119-s340

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 340 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 340

 To direct the President to designate a month as African Diaspora 
 Heritage Month.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 January 30, 2025

 Mr. Kaine (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, and Mr. Booker) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
 the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To direct the President to designate a month as African Diaspora 
 Heritage Month.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``African Diaspora Heritage Month Act 
of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds that--

    (1) the African diaspora population in the United States 
 has grown significantly in recent years, with the number of 
 African immigrants growing at a rate of almost 246 percent from 
 2000 to 2019;

    (2) as of 2024, the African diaspora in the United States 
 was comprised of approximately 50,000,000 people;

    (3) the African diaspora community is one of the most 
 diverse communities in the United States, inclusive of people 
 who speak multiple languages, whose rich heritage comes from 
 all across the African continent, and whose members practice 
 various faiths;

    (4) during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a 
 significant number of enslaved people from Africa were brought 
 to the United States;

    (5) immigrants of African origin boast some of the highest 
 educational achievements of any immigrant group;

    (6) African diaspora households contribute billions of 
 dollars to the economy of the United States, with an estimated 
 $10,100,000,000 in Federal taxes, $4,700,000,000 in State and 
 local taxes, and a spending power of more than $40,300,000,000 
 in 2015;

    (7) Sub-Saharan African immigrants living in the United 
 States, Europe, and elsewhere sent back $46,000,000,000 in 
 remittances to the continent of Africa in 2021;

    (8) Government agencies, including the International 
 Development Finance Corporation, the Department of Commerce, 
 the Department of the Treasury, and the United States Trade 
 Representative are critical to investments and enduring mutual 
 partnerships between the United States and African nations;

    (9) in 2023, through the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
 (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), the United States imported 
 $9,700,000,000 in goods and resources;

    (10) Prosper Africa and other similar Government 
 initiatives are critical to building and strengthening ties 
 between the United States and African businesses;

    (11) the total two-way goods trade with Sub-Saharan Africa 
 totaled $47,500,000,000 in 2023, a 6.2 percent increase from 
 $44,700,000,000 in 2021;

    (12) the African diaspora plays an invaluable role in 
 shaping Government policy;

    (13) members of the African diaspora have an invaluable 
 understanding of cross-cultural engagement between the United 
 States and Africa, existing relations and networks on the 
 African continent, and can support efforts to facilitate 
 stronger people-to-people ties between the United States and 
 Africa;

    (14) the United States is committed to strengthening the 
 government-to-government relationships between the United 
 States and countries throughout the African continent;

    (15) Congress strongly supports the hosting of the second 
 United States-Africa Leaders Summit by the United States, which 
 was held in December 2022, to boost collaboration between the 
 Government and the African diaspora community in the United 
 States, and to strengthen ties between the United States and 
 African nations by bringing together approximately 49 African 
 heads of state;

    (16) the African diaspora harbors a deep commitment to 
 family and community, an enduring work ethic, and a 
 perseverance to succeed and contribute to the society of the 
 United States;

    (17) all members of the African diaspora in the United 
 States deserve access to any Federal resources they are legally 
 eligible to receive and freedom to participate in civil life in 
 the United States; and

    (18) the African diaspora community significantly 
 contributes to the growth and prosperity of the United States, 
 and Congress honors this abundant and growing community.

SEC. 3. AFRICAN DIASPORA HERITAGE MONTH.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``

Sec. 149. African Diaspora Heritage Month
 ``The President shall issue each year a proclamation--
 ``

    (1) designating a month as African Diaspora Heritage 
 Month;
 ``

    (2) calling on State and local governments and the people 
 of the United States to observe African Diaspora Heritage Month 
 with appropriate programs and activities; and
 ``

    (3) urging civil and educational authorities of States 
 and local governments to observe African Diaspora Heritage 
 Month through appropriate programs and activities.''.

    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 1 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to 

section 148 the following:

``149. African Diaspora Heritage Month.''.
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