H.Res. 244

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 244 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 244

Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 24, 2025

Ms. Lofgren (for herself, Ms. Ansari, Mr. Bacon, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Carson, 
Mr. Connolly, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Himes, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Min, Mr. 
Mullin, Ms. Norton, Mr. Peters, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. 
Swalwell) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz.

Whereas Nowruz marks the traditional Iranian New Year, which originated in 
ancient Persia, and dates back more than 3,000 years;
Whereas Nowruz, meaning a ``New Day'', occurs on the vernal equinox and 
celebrates the arrival of spring;
Whereas Nowruz symbolizes a time of renewal and community, it harkens the 
departure from the trials and tribulations of the previous year, and it 
brings hope for the new year;
Whereas Nowruz is celebrated by nearly 300,000,000 Iranians and other peoples 
all over the world, including in the United States, Iran, and other 
countries in Central Asia, South Asia, the Caucasus, Crimea, and the 
Balkan region;
Whereas Nowruz is also celebrated by other peoples all over the world, including 
in Armenia, Bosnia, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, 
Turkey, China, and other countries;
Whereas Nowruz is celebrated by Iranian Americans of all backgrounds, including 
those with Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Zoroastrian, and 
nonreligious backgrounds;
Whereas Nowruz serves to remind the United States of the many lasting 
contributions of the Persian civilization to the world and the 
noteworthy impact of Iranian Americans to the social and economic fabric 
of society in the United States;
Whereas Iranian Americans continue to make contributions in all sectors of 
American public life, including government, military, and law 
enforcement officials working to uphold the Constitution of the United 
States and to protect all people in the United States;
Whereas Iranian Americans maintain strong ties to the people of Iran and desire 
to see a democratic Iran that respects human rights;
Whereas, since September 2022, following the in-custody death of Mahsa Amini, 
widespread protests erupted across Iran, with all segments of society 
demanding fundamental human rights in support of the Woman, Life, 
Freedom movement, which the Iranian Government brutally suppressed 
through extreme violence, internet shutdowns, and ongoing repression, 
yet the movement endures today with women leading a quiet revolution by 
rejecting the mandatory hijab;
Whereas promoting internet freedom in Iran is a critical element of supporting 
the Iranian people in their struggle for a peaceful and democratic Iran;
Whereas Congress supports the Iranian people's right to freedom of expression 
and speech, including support for internet freedom programs that 
circumvent the Iranian regime censorship and internet blackouts; and
Whereas Nowruz embodies the tradition that each individual's thinking, speaking, 
and conduct should always be virtuous, and the ideal of compassion for 
our fellow human beings regardless of ethnicity or religion, and 
connects the Persian New Year to the values of human rights: Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the cultural and historical significance of 
Nowruz;
(2) expresses its appreciation for the contributions of 
Iranian Americans to society in the United States in observance 
of Nowruz;
(3) recognizes the hopes and aspirations of all people, 
including the people of Iran, for human rights, religious 
tolerance, open access to the internet, and freedom as embodied 
in the spirit of Nowruz;
(4) commends the observance of the Nowruz holiday in both 
the United States and Iran, and strongly supports the right of 
all Iranians to exercise freedom of assembly, freedom of 
expression, and freedom of speech; and
(5) wishes Iranian Americans and the people of Iran and all 
those who observe this holiday a prosperous new year.
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