HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 19 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE WALSH MOORE. 3001H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
WHEREAS, a century ago, in October 1924, Ireland formally opened diplomatic 2 relations with the United States of America when Timothy Smiddy presented his credentials 3 to President Calvin Coolidge. Following the Irish people's long and painful struggle for 4 independence, the U.S. was one of the first nations to recognize the fledgling Irish state 5 earlier that year, and when Smiddy emerged from the White House, he had become Ireland's 6 first Ambassador to any country in the world. It was very appropriate that Ireland's first 7 representative overseas should be dispatched to Washington, D.C. for, while 1924 marked the 8 beginning of formal diplomatic relations, the deep Irish-American connection dated back 9 centuries; and 10 11 WHEREAS, today, nearly one-tenth of Americans identify as being of Irish ancestry. 12 Irish immigrants helped build the America we know today, not only the physical 13 infrastructure from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the transcontinental railroad, but also 14 the political construct that is America; and 15 16 WHEREAS, Irish people have made an enormous contribution to public debate and 17 politics in America, from their local communities right up to the White House. More than 18 twenty American Presidents claimed some Irish ancestry. But the influence of Irish America 19 extends well beyond the Oval Office and the Capitol building, to every state within the Union, 20 most evident in the significant number of state legislators within the American Irish State 21 Legislators Caucus; and 22 23 WHEREAS, since Timothy Smiddy's momentous audience in the Oval Office 100 24 years ago, a further eighteen Irish Ambassadors have presented credentials to U.S. Presidents. 25 Over this time, Ireland's relations with the United States have evolved significantly. From an 26 impoverished and internationally isolated state, scarred by years of conflict, Ireland has HCR 19 2
27 transformed over the past century. Ireland today is at peace, economically prosperous, and 28 culturally vibrant; and 29 30 WHEREAS, this transformation is due to the support of friends in the United States, 31 from the crucial role America played in brokering peace in Northern Ireland, culminating 32 with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, to the huge American economic investment in 33 Ireland. There are almost one thousand U.S. companies in Ireland, employing over two 34 hundred thousand people directly. Our economic relationship is truly two-way; some one 35 hundred thousand people are employed in the U.S. by over 650 Irish-owned companies, 36 across all fifty states. Indeed, Ireland is now the ninth largest source of foreign direct 37 investment in the U.S.; and 38 39 WHEREAS, the U.S.-Irish relationship is a shining example of how ancestral ties, 40 historical connections, cultural affinities, and shared values can create a foundation for 41 enduring partnership and mutual prosperity. Irish American state legislators across the United 42 States are playing a vitally important role in fostering this partnership and ensuring that it 43 continues and flourishes for another century to come: 44 45 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of 46 Representatives of the One Hundred Third General Assembly, First Regular Session, the 47 Senate concurring therein, hereby recognize and celebrate the special relationship between 48 the United States and Ireland; and 49 50 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives 51 be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the American Irish 52 State Legislators Caucus. ✔