Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Res. 1369, recognizing the significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. For the past 4 years, our country has proudly recognized the contributions that Caribbean Americans have made to our lives and our country. Since 1619, when the first Caribbean people came to the United States as indentured servants to Jamestown, the Caribbean people have held a place in our growth and development. We are proud to count among them, as we heard earlier, leaders in government, the military and the arts. The first Secretary of the Treasury and one of our Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, was born in the Caribbean. Former General and Secretary of State Colin Powell; Academy Award winner and musician, Sydney Poitier; and social activist, Harry Belafonte, are all of Caribbean heritage. There are many similarities in the histories of the United States and the countries of the Caribbean. The United States and the countries of the Caribbean both have endured the trials of slavery, colonialism, and the struggle for independence. The separate countries of the Caribbean share a diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious background that is comparable to our multicultural Nation. These similarities are but a few ties that bind our countries together. The countries of the Caribbean are also important economic partners of the United States and, importantly, represent the United States' third border.…”