Danny Davis: “Madam Speaker, from time to time, it is important that we acknowledge our individual histories and the characteristics…”

“Madam Speaker, from time to time, it is important that we acknowledge our individual histories and the characteristics that define us as Americans. Last month, we celebrated African-American History Month. Today, I am very happy to stand with the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) and the other 56 cosponsors of H. Res. 41. This bill recognizes the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish Americans to the United States by expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a day should be established as National Tartan Day. Scottish Americans have played important roles in the growth and development of this Nation. Three such Scottish Americans are John Witherspoon, Andrew Carnegie and Alexander Graham Bell. John Witherspoon immigrated to the United States in order to become the sixth President of Princeton University. He was a member of the ratifying convention that made New Jersey the third State to ratify the Constitution of the United States. He also is identified with the Common Sense Philosophy, which is considered to be of importance in the development of our national life. Andrew Carnegie came to the United States not as an educated man but as a poor immigrant. His vision and business acumen earned him a fortune in steel during the industrial revolution. Carnegie used his wealth to establish one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States.”