Mr. Speaker. it was nearly 500 years ago when Christopher Columbus discovered America and opened a pathway which centuries later would be traveled by countless immigrants to the United States. These immigrants have contributed greatly to the culture and spirit of our Nation. In truth. the essence of American life is greatly founded upon the immigrant experience. Prominent among those peoples who have immigrated to America is the ItalianAmerican. Beginning in 1492 with the brave son of Genoa. Columbus. Italian immigrants have traveled west across the Atlantic and set upon a new life in America. As the quincentennial anniversary celebration of Columbus discovery rapidly approaches. there is no more fitting time to again recognize the contributions made by ItalianAmericans to our Nation. Twenty million ItalianAmericans reside as citizens in the United States. making ItalianAmericans one of the largest ethnic groups in our melting pot.
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