; 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; Whereas Dominicans are freedom-loving people who first began their campaign for independence in 1831, under the leadership of Juan Pablo Duarte, who formed a secret political military organization named La Trinitaria (The Trinity) that led to the end of the Haitian occupation and transformed the Dominican Republic into an independent, self-sufficient nation, marking February 27, 1844, as the Dominican Republic’s first official Independence Day; Whereas, in 2012, the United States provided $66.9 million in foreign assistance aimed at improving security, increasing transparency, building resilience to the effects of climate change, and improving access to quality prevention, care and treatment services for HIV/AIDS in the Dominican Republic, the two regions enjoy a sense of unity; Whereas it is appropriate that the United States reserve the period between January 21 to February 27 to celebrate and honor Dominican heritage; Whereas it would be befitting to celebrate Dominican heritage beginning on January 21, The Day of the Procession of Altagracia, the Dominican Republic’s most important religious celebration; Whereas it would also be befitting to end the period of Dominican heritage on February 27, the Dominican Republic’s Independence Day; Whereas it would give the Nation the opportunity to acknowledge and applaud the economic, cultural, and social contributions Dominican-Americans have made to the United States; and Whereas it would also give the Nation an opportunity to consider the many Dominican achievements, on the island and in the United States: Now, therefore, be it