BILL NUMBER: SCR 64	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Corbett
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Garrick)

                        FEBRUARY 13, 2012

   Relative to Irish American Heritage Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 64, as introduced, Corbett. Irish American Heritage Month.
   This measure would designate March 2012 as Irish American Heritage
Month in honor of the multitude of contributions that Irish
Americans have made to the country and state.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   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, Irish Americans initially suffered prejudice and
discrimination upon first arriving in the United States. As the years
went on, Irish Americans became very involved in the community and
made numerous contributions in all aspects of American society and
culture, especially in California; 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 20 Presidents of the United States
have been of Irish heritage, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald
Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama; 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; Lucy Burns, activist
in the Women's Movement; and Senator George Mitchell, negotiator of
the Irish Peace Accord; and
   WHEREAS, Irish Americans have also played a major role in
California politics. Many governors, legislative leaders, city
mayors, and other public officials who have shaped the development of
California over the years have been of Irish descent; and
   WHEREAS, Irish Americans were significantly involved in the
development of infrastructure throughout the United States,
especially in 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, Irish Americans have served with distinction in every war
that this nation has fought. Many outstanding soldiers who fought
for American freedom in the Revolutionary War were of Irish descent.
Since then, Irish Americans have sacrificed their lives in every war
that the United States has fought; and
   WHEREAS, Many Irish Americans have contributed greatly to the
United States economy in business, including: Henry Ford, founder of
the Ford Motor Company; Alexander Stewart, the inventor of the
American department store; Cathleen Black, president of Hearst
Publishing; Jack Welch, former president and chief executive officer
of General Electric; and Herb Kelleher, cofounder of Southwest
Airlines; and
   WHEREAS, Irish Americans have contributed to the field of science,
including astronaut Michael Collins, first female commander of a
Space Shuttle Eileen Collins, physicist and Nobel Laureate Charles
Townes, and bioengineer and MacArthur Genius recipient James Collins;
and
   WHEREAS, Irish Americans have contributed to the American literary
tradition through great authors, including Flannery O'Connor, Eugene
O'Neill, 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 O'Donnell; actor and singer Bing
Crosby; actress and singer Rosemary Clooney; actress and singer Judy
Garland, comedian Conan O'Brien, and actor and director Edward Burns
being of Irish heritage; and
   WHEREAS, Today, over 44 million Americans claim Irish heritage,
and they continue to contribute to the American and California
politics, economy, and culture; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Senate, in honor of the multitude of
contributions that Irish Americans have made to make this a better
country and state for all people, designates March 2012 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, since everyone is
Irish on St. Patrick's Day; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.