A Joint Resolution to declare August 16 of each year as Dominican Restoration Day in New Jersey.

Whereas, The Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean region by both land mass and population, and is distinguished historically and geographically as one of the first sites visited by Christopher Columbus during his first transatlantic voyage in 1492; the first permanent European settlement in the Americas in its capital of Santo Domingo; the site of the first cathedral and university in the New World; and the highest mountain peaks and lowest elevation lake in the Caribbean region; and

Whereas, Yearning to be a sovereign nation, a social movement led by founding father Juan Pablo Duarte and his allies achieved independence and founded the Dominican Republic in 1844, and on February 27th of 2013 the Dominican Republic celebrated the 169th anniversary of its independence; and

Whereas, Following its independence from Haiti, the Dominican Republic had to reclaim its freedom from Spain in 1865, and on August 16 of each year Dominicans celebrate Dominican Restoration Day as a national holiday to mark the beginning of the country's second independence war; and

Whereas, At least since 1884 the United States has maintained formal diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic, and today considers it an important partner in regional and international affairs, as the Dominican Republic constitutes the largest economy in the Caribbean, has built stable democratic institutions, is in close geographic proximity to the United States, and is visited by thousands of Americans and other international travelers each year due to its booming tourism industry; and

Whereas, Aside from diplomatic relations, some of the most significant bonds that bring both countries together are the contributions that Dominican-Americans have made and continue to make to the economic, cultural, and political life of the United States as they have become part of its social fabric; and

Whereas, About 1.5 million Hispanics of Dominican origin or ancestry currently live in the United States, comprising the fifth largest Hispanic origin group after Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Salvadorans; and

Whereas, Every day, Dominicans in the United States make significant contributions to society as workers in factories, homes, and public and private sector institutions; as business owners of bodegas, supermarkets, and restaurants in our neighborhoods and communities; as elected leaders at the local, state, and national government levels; as athletes on the baseball fields delivering the great American pastime; as artists in music, cinema, and fashion design; and as soldiers defending our freedoms among the ranks of the United States Armed Forces, among other areas; and

Whereas, Notable Dominican-Americans are a source of great pride for all Dominicans for the outstanding contributions they have made in their respective fields, including Oscar de la Renta in fashion design; Junot Diaz and Julia Alvarez in literature; Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols and many others in baseball; "the Queen of Technicolor" Maria Montez and Zoe Saldana in film; and Dr. Juan Manuel Taveras Rodrigez in the medical field of neuroradiology, among others; and

Whereas, In the field of politics and government, Passaic's mayor, Dr. Alex Blanco, is distinguished as the first person of Dominican descent to be elected to the office of mayor in the United States; and

Whereas, The largest concentrations of Dominicans in the United States are found in the northeast, with New York and New Jersey having the largest Dominican populations, and the cities of Paterson, Perth Amboy, Jersey City, Passaic, and Newark constituting large Dominican communities in New Jersey; and

Whereas, Given the significant contributions that Dominican-Americans and other Dominicans have made and continue to make to the United States, and especially to the State of New Jersey where large Dominican communities reside, it is fitting and proper that we recognize the outstanding history and geography of the Dominican Republic and, most of all, the wonderful contributions of Dominican-Americans and other Dominicans to all aspects of American life which we all can look to with pride; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. August 16 of each year is permanently designated as Dominican Restoration Day in New Jersey, in recognition of the outstanding history and geography of the Dominican Republic and, most of all, the wonderful contributions of Dominican-Americans and other Dominicans to all aspects of American life and to this State.

2. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This resolution designates August 16 of each year as Dominican Restoration Day in New Jersey, which is a national holiday in the Dominican Republic. On that date each year, the Dominican community celebrates the beginning of the country's battle in 1863 to reclaim its independence from Spain in 1865.

The Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean region by both land mass and population, and is distinguished historically and geographically as one of the first sites visited by Christopher Columbus during his first transatlantic voyage in 1492; the first permanent European settlement in the Americas in its capital of Santo Domingo; the site of the first cathedral and university in the New World; and the highest mountain peaks and lowest elevation lake in the Caribbean region. At least since 1884, the United States has maintained formal diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic, and today considers it an important partner in regional and international affairs, as the Dominican Republic constitutes the largest economy in the Caribbean, has built stable democratic institutions, is in close geographic proximity to the United States, and is visited by thousands of Americans and other international travelers each year due to its booming tourism industry.

Aside from diplomatic relations, some of the most significant bonds that bring both countries together are the contributions that Dominican-Americans have made and continue to make to the economic, cultural, and political life of the United States as they have become part of its social fabric. About 1.5 million Hispanics of Dominican origin or ancestry currently live in the United States, comprising the fifth largest Hispanic origin group after Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Salvadorans. The largest concentrations of Dominicans in the United States are found in the northeast, with New York and New Jersey having the largest Dominican populations, and the cities of Paterson, Perth Amboy, Jersey City, and Newark constituting large Dominican communities in New Jersey.