Amodei, Pascrell Push for Proclamation of October as Italian-American Heritage Month

October 1, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Logan Tucker, 202-225-6155

Co-chairs of Congressional Italian-American Delegation call on Congress, President to designate month in celebration of Italian culture

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, U.S. Reps. Mark E. Amodei (R-NV-02) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chairs of the Congressional Italian-American Delegation, sent a letterto Donald Trump requesting a Presidential Proclamation of October as Italian-American Heritage Month. Amodei and Pascrell coupled their request with the introduction of a resolutionin the House of Representatives to establish October as Italian and Italian-American Heritage Month.

“As an Italian-American, I have always been extremely proud of my heritage, and equally proud of the significant contributions my Italian forebears have made to our country,” said Rep. Amodei. “My Italian roots run deep. My father’s grandmother is from Ognio, which is 40 miles East of Genoa, his grandfather is from Santa Maria Majorio, which is near the Swiss border, and my mother’s father is a Longero from Southern Italy – so we’ve pretty much got the country bracketed with relatives. Growing up, I remember many celebrations around this time of year where my family got together to pay tribute to our heritage. With this month being especially significant for Italian-Americans, I’m proud to once again join Chairman Pascrell in requesting a Presidential Proclamation recognizing October as Italian-American Heritage Month. As co-chair of the Italian-American Caucus, I will continue supporting measures which highlight all that binds our countries together culturally, commercially, and strategically.”

“Italian-Americans are an integral part of our nation’s diverse cultural makeup. Establishing a month in honor of our people’s myriad contributions to the United States is the least we can do,” said Rep. Pascrell, a descendent of Italian immigrants. “With this month being especially significant for Italian-Americans, I am proud to introduce this resolution with my co-chair Rep. Amodei and strongly urge my colleagues to support its passage.”

“Today together we celebrate the legacy and extraordinary accomplishments of the Italian American community in the United States of America,” said Ambassador of Italy Armando Varricchio. “A community that since the very foundation of the Union has embraced its values and ideas and has left an indelible mark on the social, political, economic and cultural fabric of the United States. Proud of its past and of its heritage, the Italian American community is charting the future of this country and of the relations between the US and Italy on a path of growth, innovation and prosperity.”

“On behalf of the National Italian American Foundation, we support and thank the Italian American Congressional Delegation Co-chairs Congressmen Bill Pascrell and Mark Amodei for their efforts to recognize the month of October as Italian American Heritage Month,” said NIAF Chairs Patricia de Stacy Harrison and Gabriel A. Battista. “Since its first celebration in 1989, Italian American Heritage Month has been a source of pride for the Italian American community and a special opportunity to celebrate the Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus, and honor Italian and Italian Americans who have made significant contributions to our civil society throughout the history of our country. We cannot fully appreciate the significance of the present without recognizing the discoveries, successes, sacrifices, values, and cultural contributions from Americans of Italian descent that have enriched our lives.”

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