119-sres33

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 33 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 33

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 23, 2025

Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Van 
 Hollen, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Kim, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Welch, Ms. Klobuchar, 
and Mr. Murphy) 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 the time-honored traditions of the Senate, 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 the invention of the ice cream cone by Syrian immigrant Ernest Hamwi 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, in 2015, Andre Carson of Indiana, the second Muslim American elected to 
 the House of Representatives, became the first Muslim American to serve 
 on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
 Representatives;
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 the invention of the intraventricular catheter system by Pakistani-
 American neurosurgeon Ayub Ommaya 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 boxing champion Hasim Shariff 
 Rahman, thrilled sports fans across the United States and around the 
 world 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 the 
 present-day 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 January as ``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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