to build a better United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the designation of ``Muslim-American Heritage
Month'';
(2) honors the contributions and integral role of Muslim
Americans in the economy, culture, and identity of the United
States; and
(3) urges the people of the United States to observe
``Muslim-American Heritage Month'' with appropriate ceremonies,
programs, and activities that celebrate the contributions of
Muslim Americans to the United States.
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