| 1 | House Resolution |
| 2 | A resolution designating April 13, 2004, as "Puerto Rico |
| 3 | Day" in Florida. |
| 4 |
|
| 5 | WHEREAS, Puerto Rico is a self-governing island and |
| 6 | commonwealth of the United States discovered by Christopher |
| 7 | Columbus on November 19, 1493, and colonized by Spain during the |
| 8 | 16th century, and |
| 9 | WHEREAS, Puerto Rico and Florida have a relationship dating |
| 10 | back to 1513, when Ponce de Leon, Puerto Rico's first governor, |
| 11 | embarked on a voyage to explore the New World and came upon a |
| 12 | bountiful land he called "Pascua Florida," and |
| 13 | WHEREAS, Puerto Rico was acquired by the United States in |
| 14 | 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War; on March 2, 1917, |
| 15 | the Jones Act was signed declaring all Puerto Ricans to be |
| 16 | citizens of the United States, sharing in the full rights and |
| 17 | duties of citizens; and the island was granted commonwealth |
| 18 | status in 1952, and |
| 19 | WHEREAS, Puerto Ricans have fought in every major war |
| 20 | involving the United States since World War I and have exhibited |
| 21 | outstanding heroic action at a very high cost, for Puerto Rico |
| 22 | had the highest per capita military combat death rate during the |
| 23 | Korean War, nearly twice that of the United States as a whole, |
| 24 | and many Puerto Ricans have been recognized with Congressional |
| 25 | Medals of Honor, and |
| 26 | WHEREAS, today, trade between the state and the |
| 27 | commonwealth amounts to more than $2.5 billion annually, and |
| 28 | many Puerto Ricans, eager to explore the opportunities offered |
| 29 | by the state's robust economy, continue to come both from abroad |
| 30 | and from other states to join the more than 482,000 individuals |
| 31 | from Puerto Rico who already make their homes in Florida, and |
| 32 | WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the ties between the |
| 33 | Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the State of Florida be |
| 34 | recognized, taking note of the positive impact Puerto Ricans |
| 35 | have made on the economic and cultural growth of the state, NOW, |
| 36 | THEREFORE, |
| 37 |
|
| 38 | Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of |
| 39 | Florida: |
| 40 |
|
| 41 | That the House of Representatives acknowledges the |
| 42 | enrichment of the state's diverse culture afforded by the |
| 43 | presence of its Floridians of Puerto Rican heritage and |
| 44 | wholeheartedly designates April 13, 2004, as "Puerto Rico Day" |
| 45 | in Florida. |