Whereas the House of Representatives is proud to recognize and commemorate Dominican Heritage Month, an observance that celebrates the contributions of Dominican-Americans; Whereas, in keeping with its time-honored traditions, we recognize and pay tribute to those who foster cultural pride and enhance the profile of diverse communities across the United States; Whereas since the initial wave of Dominican migration in the 1960s to the most recent arrivals of today, Dominicans have worked hard to contribute to the national identity of the United States, educating people on their customs and enriching the quality of the Nation’s shared future; Whereas the Dominican Republic enjoys a well-built relationship with the United States on trade and investment as the United States was the first country to do international trade with the Dominican Republic; Whereas contributions from Dominican-Americans are found in every facet of our society here in the United States, including fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, Pulitzer Prize winner author Junot Diaz, Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez, record-setting baseball giant David Ortiz, known as Big Papi , newly elected Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, celebrated novelist Julia Alvarez, leading actress, director, producer, and writer Zoë Saldana, Saturday Night Live Director and Editor Osmany Oz Rodriguez; New York Police Department Officer and President of the New York Dominican Officers Association President Raysa Galvez, platform transcendent media icon Joel The Kid Mero Martinez, and 2018 Miss New York City Genesis Camila Suero; Whereas many of the hemisphere’s first institutions were established on the shores of the Dominican Republic, including the first cathedral and the oldest university