Bill Text: CA ACR183 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Irish American Heritage Month.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-08-30 - In Senate. To Com. on RLS. [ACR183 Detail]
Download: California-2019-ACR183-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 183
| Introduced by Assembly Members Mullin, Brough, and O’Donnell |
March 04, 2020 |
Relative to Irish American Heritage Month.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 183, as introduced, Mullin.
Irish American Heritage Month.
This measure would, among other things, designate March 2020 as Irish American Heritage Month in honor of the multitude of contributions that Irish Americans have made to the country and state.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee: NOBill Text
WHEREAS, The democratic expression of the people of Ireland’s will in 1918 led directly to the establishment of an independent state and enabled the people of Ireland to enjoy the freedom they have today; and
WHEREAS, The First Dáil gave a voice to the people of Ireland’s expression of self-determination in the 1918 general election; and
WHEREAS, On January 21, 1919, the first meeting of the unicameral parliament of the revolutionary Irish Republic, known as the First Dáil Éireann, met in Dublin’s Mansion House to declare Ireland to be an independent nation and to establish its alternative parliament; and
WHEREAS, The First Dáil produced a Declaration of Independence and a Message to the Free Nations of the World; and
WHEREAS, The United States recognized and established diplomatic relations with the Irish Free State in 1924; and
WHEREAS, Millions of Irish people, faced with severe hardship due to famine and poverty in their nation, immigrated to the United States over the last several centuries in search of a more promising future for themselves and their families; and
WHEREAS, The journey to America from the Emerald Isle was not paved with gold. The Irish spirit of determination, perseverance, and grit prevailed against dangerous seas and deadly conditions with their hearts set on the horizon; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans initially suffered prejudice and discrimination upon first arriving in the United States. As the years went on, Irish Americans became deeply integrated in their communities and made numerous contributions in all aspects of American society and culture; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans played vital roles in the development of the United States. Nine Irish Americans were signers of the Declaration of Independence, and 22 Presidents of the United States have been of Irish heritage, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, Many people of Irish descent have contributed to great movements that have helped to shape our country and its role in the world, including Mother Jones, labor activist; Lucy Burns, activist in the Women’s Suffrage Movement; and Senator George J. Mitchell, negotiator of the Belfast Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans have also played a major role in California politics as governors, legislative leaders, city mayors, and other public officials, who have worked tirelessly to build California to the state that it is today; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans were significantly involved in the development of infrastructure throughout the United States, especially in the State of California. This included work on railroads and bridges that connected the west to the east. The Irish were also instrumental in the building of dams, roads, canals, and buildings that expanded greatly in the late 1800s; and
WHEREAS, Many Irish Americans have made their mark as peace officers and firefighters and have risked or lost their lives on countless occasions in carrying out their duties; and
WHEREAS, Many outstanding soldiers, never to be forgotten, who fought for American freedom in the Revolutionary War were of Irish descent. Irish Americans have proudly served with distinction in every war that this nation has fought and continue to do so today; and
WHEREAS, Many Irish Americans have contributed greatly to the United States economy in business, including: Alexander Turney Stewart, the inventor of the American department store; Cathleen Black, president of Hearst Publishing; Jack Welch, former president and chief executive officer of General Electric; Herb Kelleher, cofounder of Southwest Airlines; Paul Adams of Facebook; John Donahoe, chief executive officer of eBay, Inc.; Conrad Burke, founder of Innovalight, Inc.; and Maggie Sullivan Wilderotter, chief executive officer of Frontier Communications; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans have contributed to the field of science, including: astronaut Michael Collins; the first female commander of a space shuttle, Eileen Collins; physicist and Nobel Laureate Charles H. Townes; and bioengineer and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient James Collins; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans have contributed to the American literary tradition through great authors, including Flannery O’Connor, Eugene O’Neill, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Mary McCarthy, Tom Clancy, and Frank McCourt; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans have contributed to American entertainment with such stars as actors Jack Nicholson, John Wayne, and George Clooney; actor and comedian Bill Murray; actress Grace Kelly; actress and comedian Rosie O’Donnell; actor and singer Bing Crosby; actress and singer Rosemary Clooney; actress and singer Judy Garland; comedian Conan O’Brien; and actor and director Edward Burns, all being of Irish heritage; and
WHEREAS, Today, over 35,000,000 Americans claim Irish heritage, and they continue to contribute to the American and California politics, economy, and culture; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature, in honor of the multitude of contributions that Irish Americans have made to make this a better country and state for all people, designates March 2020 to be Irish American Heritage Month in California, and calls upon the people of the state to observe the month of March with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities, especially on March 17, since everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
