HR 238 — A Resolution designating the month of June 2025 as "Italian-American Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.   1763

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 238
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY CIRESI, MUSTELLO, ARMANINI, T. DAVIS, VENKAT,
        HILL-EVANS, RABB, PICKETT, FREEMAN, BRENNAN, SANCHEZ, NEILSON
        AND SCHMITT, MAY 29, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
        DEVELOPMENT, MAY 29, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating the month of June 2025 as "Italian-American Heritage
 2      Month" in Pennsylvania.
 3      WHEREAS, Italians were among the first explorers to discover
 4   the American continents and map their geography; and
 5      WHEREAS, The term "America" is derived from the name of
 6   Italian explorer and navigator Amerigo Vespucci; and
 7      WHEREAS, Italian Americans have defended the liberty and
 8   integrity of the United States since the Revolutionary War; and
 9      WHEREAS, The phrase in the Declaration of Independence, "all
10   men are created equal," was paraphrased from the writings of
11   Italian immigrant and American patriot Filippo Mazzei; and
12      WHEREAS, An estimated 5.5 million Italians immigrated to the
13   United States between 1820 and 2004; and
14      WHEREAS, Today there are approximately 18 million Americans
15   of Italian descent in the United States, making them the fourth-
16   largest ethnic group in this country; and
17      WHEREAS, The Italian-American community has strong roots in
 1   Pennsylvania; and
 2      WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia remains the second-largest
 3   Italian-American community in this country; and
 4      WHEREAS, The recent 2023 American Community Survey reported
 5   that approximately 1.4 million Pennsylvanians have Italian
 6   ancestry; and
 7      WHEREAS, Italian Americans have made and continue to make
 8   important contributions to this Commonwealth; and
 9      WHEREAS, On June 2 of each year, Italian Americans, Italians
10   and individuals of Italian descent around the world celebrate
11   Festa della Repubblica, or Republic Day, Italy's National Day
12   that commemorates the 1946 referendum ending the monarchy in
13   Italy and establishing a republic; and
14      WHEREAS, The month of June also marks the anniversaries of
15   the founding of two notable Italian-American organizations, the
16   Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America on June 22 and the
17   Italian American Heritage Foundation on June 29; and
18      WHEREAS, These observances have previously led the Congress
19   of the United States and state and local governments to
20   commemorate Italian-American heritage by declaring "National
21   Italian-American Heritage Week," "National Italian-American
22   Day," "Italian Heritage Day," "Italian-American Day" and other
23   days in June; therefore be it
24      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
25   month of June 2025 as "Italian-American Heritage Month" in
26   Pennsylvania; and be it further
27      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
28   significant contributions that Italian Americans have made to
29   this Commonwealth and the United States.



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