HR 51 — A Resolution recognizing February 27, 2025, as "Dominican Republic Independence Day" in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.   442

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 51
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY BURGOS, GUZMAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, KENYATTA, VENKAT,
        BRENNAN, MAYES, KHAN, GUENST, SCHLOSSBERG, A. BROWN, GIRAL,
        McNEILL, SANCHEZ, PROBST, HOHENSTEIN, PIELLI, HILL-EVANS,
        DONAHUE, HADDOCK, DELLOSO, MERSKI, FREEMAN, SAMUELSON,
        O'MARA, STEELE, PASHINSKI AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 3, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, FEBRUARY 3, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Recognizing February 27, 2025, as "Dominican Republic
 2      Independence Day" in Pennsylvania.
 3      WHEREAS, On February 27, 2025, the Dominican Republic is
 4   celebrating the anniversary of its independence from Haiti in
 5   1844; and
 6      WHEREAS, Before the Dominican Republic declared its
 7   independence, the shared island of Hispaniola had been under
 8   Haitian rule for more than two decades after centuries of
 9   colonialism, first by the Spanish and then by the French; and
10      WHEREAS, Nationalist Juan Pablo Duarte helped organize the
11   war against the Haitian regime and is considered one of the
12   Dominican Republic's founding fathers; and
13      WHEREAS, "Dominican Republic Independence Day" coincides with
14   Carnaval, which is celebrated the entire month of February with
15   parades, competitions and spirited events; and
16      WHEREAS, The Dominican Republic is an important partner to
 1   the United States in hemispheric affairs due to its standing as
 2   the Caribbean's second-largest economy and third-largest country
 3   in terms of population and land mass, its large bilateral trade
 4   with the United States and its proximity to the United States
 5   and other Caribbean nations; and
 6      WHEREAS, The family unit within Dominican society is
 7   incredibly important and has formed the basis of stability
 8   throughout all of the Dominican Republic's political and
 9   economic upheaval; and
10      WHEREAS, Whenever possible, the extended family, which
11   usually encompasses three generations, lives within the same
12   vicinity; and
13      WHEREAS, Family loyalty is a deeply ingrained characteristic
14   of the Dominican people; and
15      WHEREAS, The Dominican Republic is well known as the homeland
16   of much of Major League Baseball, but it is also known for
17   fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, "Orange is The New Black"
18   actress Dascha Polanco, Maryland State Delegate Joseline Peña-
19   Melnyk, NASA aerospace engineer and inventor Dr. Victor Carreño,
20   Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Junot Díaz and countless other
21   accomplished individuals; and
22      WHEREAS, Dominicans are the fifth-largest population of
23   Hispanic origin living in the United States; and
24      WHEREAS, The Dominican-American community contributes to our
25   nation's economic vitality and culture while maintaining a deep
26   connection with its Dominican roots; therefore be it
27      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize
28   February 27, 2025, as "Dominican Republic Independence Day" in
29   Pennsylvania.



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