H 8001

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 HR 8001  2026
1House Resolution
2A resolution recognizing February 2026 as "Muslim-
3American Heritage Month" in Florida and celebrating
4the heritage and culture of Muslim Americans in this
5state.
6
7WHEREAS, Muslim immigration to the American colonies began
8 with the arrival of indentured workers in the early years of
9 this country's founding, and
10WHEREAS, between the 16th and 19th centuries, many enslaved
11    Africans brought to the United States were Muslim, contributing
12    to the early presence of Islam in America, and
13WHEREAS, in the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, successive
14    waves of Muslim immigrants came to the United States seeking
15    economic, social, and religious freedom, enriching communities
16    throughout this state and nation across diverse fields,
17    including business, medicine, education, law, and the arts, and
18WHEREAS, Muslim Americans contribute greatly to charitable
19    organizations in Florida and across the nation, offering aid to
20    people of all faiths through humanitarian work, such as medical
21    services, educational programs, food distribution, refugee
22    services, and disaster relief, and
23WHEREAS, Muslim Americans have made significant
24    advancements in numerous fields, including architecture, arts,
25    business, medicine, law, sports, and government, enhancing the
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26    quality of life and cultural diversity in this state and the
27    United States, and
28WHEREAS, prominent Floridian Muslim Americans such as
29    Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-American businessman and owner of the
30    Jacksonville Jaguars, and Alli A.B. Majeed, Brevard County's
31    longest serving county judge, exemplify the profound impact
32    Muslim Americans have had on Florida's economy and legal system,
33    and
34WHEREAS, Muslim Americans, such as Christopher Benjamin,
35    the first Muslim American elected to the Florida House of
36    Representatives, have shown leadership in public service, and
37WHEREAS, Muslim Americans have served honorably in the
38    United States Armed Forces, contributing to the defense and
39    protection of the United States in every major conflict,
40    including Captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim American who made the
41    ultimate sacrifice in Iraq in 2004, and
42WHEREAS, the Muslim-American community in Florida is
43    composed of individuals from more than 85 countries,
44    representing a wide array of ethnicities, cultures, and
45    languages, adding to the state's vibrant multicultural
46    landscape, and
47WHEREAS, the Muslim-American community faces challenges,
48    including discrimination and misunderstanding, yet it continues
49    to thrive and contribute to the progress of this state and the
50    United States, NOW, THEREFORE,
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51
52    Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
53    Florida:
54
55That February 2026 is recognized as "Muslim-American
56    Heritage Month" in Florida to celebrate the heritage and culture
57    of Muslim Americans in this state.
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