PRINTER'S NO. 2028
No. 215 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY KENNEY, McGEEHAN, RYAN, CORRIGAN, O'BRIEN, LYNCH,
KELLER, TIGUE, J. TAYLOR, LEDERER, STEELMAN, HERSHEY AND
WOGAN, JUNE 11, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JUNE 11, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the
2 United States Postal Service to consider and recommend to the
3 United States Postal Service Board of Governors the issue of
4 a commemorative stamp marking the 150th anniversary of the
5 Irish Hunger Period.
6 WHEREAS, The Irish Hunger Period from 1845 to 1850 led to a
7 massive immigration of Irish people to the United States and was
8 the first major wave of Europeans to immigrate to the United
9 States in the 19th century; and
10 WHEREAS, These immigrants not only faced the problems
11 attendant to settlement and assimilation but also of widespread
12 and organized discrimination; and
13 WHEREAS, The contributions of the immigrants, referred to as
14 "Famine Irish" refugees, and their offspring contributed to the
15 growth and development of the United States during the second
16 half of the 19th century as demonstrated by their monumental
17 improvement in socio-economic status; and
18 WHEREAS, These immigrants found opportunity and demonstrated
19 their appreciation through their labor, desire for education and
1 charitable activities; and
2 WHEREAS, Through their own hard work, these immigrants moved
3 from the menial, dangerous and often itinerant work in such
4 areas as construction and mining to civil service, medical,
5 political, merchant, education and entertainment occupations
6 before 1900; and
7 WHEREAS, These immigrants demonstrated their patriotism and
8 valor in the Civil War and in all of the wars the United States
9 entered; and
10 WHEREAS, Ireland's loss has been the United States' gain; and
11 WHEREAS, The overdue recognition of the role of the Irish
12 Hunger refugees in helping shape the course of this country's
13 destiny can be corrected, at least in part, through the issuance
14 of a United States commemorative stamp of the 150th anniversary
15 of the Irish Hunger Period; and
16 WHEREAS, A commemorative stamp would stand as official
17 recognition of the plight, pluck and persistence of the poverty-
18 stricken Irish immigrants and raise the awareness of that tragic
19 and dynamic period in history; and
20 WHEREAS, When stamps are being issued freely for such images
21 as cartoon characters and movie stars, it is appropriate to give
22 simple recognition to the Irish and Irish-American contributions
23 to the United States; therefore be it
24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives memorializes the
25 Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to consider and recommend to
26 the United States Postal Service Board of Governors that a
27 commemorative stamp marking the 150th anniversary of the Irish
28 Hunger Period be issued by the United States Postal Service; and
29 be it further
30 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
19970H0215R2028 - 2 -
1 the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee.
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