| 1 | | - | Enrolled March 15, 2024 Passed IN Senate March 14, 2024 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Senate Resolution No. 77Introduced by Senator McGuireMarch 11, 2024 Relative to Irish American Heritage Month.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSR 77, McGuire. Digest KeyBill TextWHEREAS, The United States recognized and established diplomatic relations with the Irish Free State in 1924; and WHEREAS, The year 2024 marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland, a milestone that will be celebrated in both countries; and 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 into their communities and made numerous contributions to 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 23 Presidents of the United States have been of Irish heritage, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden; 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; Kate Kennedy, known for the equal pay for equal work campaign; Lucy Burns, activist in the womens suffrage movement; and Senator George J. Mitchell, negotiator of the Belfast Agreement; 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 into the state that it is today; and WHEREAS, Irish Americans were significantly involved in the development of infrastructure throughout the United States, especially in the State of 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: Alexander Turney Stewart, the inventor of the American department store; Cathleen Black, former president of Hearst Publishing; Jack Welch, former president and chief executive officer of General Electric; Herb Kelleher, cofounder of Southwest Airlines; John Donahoe, chief executive officer of Nike, Inc.; Conrad Burke, founder of Innovalight, Inc.; Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company; Richard and Maurice McDonald, founders of McDonalds fast food; and Maggie Sullivan Wilderotter, chair of DocuSign; and WHEREAS, Irish Americans have contributed to the field of science, including: astronaut Michael Collins; the first female commander of a space shuttle, Eileen Collins; physicist and Nobel Laureate Charles H. 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 OConnor, Eugene ONeill, 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 ODonnell; actor and singer Bing Crosby; actress and singer Rosemary Clooney; actress and singer Judy Garland; comedian Conan OBrien; and actor and director Edward Burns, all being of Irish heritage; and WHEREAS, There is significant economic reciprocity between California and Ireland, including Ireland as the seventh largest source of foreign direct investment through wholly foreign-owned enterprises in California, and there is work underway to further build these relationships; and WHEREAS, There exists a longstanding and richly multifaceted relationship between California and Ireland. The first Consulate General of Ireland opened in the City of San Francisco in 1933, and the second Consulate General of Ireland opened in the City of Los Angeles in 2019, which reinforces the strong and vibrant connections between California and Ireland built on shared heritage, values, and ambition; and WHEREAS, Today, over 35,000,000 Americans claim Irish heritage, and they continue to contribute to the politics, economy, and culture of the United States and California; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate, in honor of the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland and the multitude of contributions that Irish Americans have made to make this a better country and state for all people, designates March 2024 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, because everyone is Irish on St. Patricks Day; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to Irelands Ambassador to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason; Ceann Comhairle of Dil ireann, Sen Fearghal; Cathaoirleach of Seanad ireann, Jerry Buttimer; Irelands Consul General to the Western United States, Michel Smith; and to the author for further appropriate distribution. |
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| 1 | + | CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Senate Resolution No. 77Introduced by Senator McGuireMarch 11, 2024 Relative to Irish American Heritage Month.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSR 77, as introduced, McGuire. Digest KeyBill TextWHEREAS, The United States recognized and established diplomatic relations with the Irish Free State in 1924; and WHEREAS, The year 2024 marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland, a milestone that will be celebrated in both countries; and 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 into their communities and made numerous contributions to 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 23 Presidents of the United States have been of Irish heritage, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden; 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; Kate Kennedy, known for the equal pay for equal work campaign; Lucy Burns, activist in the womens suffrage movement; and Senator George J. Mitchell, negotiator of the Belfast Agreement; 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 into the state that it is today; and WHEREAS, Irish Americans were significantly involved in the development of infrastructure throughout the United States, especially in the State of 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: Alexander Turney Stewart, the inventor of the American department store; Cathleen Black, former president of Hearst Publishing; Jack Welch, former president and chief executive officer of General Electric; Herb Kelleher, cofounder of Southwest Airlines; John Donahoe, chief executive officer of Nike, Inc.; Conrad Burke, founder of Innovalight, Inc.; Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company; Richard and Maurice McDonald, founders of McDonalds fast food; and Maggie Sullivan Wilderotter, chair of DocuSign; and WHEREAS, Irish Americans have contributed to the field of science, including: astronaut Michael Collins; the first female commander of a space shuttle, Eileen Collins; physicist and Nobel Laureate Charles H. 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 OConnor, Eugene ONeill, 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 ODonnell; actor and singer Bing Crosby; actress and singer Rosemary Clooney; actress and singer Judy Garland; comedian Conan OBrien; and actor and director Edward Burns, all being of Irish heritage; and WHEREAS, There is significant economic reciprocity between California and Ireland, including Ireland as the seventh largest source of foreign direct investment through wholly foreign-owned enterprises in California, and there is work underway to further build these relationships; and WHEREAS, There exists a longstanding and richly multifaceted relationship between California and Ireland. The first Consulate General of Ireland opened in the City of San Francisco in 1933, and the second Consulate General of Ireland opened in the City of Los Angeles in 2019, which reinforces the strong and vibrant connections between California and Ireland built on shared heritage, values, and ambition; and WHEREAS, Today, over 35,000,000 Americans claim Irish heritage, and they continue to contribute to the politics, economy, and culture of the United States and California; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate, in honor of the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland and the multitude of contributions that Irish Americans have made to make this a better country and state for all people, designates March 2024 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, because everyone is Irish on St. Patricks Day; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to Irelands Ambassador to the United States, Geraldine Byrne Nason; Ceann Comhairle of Dil ireann, Sen Fearghal; Cathaoirleach of Seanad ireann, Jerry Buttimer; Irelands Consul General to the Western United States, Michel Smith; and to the author for further appropriate distribution. . |
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