INTRODUCTION OF THE CARIBBEAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH LEGISLATION -- (Extensions of Remarks - March 17, 2004)

SPEECH OF

HON. BARBARA LEE

OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2004

• Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution designating a Caribbean-American Heritage month. This resolution acknowledges the contributions of Caribbean-Americans from the inception of our country to the present.
• Alexander Hamilton, Hazel Scott, Sidney Poitier, Jean Michel Basquiat, Eric Holder, Colin Powell, Edwidge Danticat, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, Sidney Ponson, Maryse Condé, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Celia Cruz, Mervyn Dymally and Shirley Chisolm are just a few of the many Caribbean-Americans who helped shape American government, politics, business, arts, education, science, and culture.
• Many of us in Congress focus on ``hot spots'' in the Caribbean--Cuba and Haiti--and forget that we have many constituents with roots from Suriname to the Bahamas and from Belize to Barbados.
• The recent revitalization of a bi-partisan Congressional Caribbean Caucus forced many of us to re-evaluate the policy between CARICOM and the United States, and to discuss proposed and pending U.S. legislation that will have a direct impact on bilateral relations.
• It is also important that we remember that our policies in the Caribbean affect the relatives of our constituents. I wrote this resolution to remind the American public that there are Caribbean-Americans who reside in every state of the union, and make sure that are recognized and celebrated.
• I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure to honor the Caribbean-American community, and create a month designated to annually acknowledge their service to our society.