IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. RES. 41
Expressing support for the designation of the month of January, as ‘‘Tamil
Language and Heritage Month’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY14, 2025
Mr. K
RISHNAMOORTHI (for himself, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, Mr. SUBRAMANYAM,
Ms. J
AYAPAL, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. THANEDAR, and Mr. BERA) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Over-
sight and Government Reform
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of the month of
January, as ‘‘Tamil Language and Heritage Month’’.
Whereas Tamil is one of the longest-surviving classical lan-
guages in the world, with a traceable history exceeding
2,600 years;
Whereas the recent archaeological excavations at Keeladi in
Tamil Nadu, India, have uncovered evidence of a well-de-
veloped urban civilization dating back to the 3d century
BCE;
Whereas Tamil is an official language in 3 countries and spo-
ken by over 80,000,000 people worldwide, with approxi-
mately 360,000 Tamil speakers in the United States as
of 2023;
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•HRES 41 IH
Whereas the Tamil community celebrates the Pongal Festival
each year in mid-January, marking the Tamil month of
‘‘Thai’’ and celebrating the harvest, cattle, and Tamil
arts, contributing to the vibrant cultural diversity of the
United States;
Whereas Tamil people, culture, tradition, and language have
impacted many aspects of the economic, social, and cul-
tural history of the United States;
Whereas esteemed Tamil literary works, including the
‘‘Thirukkural’’, ‘‘Tholkappiyam’’, ‘‘Aganaanuru’’,
‘‘Puranaanuru’’, ‘‘Silappatikaram’’, and ‘‘Manimegalai’’,
embody enduring values that inspire Tamil culture and
enrich global heritage;
Whereas these literary works can be read and interpreted by
modern-day Tamil people, have been translated into more
than 100 languages, and their values remain relevant to
contemporary life;
Whereas recognizing January as ‘‘Tamil Language and Her-
itage Month’’ allows the people of the United States to
celebrate the rich history, language, and culture of the
Tamil people and encourages all Americans to learn
about the contributions of Tamil Americans to the cul-
tural fabric of the Nation;
Whereas States such as Michigan, Georgia, and Massachu-
setts have made proclamations to celebrate the cultural
contributions of the Tamil people; and
Whereas States such as North Carolina, Wisconsin, Virginia,
and Minnesota have recognized January as Tamil Herit-
age Month, reflecting the growing appreciation of Tamil
culture across the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1
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•HRES 41 IH
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘Tamil Lan-1
guage and Heritage Month’’; 2
(2) recognizes that Tamil Americans enhance 3
the rich diversity of and strengthens the United 4
States; and 5
(3) acknowledges the significance of Pongal, a 6
festive celebration of harvest, for the Tamil people. 7
Æ
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