Whereas, from April 1, 2020, through April 30, 2020, the United States celebrates Arab American Heritage Month; Whereas for over a century, Arab Americans have been making valuable contributions to every aspect of American society, in medicine, law, business, technology, civic engagement, government, and culture; Whereas since migrating to America, people of Arab descent have shared their rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends, while also setting fine examples of model citizens and public servants; Whereas Arab Americans have brought with them to America their resilient family values, strong work ethic, dedication to education, and diversity in faith and creed that have added strength to our democracy; Whereas writer Ameen Rihani’s 1911 masterpiece, The Book of Khalid , the first Arab-American novel, is an important record of Arab immigration to the Little Syria community of Lower Manhattan and today is a powerful example of the potential of the United States to strengthen ties with the Arab world; Whereas Arab-American poet Kahlil Gibran’s masterpiece, The Prophet , was a transformative piece of literature, with over 100 translations, making it one of the most translated books in history, and discusses topics of the human condition in the most eloquent of ways by highlighting inclusion and understanding of all peoples; Whereas the first Arabic speaker to come to North America, Zammouri, arrived an enslaved person from Morocco in 1528 and was an important explorer of the present-day American Southwest; Whereas world fairs were one of many ways that some Americans of Arab descent came to visit the United States from the Arab world and helped grow this country by creating businesses in the United States; Whereas the Arab American Institute estimates that there are roughly 3,700,000 Arab Americans living in the United States; Whereas according to Census Bureau data, Arabic is one of the fastest growing languages in the United States