HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 41 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE WALSH MOORE. 6992H.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; and 8 9 WHEREAS, today, nearly one-tenth of Americans identify as being of Irish ancestry. 10 Irish immigrants helped build the America we know today, not only the physical 11 infrastructure from the skyscrapers of Manhattan to the transcontinental railroad, but also 12 the political construct that is America; and 13 14 WHEREAS, Irish people have made an enormous contribution to public debate and 15 politics in America, from their local communities right up to the White House. More than 16 twenty American Presidents claimed some Irish ancestry. But the influence of Irish America 17 extends well beyond the Oval Office and the Capitol building, to every state within the Union, 18 most evident in the significant number of state legislators within the American Irish State 19 Legislators Caucus; and 20 21 WHEREAS, since Timothy Smiddy's momentous audience in the Oval Office 100 22 years ago, a further eighteen Irish Ambassadors have presented credentials to U.S. Presidents. 23 Over this time, Ireland's relations with the United States have evolved significantly. From an 24 impoverished and internationally isolated state, scarred by years of conflict, Ireland has 25 transformed over the past century. Ireland today is at peace, economically prosperous, and 26 culturally vibrant; and 27 HCR 41 2
28 WHEREAS, this transformation is due to the support of friends in the United States, 29 from the crucial role America played in brokering peace in Northern Ireland, culminating 30 with the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, to the huge American economic investment in 31 Ireland. There are almost one thousand U.S. companies in Ireland, employing over two 32 hundred thousand people directly. Our economic relationship is truly two-way; some one 33 hundred thousand people are employed in the U.S. by over 650 Irish-owned companies, 34 across all fifty states. Indeed, Ireland is now the ninth largest source of foreign direct 35 investment in the U.S.; and 36 37 WHEREAS, the U.S.-Irish relationship is a shining example of how ancestral ties, 38 historical connections, cultural affinities, and shared values can create a foundation for 39 enduring partnership and mutual prosperity. Irish American state legislators across the United 40 States are playing a vitally important role in fostering this partnership and ensuring that it 41 continues and flourishes for another century to come: 42 43 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of 44 Representatives of the One Hundred Third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the 45 Senate concurring therein, hereby recognize and celebrate the special relationship between 46 the United States and Ireland; and 47 48 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives 49 be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the American Irish 50 State Legislators Caucus. ✔