| Sponsor | Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn |
| Committee | Oversight and Government Reform |
| Date | April 21, 2009 (111th Congress, 1st Session) |
| Staff Contact | Adam Hepburn |
H.Res. 254 is being considered on the floor under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds majority vote for passage. This legislation was introduced by Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) on March 17, 2009.
H.Res. 254 resolves that the House of Representatives:
• "Honors Irish-Americans for their contributions to the United States;
• "Recognizes the significance of Irish-Americans in the history and progress of the United States; and
• "Encourages individuals to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities."
According to the resolution's findings, 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish origin and 19 Presidents of the United States have Irish heritage, including George Washington. Large numbers of Irish immigrants came to the United States during the Great Famine of the 1840s, transforming America's largest cities, into dynamic centers of commerce and industry. Today, one in four Americans trace at least part of their ancestry to Ireland.