Mr. Speaker. I believe that it is fitting that a nation discovered by an Italian. named for an Italian. and which has grown and prospered through the efforts of its citizens which have included over 5 million Italian immigrants should. in turn. honor those citizens and their descendants. I have. therefore. sponsored House Joint Resolution 564. which is identical to Senate Joint Resolution 183. passed by the Senate by unanimous consent on Thursday. June 12. 1980. proclaiming Sunday. June 22. 1980. as National ItalianAmerican Day in honor of the 75th anniversary of the founding on June 22. 1905. of the Order Sons of Italy in America. the oldest and largest national ItalianAmerican charitable. civic. cultural. social. and philanthropic organization in America. Although Italian silk merchants are recorded as living in the Jamestown colony as early as 1620. and Italians are found throughout our early history. nevertheless. the beginning date for modern Italian immigration to the United States is often referred to as 1820. when 34 Italian immigrants. the first of more than 5 million. arrived in our Nation. Our countrys history is replete with the names of outstanding ItalianAmericans who worked and fought to make ours the greatest nation in the world. including. to name a few examples: Phillip Mezzi. Thomas Jeffersons neighbor. confidant. and friend whom Jefferson credited with originating the concept "All men are created equal." which became the cornerstone of our Democratic Government.
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immigration immigrants