WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) introduced legislation expressing support for the establishment of Iranian American Heritage Month in the United States and, along with Representative Zoe Lofgren, recognizing the cultural significance of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. These pieces of legislation seek to celebrate the rich traditions, history, and contributions of Iranian Americans to the fabric of our nation.
“As the first Iranian American Democrat elected to Congress and daughter of immigrants who fled Iran, I’m immensely proud to introduce this legislation to designate March as Iranian American Heritage Month,”said Rep. Ansari. “Iranian Americans have enriched our nation’s communities, economy, and culture. These resolutions honor our heritage, celebrate Nowruz, and promote inclusion.”
“In America, diversity is our strength, and I am proud to once again introduce a Resolution recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz and the Iranian-American community,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18). “As always, this Resolution also emphasizes the importance of a democratic Iran that respects human rights and acknowledges the brutality of the current regime. As we write in the Resolution, it is my hope that Congress can recognize the hopes and aspirations of all people, as embodied in the spirit of Nowruz.”
Nowruz, which marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Iranian calendar, has been celebrated for over 3,000 years. The Iranian New Year, ‘‘Nowruz’’, which translates to ‘‘new day’’, is celebrated on the Spring Equinox by thousands of Americans and hundreds of millions of people around the world. The holiday symbolizes renewal, hope, and harmony with nature. Rep. Ansari's bill aims to recognize this global, cultural event by officially designating a month in March as Iranian American Heritage Month, culminating in the observance of Nowruz, which typically falls on or around March 20th.
Ansari’s resolution recognizing Iranian American Heritage Month is cosponsored by Reps. Jim Costa (CA-21), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Dave Min (CA-47), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and André Carson (IN-07). Ansari and Lofgren’s bipartisan resolution honoring Nowruz is cosponsored by Reps. Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), Dave Min (CA-47), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Don Bacon (NE-02), Scott Peters (CA-50), Lucy McBath (GA-06), André Carson (IN-07), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (PA-08), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Jim Himes (CT-04), and Brad Sherman (CA-32).
Text of Rep. Ansari’s Resolution designating Iranian American Heritage Month is HERE and below. Text of Ansari and Lofgren’s resolution recognizing Nowruz is available HERE.
RESOLUTION TEXTS:
Expressing support for designating Iranian American Heritage Month
Whereas the United States Census Bureau estimates there to be over 540,000 individuals of Iranian descent residing in the United States;
Whereas the United States is home to the largest diaspora community of Iranian Americans in the world, with the largest hub located in Los Angeles, California;
Whereas Iranian Americans have established deep roots in communities across the United States, from Los Angeles, to Phoenix, to New York, and enriched our social, economic, political, and cultural tapestry;
Whereas the Iranian New Year ‘‘Nowruz’’, which translates to ‘‘new day’’, is celebrated on the Spring Equinox by thousands of Americans and symbolizes renewal, hope, and harmony with nature;
Whereas Iranian Americans have made significant contributions to the United States in fields such as science, medicine, technology, business, academia, public service, and the arts;
Whereas two members of the Iranian-American community currently serve in the United States Congress;
Whereas a 2010 study by the Small Business Administration found that Iranian Americans are among the top 20 immigrant groups with the highest rate of business ownership, owning over 33,000 businesses and generating billions in net income;
Whereas the Iranian people have contributed to modern civilization for millennia, bringing forth the Cyrus Cylinder as the world’s first human rights document and the Bani Adam poem by Sa’adi Shirazi describing all humans as part of one equal body which is inscribed on the entrance to the United Nations;
Whereas Iranian Americans have served in senior capacities in both Republican and Democratic administrations, and have held elected positions in State and local governments across the United States;
Whereas Iranian Americans have and continue to serve with distinction in the United States military and law enforcement, upholding the Constitution and safeguarding national security;
Whereas the Iranian American Contributions Project estimates that Iranian-American publications have been cited over 2,000,000 times, and Iranian-American inventors have filed for over 4,000 patents;
Whereas the Iranian-American community is religiously diverse, including Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Zoroastrian, and other faiths, contributing to the rich cultural mosaic of the United States;
