For Immediate Release: March 17, 2006
Contacts: Kimberly Allen, (202) 226-8364; (571) 232-8037 [cell]
Congressman Rothman Honors St. Patrick's Day with Action
Meets with Gerry Adams on Thursday, Co-Sponsors Resolution to Establish Irish Heritage Month on Friday
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Pictured: Rothman and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams
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(Washington, DC)— This St. Patrick’s Day, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) is celebrating the holiday by advancing Irish issues. Yesterday, he met with influential Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams to discuss moving the peace process in Northern Ireland forward. Today, he announces his co-sponsorship of a resolution to establish an Irish-American Heritage Month.
“Gerry Adams’ work for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland is an inspiration to us all. Today, I am proud of his leadership and the leadership of so many other Irish men and women who have made this a better world for our children to inherit,” said Rothman.
The Congressional resolution Rothman co-sponsored expresses the sense of Congress that there should be a time for all Americans to celebrate the contributions of Irish-Americans to our country with ceremonies, celebrations, and activities.
“Irish-Americans have contributed to America’s cultural, economic, and political landscape for centuries. As we pause to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland this year, let us also honor all of the brave Irish men and women who have come to America and their descendants who have given so much to this nation,” said Rothman.
By 1776, nearly 300,000 individuals from Ireland had emigrated to the U.S. Today, 44 million American citizens are of Irish descent. Influential leaders of Irish ancestry have included George Washington, the first President of the United States, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a social reformer who championed women’s voting rights, Kathryn Sullivan, the first woman to walk in space, and at least eight signers of the Declaration of Independence. Additionally, at least 263 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor claim Ireland as their birthplace.
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