Bill Text: VA HR284 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Irish-American diplomatic relationship.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-05 - Bill text as passed House (HR284ER) [HR284 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HR284-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, a century ago, on October 7, 1924, Ireland formally opened diplomatic relations with the United States of America when Ambassador Timothy Smiddy presented his credentials to President Calvin Coolidge; and
WHEREAS, following the Irish people's long and painful struggle for independence, the United States was one of the first nations to recognize the fledgling Irish state earlier that year, and when Ambassador Smiddy emerged from the White House, he had become Ireland's first ambassador to any country in the world; and
WHEREAS, it was very appropriate that Ireland's first representative overseas should be dispatched to Washington, D.C., because while 1924 marked the beginning of formal diplomatic relations, the deep Irish-American connection had already dated back centuries at that time; and
WHEREAS, today, nearly one-tenth of Americans identify as being of Irish ancestry; Irish immigrants played a critical role in the growth of the nation, from the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the transcontinental railroad to the development of the modern political system; and
WHEREAS, Irish people have made an enormous contribution to public debate and politics in America, from their local communities to the White House; more than 20 American presidents have claimed some Irish ancestry, and the influence of Irish Americans extends well beyond the Oval Office and the United States Capitol to every state in the union, most evident by the significant number of state legislators within the American Ireland State Legislators Caucus; and
WHEREAS, since Timothy Smiddy's momentous audience in the Oval Office 100 years ago, 18 Irish ambassadors have presented credentials to United States presidents; over this time, Ireland's relations with the United States have evolved significantly; and
WHEREAS, from an impoverished and internationally isolated state, scarred by years of conflict, Ireland has transformed over the past century into the economically prosperous and culturally vibrant peaceful nation of today; and
WHEREAS, this transformation is due to the support of friends in the United States, from the crucial role America played in brokering peace in Northern Ireland, culminating with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, to the substantial American economic investment in Ireland; and
WHEREAS, there are almost 1,000 American companies in Ireland employing more than 200,000 people directly; the economic relationship between the two countries is truly two-way as some 100,000 people are employed in the United States by more than 650 Irish-owned companies in every state, and Ireland is now the ninth largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Irish-American relationship is a shining example of how ancestral ties, historical connections, cultural affinities, and shared values can create a foundation for enduring partnership and mutual prosperity; Irish American state legislators across the United States are playing a vitally important role in fostering this partnership and ensuring that it continues and flourishes for another century to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Irish-American diplomatic relationship hereby be commended on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the appointment of the first Irish ambassador to the United States for the way diplomatic and cultural relations have benefited both the United States and Ireland; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to representatives of the Irish American community as an expression of the House of Delegates' appreciation for the importance of the ongoing diplomatic partnership between the United States and Ireland.
