Pennsylvania SR 176: A Resolution recognizing September 10, 2017, as "World Suicide Prevention Day" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1242
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 176
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY STEFANO, ROBINSON, PICOZZI, BARTOLOTTA, BOSCOLA,
COSTA, MARTIN, BROWN, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, CULVER, VOGEL,
KANE, CAPPELLETTI, SANTARSIERO AND MASTRIANO,
OCTOBER 16, 2025
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, OCTOBER 16, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of October 2025 as "Italian-American
Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Explorer Christopher Columbus, the son of a wool
merchant, was born in Genoa, Italy, around 1451; and
WHEREAS, Christopher Columbus was determined to find a
quicker route west from Europe to Asia and embarked on what
would become four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean starting in
1492; and
WHEREAS, During his initial voyage, Christopher Columbus
landed upon an island in the Bahamas, and his journey became a
catalyst for centuries of exploration of the Americas; and
WHEREAS, Columbus set into motion the widespread transfer of
people, plants, animals and cultures between the Old and New
Worlds; and
WHEREAS, While Italian adventurers have always been a part of
American history, it was not until the 1820s that Italian
immigrants began moving to the United States in sizable numbers;
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and
WHEREAS, A feudal society, high unemployment and oppressive
taxes coupled with natural disasters, disease, poverty and
famine, gave many reasons for Italians to look for freedom and
opportunities abroad; and
WHEREAS, While educated Italian professionals also emigrated,
many Italian immigrants arrived relatively unskilled, but soon
helped fuel a booming industrial economy by providing labor for
American factories and mines and helping to build roads, dams,
tunnels and other infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, As Italian Americans began settling in the country's
major cities, they faced religious and ethnic discrimination
which occasionally led to brutal violence; and
WHEREAS, For this reason, Italian Americans started
celebrating the life and accomplishments of Christopher Columbus
as a way for residents of Italian descent to be accepted by
their new homeland; and
WHEREAS, In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed
Columbus Day as a national holiday; and
WHEREAS, We credit Christopher Columbus with Italian
immigration to the New World and what is now Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Currently, there are more than 16 million Americans
of Italian heritage in the United States and more than 1.4
million Americans of Italian heritage residing in Pennsylvania;
and
WHEREAS, In 1905, the Order Sons of Italy in America was
formed, with the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to follow in 1913;
and
WHEREAS, Their successors, the Order Sons and Daughters of
Italy in America, the State Lodge of Pennsylvania and the Grand
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Lodge of Pennsylvania Sons and Daughters of Italy, as well as
Carini I.O.D., continue to preserve Italian-American traditions,
history and culture and combat discrimination while upholding
the positive image of Italian heritage; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of October 2025
as "Italian-American Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Senate acknowledge the important role of
early immigrants in our Commonwealth's history.
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