(Washington, D.C. – October 2, 2019) – The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) annually
celebrates and promotes the month of October as Italian American Heritage Month. This year, NIAF
thanks the Italian American Congressional Delegation (IACD) for its effort to have October recognized as
Italian American Heritage Month.
On Tuesday, Co-chairs of the IACD Congressmen Bill Pascrell (NJ) and Mark Amodei (NV) sent
a letter to President Donald Trump requesting a Presidential Proclamation of October as Italian
American Heritage Month. Pascrell and Amodei coupled their request with the introduction of a
resolution in the House of Representatives to establish October as Italian American Heritage Month.
“Italian Americans are an integral part of our nation’s diverse cultural makeup. Establishing a month in
honor of our people’s myriad contributions to the United States is the least we can do,” said Rep.
Pascrell, a descendent of Italian immigrants. “With this month being especially significant for Italian
Americans, I am proud to introduce this resolution with my co-chair Rep. Amodei and strongly urge my
colleagues to support its passage.”
“As an Italian American, I have always been extremely proud of my heritage, and equally proud of the
significant contributions my Italian forebears have made to our country,” said Rep. Amodei. “My Italian
roots run deep… With this month being especially significant for Italian Americans, I’m proud to once
again join Chairman Pascrell in requesting a Presidential Proclamation recognizing October as Italian
American Heritage Month. As co-chair of the Italian American Caucus, I will continue supporting
measures which highlight all that binds our countries together culturally, commercially, and
strategically.”
NIAF has worked closely with the bicameral and bipartisan IACD serving as an educational resource and
voice for the Italian American community. The Foundation hosts educational and cultural events on
Capitol Hill for the benefit of IACD Members and Italian American Congressional staffers throughout the
year.
“On behalf of the National Italian American Foundation, we support and thank the Italian American
Congressional Delegation Co-chairs Congressmen Bill Pascrell and Mark Amodei for their efforts to
recognize the month of October as Italian American Heritage Month,” said NIAF Chairs Patricia de Stacy
Harrison and Gabriel A. Battista. “Since its first celebration in 1989, Italian American Heritage Month has
been a source of pride for the Italian American community and a special opportunity not only to
celebrate the Italian explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus, but to honor Italian and Italian
Americans who have made significant contributions to our civil society throughout the history of our
country. We cannot fully appreciate the significance of the present without recognizing the discoveries,
successes, sacrifices, values and cultural contributions from Americans of Italian descent that have
enriched our lives.”
