[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 427 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 427

  Recognizing the historical, cultural, and religious significance of 
                Sikh Americans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 14, 2019

 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Cardin) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the historical, cultural, and religious significance of 
                Sikh Americans, and for other purposes.

Whereas Sikhs have been living in the United States for more than 120 years, and 
        during the early 20th century, thousands of Sikh Americans worked on 
        farms, in lumber mills and mines, and on the Oregon, Pacific, and 
        Eastern Railroad;
Whereas Sikhs in the United States and around the world live the values and 
        ideals of equality, service, and devotion to God first preached by the 
        first of the ten living gurus and the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak;
Whereas the devotion of Guru Nanak to spiritual matters led him to embark on a 
        24-year spiritual journey throughout South Asia and to places outside 
        South Asia, including Tibet, Baghdad, and Mecca;
Whereas Guru Nanak was the first of the ten living gurus whose wisdom is now 
        contained in the Guru Granth Sahib, and the teachings of Guru Nanak 
        became the basis of Sikhism;
Whereas 2019 is the year of the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak, and Guru Nanak's 
        Gurpurab, which is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar, 
        is celebrated across the United States and worldwide;
Whereas Vaisakhi, which is one of the most historically significant days of the 
        year for Sikhs, is celebrated every April;
Whereas Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world, and there are more 
        than 25,000,000 Sikhs worldwide and more than 750,000 Sikh Americans;
Whereas Sikh men and women have notably contributed to the society of the United 
        States since their arrival in the United States in the late 1800s;
Whereas Sikh Americans pursue diverse professions that add to the social, 
        cultural, and economic vibrancy of the United States, including by 
        serving as members of the Armed Forces and making significant 
        contributions in the fields of agriculture, information technology, 
        small business, hospitality, trucking, medicine, and technology;
Whereas Sikh Americans, such as Bhagat Singh Thind, served in the Armed Forces 
        during World War I and World War II;
Whereas the first Asian-American Member of Congress, Dalip Singh Saund, was a 
        Sikh American elected to office in 1957;
Whereas Gurbir Singh Grewal became the first Sikh-American State attorney 
        general in the history of the United States when he was confirmed by the 
        State Legislature of New Jersey on January 16, 2018;
Whereas Lieutenant Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal was the first observant Sikh to serve 
        in the Harris County Sheriff's Office and was one of the first observant 
        Sikhs in the State of Texas to receive a policy accommodation to 
        practice his religion while serving as a police officer, and on Friday, 
        September 27, 2019, in Houston, Texas, Lieutenant Dhaliwal was killed by 
        gunfire while serving in the line of duty;
Whereas Sikh-American women, such as Grammy-winning artist Snatam Kaur, Officer 
        Gursoach Kaur of the New York City Police Department, and Professor 
        Supreet Kaur of the University of California, Berkeley, continue to make 
        diverse contributions to the United States;
Whereas the inventor of fiber optics, Dr. Narinder Kapany, and the largest peach 
        grower in the United States, Didar Singh Bains, are Sikh Americans;
Whereas Sikh Americans distinguish themselves by fostering respect among all 
        people through faith and service;
Whereas the Senate is committed to educating citizens about the religions of the 
        world, the value of religious diversity, tolerance grounded in the 
        principles of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United 
        States, a culture of mutual understanding, and the importance of 
        reducing violence; and
Whereas the Senate seeks to further the diversity of its community and afford 
        all residents the opportunity to better understand, recognize, and 
        appreciate the rich history and shared experiences of Sikh Americans: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the historical, cultural, and religious 
        significance of the 550th birthday of Guru Nanak;
            (2) recognizes that the teachings of Guru Nanak on equality 
        and service have inspired millions of people and can serve as 
        an inspiration for people of all faiths;
            (3) recognizes the invaluable contributions and sacrifices 
        made by Sikh Americans;
            (4) recognizes the discrimination that Sikh Americans have 
        faced in the United States and around the world; and
            (5) expresses its respect for all Sikhs who practice their 
        faith.
                                 <all>