Bill Text: CA ACR50 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Irish American Heritage Month.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 44-20)
Status: (Passed) 2012-06-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 44, Statutes of 2012. [ACR50 Detail]
Download: California-2011-ACR50-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 50 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 44
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 7, 2012
ADOPTED IN SENATE JUNE 4, 2012
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 15, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 6, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 21, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 9, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Garrick
(Principal coauthor: Senator Corbett)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano,
Atkins, Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford,
Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Campos, Carter, Chesbro, Conway, Cook,
Dickinson, Donnelly, Fong, Furutani, Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Gatto,
Gordon, Grove, Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Hayashi, Roger Hernández,
Hill, Huber, Hueso, Jeffries, Jones, Lara, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza,
Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Olsen, Pan, Perea,
John A. Pérez, Portantino, Silva, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson,
Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, and Yamada)
APRIL 7, 2011
Relative to Irish American Heritage Month.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 50, Garrick. Irish American Heritage Month.
This measure would designate March 2012 as Irish American Heritage
Month in California, and call upon the people of the state to
observe Irish American Heritage Month with appropriate ceremonies,
programs, and activities.
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, Irish Americans initially suffered prejudice and
discrimination upon first arriving in the United States. As the years
went on, Irish Americans became very involved in the community and
made numerous contributions in all aspects of American society and
culture, especially in California; 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 20 Presidents of the United States
have been of Irish heritage, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald
Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama; and
WHEREAS, Many Irish Americans have played critical roles in
federal politics, including George Murphy, United States Senator, and
John Tunney, United States Senator; 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 Movement; and United States Senator George Mitchell,
negotiator of the Irish Peace Accord; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans have played a major role in California
politics. Many governors, legislative leaders, city mayors, and other
public officials who have shaped the development of California over
the years have been of Irish descent; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans were very involved in the development of
infrastructure throughout the United States, especially in
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 in the pursuit
of public safety and have risked or lost their lives carrying out
their duties; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans have served with distinction in every war
that this nation has fought. Many of the outstanding soldiers who
fought for American freedom in the Revolutionary War were of Irish
descent. Since then, Irish Americans have sacrificed their lives in
every war that the United States has fought; and
WHEREAS, Many Irish Americans have contributed greatly to the
United States economy in business, including Henry Ford, founder of
the Ford Motor Company; Alexander 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; and Herb Kelleher, cofounder of Southwest
Airlines; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans have contributed to the field of science,
including: Michael Collins, astronaut; Eileen Collins, first female
commander of a space shuttle; Charles Townes, physicist and Nobel
Laureate; and James Collins, bioengineer and MacArthur Fellow; 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 through 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; and actor and
director Edward Burns; and
WHEREAS, Today, over 44 million Americans claim Irish heritage,
and they continue to contribute to the American and California
political, economic, and cultural landscapes; 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 2012 to be Irish
American Heritage Month in California, and calls upon the people of
the state to observe Irish American Heritage Month 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.
