; Whereas Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, the first Muslim American to deliver the invocation for the Senate, and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, the civil rights activist and reformer also known as Malcolm X, were prominent religious leaders and scholars; Whereas Muslim-American professional athletes like Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O’Neal and 2-time world heavyweight champion Hasim Shariff Rahman thrilled sports fans across the United States and around the globe during their respective careers; Whereas Muslim-American Olympians, such as boxer Muhammad Ali, track and field athlete Dalilah Muhammad, and fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, won medals in international competitions; Whereas, with roots in at least 77 different countries and identifying racially as White, Black, Arab, and Asian, Muslim Americans are an extremely diverse population; Whereas the current population of Muslims living in the United States is estimated at over 3,450,000 individuals; Whereas over 4,500 Muslims serve on active duty, and over 2,300 Muslims serve as selected reserve personnel in the Armed Forces; Whereas the Muslim population has been growing in the United States, and today’s Muslim-American population is a tapestry of ethnic, racial, linguistic, social, and economic groups; Whereas nearly 50 percent of Muslim Americans have reported experiencing religious discrimination, with that number rising to 64 percent for Muslim Americans whose appearance identifies them as Muslim, such as women who wear the hijab or headscarf; Whereas there is a need for public education, awareness, and policies that help people be culturally competent when describing, discussing, or addressing the impacts that Muslim Americans have on all aspects of the society of the United States; Whereas Muslim-American Heritage Month will be observed in the month of January