119-hres384

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 384 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 384

 Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the Cinco de 
 Mayo holiday.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 May 5, 2025

 Mr. Vargas (for himself, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. 
Randall, Ms. Norton, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Ruiz, Ms. Rivas, Mr. Castro of 
Texas, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Soto, Mr. 
 Garcia of California, Ms. Barragan, Ms. Pou, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, 
 Mr. Menendez, Mr. Cisneros, and Mr. Cuellar) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the Cinco de 
 Mayo holiday.

Whereas May 5, or ``Cinco de Mayo'' in Spanish, is celebrated each year as a 
 date of importance by Mexican and Mexican-American communities;
Whereas the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates May 5, 1862, the date on which 
 Mexicans defeated the French at the Battle of Puebla, 1 of the many 
 battles that the Mexican people won in their long and brave fight for 
 independence, freedom, and democracy;
Whereas the victory of Mexico over France at the Battle of Puebla represented a 
 historic triumph for the Mexican government during the Franco-Mexican 
 war, fought between 1861 and 1867, and bolstered the resistance 
 movement;
Whereas the success of Mexico at the Battle of Puebla reinvigorated the spirits 
 of the Mexican people and provided a renewed sense of unity and 
 strength;
Whereas the French army, which had not experienced defeat against any of the 
 finest troops of Europe in more than half a century, sustained a 
 disastrous loss at the hands of an outnumbered and ill-equipped, but 
 highly spirited and courageous, Mexican army;
Whereas the courageous spirit that Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza and his men 
 displayed during the historic Battle of Puebla can never be forgotten;
Whereas, in a larger sense, Cinco de Mayo symbolizes the right of a free people 
 to self-determination, just as Benito Juarez, the president of Mexico 
 during the Battle of Puebla, once said, ``El respeto al derecho ajeno es 
 la paz'', meaning ``respect for the rights of others is peace'';
Whereas the sacrifice of Mexican fighters was instrumental in keeping Mexico 
 from falling under European domination while, in the United States, the 
 Union Army battled Confederate forces in the Civil War; and
Whereas Cinco de Mayo--

    (1) serves as a reminder that the foundation of the United States was 
built by people from many countries and diverse cultures who were willing 
to fight and die for freedom;

    (2) serves as a reminder of the close ties between the people of Mexico 
and the people of the United States;

    (3) encourages the celebration of a legacy of strong leaders and a 
sense of vibrancy in communities; and

    (4) serves as a reminder to provide more opportunity for future 
generations: Now, therefore, be it

 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) recognizes the historic struggle of the people of 
 Mexico for independence and freedom, which Cinco de Mayo 
 commemorates; and

    (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
 Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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