25 LC 112 2787
House Resolution 198
By: Representatives Oliver of the 84
th
, Drenner of the 85
th
, Davis of the 87
th
, Evans of the
57
th
, Williams of the 37
th
, and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state capitol; and for other
1
purposes.2
WHEREAS, for the past 12 years, New Americans Day celebrations have brought hundreds3
of new Americans, friends, and community supporters to the state capitol annually for a day4
of education and celebration; and5
WHEREAS, Georgia has a long history of extending welcome to new Americans from6
around the world, giving them an opportunity to live, work, and thrive in the state; and7
WHEREAS, today, one in ten Georgians—more than one million people—are foreign-born,8
bringing valuable skills and talents from countries around the world to the state; and9
WHEREAS, approximately one in eight Georgia workers is foreign-born, as are one in five10
doctors and home health aides; one in five science and technology professionals; one in five11
manufacturing workers; and nearly half of all workers in the construction industry; and12
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WHEREAS, foreign-born Georgians are 41 percent more likely than others to start new
13
businesses in the state, accounting for more than 20 percent of entrepreneurs in the state and14
generating more than $2.5 billion in business income annually; and15
WHEREAS, hardworking foreign-born Georgians across all sectors paid over $11 billion in16
federal, state, and local taxes and held more than $32 billion in spending power in 202117
alone; and18
WHEREAS, nearly half of all foreign-born Georgians are already naturalized United States19
citizens eligible to vote and many more are on the path toward citizenship; and 20
WHEREAS, foreign-born Georgians were never more essential to the state than during the21
COVID-19 pandemic, serving in disproportionate numbers in front line jobs in hospitals and22
assisted living facilities, farms and food processing plants, warehouses and delivery services,23
and more; and24
WHEREAS, since the withdrawal of United States forces from Afghanistan in August 202125
and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Georgia has provided refuge to thousands and26
granted humanitarian parole to escape those countries and come to safety in the United27
States, including many who risked their lives to support the United States' mission overseas;28
and29
WHEREAS, Georgia has one of the oldest and most successful refugee programs in the30
United States, with approximately 90 percent of refugees economically self-sufficient within31
six months; and32
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WHEREAS, Georgia is a welcoming home for peoples of all origins and from all walks of
33
life, and it is abundantly fitting and proper that these new Americans be appropriately34
recognized.35
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that36
the members of this body recognize and commend the manifold contributions of immigrants37
to the State of Georgia and recognize February 13, 2025, as New Americans Day at the state38
capitol.39
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized40
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the41
public and the press.42
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