Bill Text: MI HB4884 | 2015-2016 | 98th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Holidays; other; Hispanic heritage month; designate. Creates new act.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-09-22 - Printed Bill Filed 09/18/2015 [HB4884 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2015-HB4884-Introduced.html

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HOUSE BILL No. 4884

September 17, 2015, Introduced by Reps. Santana, Chang, Durhal, Kelly, Guerra, Kosowski, Geiss, Brunner, Cochran, Kivela, LaVoy, Robinson, Yanez, Sarah Roberts, Greig, Rendon, Dianda, Garcia, Pagan and Hughes and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

     A bill to designate September 15 to October 15 of each year as

 

Hispanic heritage month.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes all of the following:

 

     (a) There has been a long and important presence of Hispanic

 

and Latino Americans in North America, starting with the discovery

 

of America by Christopher Columbus on October 12, 1492.

 

     (b) The month of September 15 to October 15 represents the

 

anniversary of independence for Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador,

 

Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

 

     (c) Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage

 

Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories,

 

cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors

 

came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South

 

America.

 

     (d) Each year, the United States recognizes the economic,

 

cultural, and social contributions that Spanish-speaking peoples

 

have brought to our nation, including the gifts of law, religion,

 

agriculture, art, music, education, technology, architecture,

 

cuisine, theater, and exploration.

 

     (e) Time and again throughout our nation's history, Hispanic-

 

Americans have faithfully defended the principles of freedom and a

 

representative government.

 

     (f) Eighteenth-century North America had a Hispanic presence,

 

from the small outpost of San Francisco founded in the desolate

 

wilderness of Alta California in 1776, through the Spanish province

 

of Texas with its vaqueros (cowboys), to the fortress of St.

 

Augustine, Florida — the first continuous European settlement in

 

North America, founded in 1565, long before Jamestown, Virginia.

 

     (g) Hispanic Heritage Week was approved by President Lyndon

 

Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to

 

cover a 30-day period from September 15 to October 15, and enacted

 

into law on August 17, 1988 as Public Law 100-402.

 

     (h) This state is fortunate to count among its population a

 

large concentration of citizens of Spanish and Latin American

 

descent, including those who have lived in this state for

 

generations and those who are new to this state, who contribute to

 

our economy and society through their commitment to professions,

 

commerce, family, and the arts.

 

     (i) During the month from September 15 to October 15, this

 

state's Hispanic-American community celebrates Hispanic Heritage

 

Month through a series of special programs featuring Hispanic

 

history, food, dance, and art.

 

     (j) National Hispanic Heritage Month is the period of time in

 

the United States when people recognize the contributions of

 

Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States and celebrate

 

these people's varied heritage, background, and culture.

 

     (2) The legislature declares that September 15 to October 15

 

of each year shall be known as "Hispanic Heritage Month".