Whereas many Iranian Americans have overcome significant hardships as immigrants and refugees fleeing the brutal and dictatorial Islamic Republic;
Whereas the Iranian-American community has turned adversity into action, with thousands taking part in the peaceful ‘‘Woman, Life, Freedom’’ protests across the United
States to demand an end to the Islamic Republic’s violence, including against Iranian women and ethnic minorities and repression of the Iranian people;
Whereas, on January 26, 2023, the United States House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 7, commending the bravery, courage, and resolve of the Iranian people; and
Whereas the Iranian-American community is an integral part of American society, and their contributions, culture, and spirit have made our Nation a better place: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) supports the designation of Iranian American Heritage Month;
(2) acknowledges the significant contributions Iranian Americans have made to our Nation’s culture, economy, and developments in the fields of science, medicine, and technology;
(3) encourages the people of the United States to observe Iranian American Heritage Month with
appropriate programs, activities, and celebrations, such as the ‘‘Nowruz’’ new year celebration; and
(4) continues to stand with Iranian Americans and the Iranian people in their fight for a free and democratic Iran.
Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz
Whereas Nowruz marks the traditional Iranian New Year, which originated in ancient Persia, and dates back more than 3,000 years;
Whereas Nowruz, meaning a ‘‘New Day’’, occurs on the vernal equinox and celebrates the arrival of spring;
Whereas Nowruz symbolizes a time of renewal and community, it harkens the departure from the trials and tribulations of the previous year, and it brings hope for the new year;
Whereas Nowruz is celebrated by nearly 300,000,000 Iranians and other peoples all over the world, including in the United States, Iran, and other countries in Central Asia, South Asia, the Caucasus, Crimea, and the Balkan region;
Whereas Nowruz is also celebrated by other peoples all over the world, including in Armenia, Bosnia, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, Turkey, China, and other countries;
Whereas Nowruz is celebrated by Iranian Americans of all backgrounds, including those with Baha’i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Zoroastrian, and nonreligious backgrounds;
Whereas Nowruz serves to remind the United States of the many lasting contributions of the Persian civilization to the world and the noteworthy impact of Iranian Americans to the social and economic fabric of society in the United States;
Whereas Iranian Americans continue to make contributions in all sectors of American public life, including government, military, and law enforcement officials working to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to protect all people in the United States;
Whereas Iranian Americans maintain strong ties to the people of Iran and desire to see a democratic Iran that respects human rights;
Whereas, since September 2022, following the in-custody death of Mahsa Amini, widespread protests erupted across Iran, with all segments of society demanding fundamental human rights in support of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, which the Iranian Government brutally suppressed through extreme violence, internet shutdowns, and ongoing repression, yet the movement endures today with women leading a quiet revolution by rejecting the mandatory hijab;
Whereas promoting internet freedom in Iran is a critical element of supporting the Iranian people in their struggle for a peaceful and democratic Iran;
Whereas Congress supports the Iranian people’s right to freedom of expression and speech, including support for internet freedom programs that circumvent the Iranian regime censorship and internet blackouts; and
Whereas Nowruz embodies the tradition that each individual’s thinking, speaking, and conduct should always be virtuous, and the ideal of compassion for our fellow human beings regardless of ethnicity or religion, and connects the Persian New Year to the values of human rights: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) recognizes the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz;
(2) expresses its appreciation for the contributions of Iranian Americans to society in the United States in observance of Nowruz;
(3) recognizes the hopes and aspirations of all people, including the people of Iran, for human
rights, religious tolerance, open access to the inter10 net, and freedom as embodied in the spirit of Nowruz;
(4) commends the observance of the Nowruz holiday in both the United States and Iran, and strongly supports the right of all Iranians to exercise freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech; and
(5) wishes Iranian Americans and the people of Iran and all those who observe this holiday a prosperous new year
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