HJ 133 — African Diaspora Heritage Month; designating as September 2022 and each succeeding year thereafter.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 22104005D I HOUSE JOfferedJOINT JanuaryRESOLUTION 19,NO. 2022 N Designating September, in 2022 and in each succeeding year, as African Diaspora Heritage Month in Virginia.

T133 ––––––––––E RDesignating Patrons––Maldonado,September, Davis,in Subramanyam,2022 Adams, D.M., Bennett-Parker, Bulova, Carr, Clark, O Convirs-Fowler, Delaney, Glass, Gooditis, Guzman, Helmer, Hudson, Keam, Mundon King, Plum, Reid, Roem, Scott, D.L., Sewell, Shin, Simonds, Tran, VanValkenburg and Willettin Deach Referredsucceeding toyear, Committeeas onAfrican RulesDiaspora UHeritage ––––––––––Month WHEREAS,in theN CommonwealthVirginia. is proud to be home to more than 115,000 Virginian members of C the African Diaspora population;

andR EAgreed WHEREAS,to theby African Diaspora is the fastest-growingHouse population of immigrantsDelegates, inFebruary the8, United2022 States,O withAgreed the number of African immigrants growing at a rate of almost 50 percent from 2010 to 201WHEREAS,by thousandsthe ofSenate, AfricanMarch Diaspora1, Virginians2022 areL ownersWHEREAS, of small businesses and medium businesses who have helped the Commonwealth becomeis theproud bestto statebe inhome the country for business by making significant contributions to economicmore growththan and115,000 jobVirginian creation,members asof wellL asthe byAfrican generatingDiaspora morepopulation; than $205 million in international trade;

and WHEREAS,States, the African Diaspora has a long and difficult past in Virginia, beginning in Jamestown in 1619 with "twenty and odd" Africans from Angola, but the Africannumber Diasporaof has proved resilient and is WHEREAS, African Diasporaimmigrants Virginiansgrowing haveat madea significantrate contributionsof throughalmost their50 leadershippercent andfrom work2010 in government, service in the military, and work to feedE communities2018; through agriculture;

theyand haveD inspiredWHEREAS, childrenthousands asof educators,African caredDiaspora forVirginians individualsare assmall healthand caremedium professionals,business andowners, advancedwho societyhave throughhelped achievementsthe Commonwealth become the best state in sciencethe andcountry technology;for business by making significant international trade;

andc growth and job creation, as well as generating more than $205 million in WHEREAS, the African Diaspora immigrantshas a long and difficult past in Virginia, beginning in Jamestown in 1619 with "twenty and odd" Africans from Angola, but the continentAfrican ofDiaspora Africahas proved resilient and is WHEREAS, African Diaspora Virginians have broughtmade highsignificant levelscontributions ofthrough knowledgetheir leadership J and educationwork toin government, service in the Commonwealth;military, and work to feed communities through agriculture;

andthey States,3 includinghave aninspired estimatedchildren $10.1as billioneducators, incared federalfor taxes,individuals $4.7as billionhealth incare stateprofessionals, and localadvanced taxes,R andsociety athrough spendingachievements powerin ofscience moreand thantechnology; $40.3 billion in 2015;

and WHEREAS,brought inhigh thelevels fight for equality, there have been monumental strides in education equity, with the expansion of in-stateknowledge tuition and accesseducation to state financial aid for many African Diaspora students, who had previously not had the opportunityCommonwealth; to afford a quality education;

now,andregions therefore,of beAfrica ithave :WHEREAS, African Diaspora households contribute billions of dollars to the economy of the United States, with an estimated $10.1 billion in federal taxes, $4.7 billion in state and local taxes, and a speWHEREAS, in the fight for equality, there have been monumental strides in education equity, with the expansion of in-state tuition and access to state financial aid for many African Diaspora students, who had previously not had the opportunity to afford a quality education;

33now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly designate 35 be itmber, in 2022 and in each succeeding year, as African Diaspora Heritage Month in Virginia;

and, 36 RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution 37 to the Virginia African Diaspora Committee so that members of the organization may be apprised of the sensesenRESOLVED ofFINALLY, That the GeneralClerk Assemblyof the House of VirginiaDelegates inpost the designation of this matter;month on the General Assembly's website.

and, be it RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates post the designation of this month on the General Assembly's website.