FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL JOINT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING ITALY’S NATIONAL HERO AND COMMEMORATING 150th ANNIVERSARY OF UNIFICATION OF ITALY

(WASHINGTON, D. C. — February 22, 2011) The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) announces the introduction of a special Congressional joint resolution by Senator Mike Enzi (WY) in the U.S. Senate, and Representative Mike Grimm (NY), Representative Peter King (NY), and Representative Bill Pascrell (NJ) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Upon passage, the joint resolution will posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Italian national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi and officially recognize the Republic of Italy on the 150th Anniversary of its unification. NIAF has been the cooperating organization to develop this resolution with the U.S. Italian American Congressional Delegation (IACD) of the 112th Congress, of which the Foundation has served as an extension for over 30 years.

“Every American shares great pride in the culture and heritage of Italy. Its richness is an important part of what we are as Americans today. This joint congressional resolution honoring Italy of Today is an appreciation for the values we have as Americans. Giuseppe Garibaldi was central to modern-day Italy from which we all have benefitted,” said Hon. Frank J. Guarini, a former Congressman from New Jersey and NIAF chairman emeritus.

NIAF serves as the voice for Italian Americans, the nation’s fifth largest ethnic group of nearly 25 million individuals, in Washington, D.C. while working closely with the IADC and the White House. We trust that this important resolution will be swiftly passed and honor the outstanding contributions that Italians and Italian Americans have made throughout history and continue to make today.

The IADC also will host with NIAF an official congressional reception celebrating the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification on March 17, 2011, in the historic Mansfield Room (S-207), U.S. Capitol. For more information, contact Johnny Strada, manager of government relations and public policy, at jstrada@niaf.org.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the heritage and culture of Americans of Italian descent. Visit www.niaf.org.