Bill Text: CA SCR11 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered

---

Bill Title: Irish American Heritage Month.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-08-15 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 70, Statutes of 2013. [SCR11 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SCR11-Chaptered.html

---

BILL NUMBER: SCR 11	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  70
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 15, 2013
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  MARCH 11, 2013
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 8, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Corbett
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Mullin)

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2013

   Relative to Irish American Heritage Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 11, Corbett. Irish American Heritage Month.
   This measure would designate March 2013 as Irish American Heritage
Month in honor of the multitude of contributions that Irish
Americans have made to the country and state.



   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 Movement; and Senator George Mitchell, negotiator of
the Irish Peace Accord; 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 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: 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; Paul Adams of Facebook; John Donahoe, chief executive
officer of eBay, Inc.; Conrad Burke, founder of Innovalight; 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, first female commander of a
space shuttle, Eileen Collins, physicist and Nobel Laureate Charles
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 34 million 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 Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Senate, 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 2013 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 Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.