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The White House Issues a Proclamation on Irish-American Heritage Month, March, 2023

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US President Joe Biden has proclaimed March 2023 as Irish-American Heritage Month in the nation, and calls upon Americans to "celebrate the achievements and contributions of Irish Americans to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs." Read the full proclamation below or read it here "During Irish-American Heritage Month, I think of my great-great grandparents — the Blewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth. Like so many other Irish immigrants who sought a new beginning in the United States, they arrived on our shores with hearts full of hope and dreams of the future. With grit and determination, they worked hard. And as they built their lives, they helped build America — never forgetting where they came from, always remembering the courage and pride they brought with them from the old country, and passing these traits down to each new generation. "That pride lives on today in the hearts of Irish Americans across our Natio...

Massachusetts US Congressman Richard Neal's Statement on EU-UK Agreement on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland

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Congressman Richard Neal  WASHINGTON, DC--Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement on the agreement reached by the European Union and the United Kingdom regarding the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, the Windsor Framework: “Today’s agreement is the result of constructive, continued engagement by the EU and the UK in search of joint solutions. I appreciate the steadfast commitment and compromise by both sides to find common ground to resolve the trade frictions related to the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, now is the time to protect the hard-earned gains of the Agreement, and to deepen EU-UK cooperation and partnership for generations to come.”

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Windsor Framework

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"Today’s announcement between the United Kingdom and the European Union on the Windsor Framework is an essential step to ensuring that the hard-earned peace and progress of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is preserved and strengthened. I appreciate the efforts of the leaders and officials on all sides who worked tirelessly to find a way forward that protects Northern Ireland’s place within the UK’s internal market as well as the EU’s single market, to the benefit of all communities in Northern Ireland.  "I am confident the people and businesses of Northern Ireland will be able to take full advantage of the economic opportunities created by this stability and certainty, and the United States stands ready to support the region’s vast economic potential. Joe Kennedy , our new Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, will drive this effort in close cooperation with Ambassador Jane Hartley in London and Ambassador Claire Cronin in Dublin, as well as with business...

MA Congressman Bill Keating + House Colleagues Call for Full Implementation of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

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 Congressman Bill Keating  On Thursday, January 12, 2023,  Massachusetts Congressman Bill Keating introduced House Resolution 33, c alling for the full implementation of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and expressing hope for the continued success of the Northern Ireland peace process on the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.   Congressman Keating was joined fellow congressmen Mike Fitzpatrick, Brendan Boyle and Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Derek Kilmer of Washington and David Rouzer of North Carolina.  Here is the text of the resolution. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 12, 2023 Mr.  Keating  (for himself, Mr.  Fitzpatrick , Mr.  Boyle  of Pennsylvania, Mr.  Kelly  of Pennsylvania, Mr.  Wilson  of South Carolina, and Mr.  Kilmer ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling for the f...

Joe Kennedy III is Selected as the new U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs

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(December 19, 2022) - Today, the Biden Administration named Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts as the new U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs.   The son of Joseph Kennedy II and Sheila Rauch, he was born in 1980 in Boston and attended Harvard Law School.  He served as U.S. Congressman for Massachusetts' 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2021.   The appointment ended months of speculation and calls from the Irish-American community, including the  Ancient Order of Hibernians  and others, to fill the important position.     Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken  said in a  statement :    "Today we are announcing the appointment of Joe Kennedy III as the U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs. In this capacity, he will focus on advancing economic development and investment opportunities in Northern Ireland to the benefit of all communities as well as strengthening people-to-peo...

Statement by the Committee of Irish for Biden Regarding the 2022 Midterm Elections

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  President Biden's Achievements Inspire Irish Americans to vote Democrat in November As millions of Irish Americans prepare to vote in this year's midterm elections, we are grateful that President Joe Biden, the most Irish American President since JFK, has worked so hard for Irish Americans. For example: The president and his Administration are resolutely supporting peace in Ireland and defending the Good Friday Agreement. Crucially, the friends of Ireland in Congress have fully backed the President in playing a positive role to protect peace and justice in Ireland, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman Richie Neal, Rep. Brendan Boyle, Senator Bob Menedez, Senator Chris Murphy, and hundreds of other U.S. lawmakers. The President is working tirelessly to repair, restore, and heal America. He is uniting this great country in defense of fr...

Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal + Congressional Delegation Conclude Visit to United Kingdom

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Congressman Neal + Delegation in front of the Leinster House in Dublin, with Sinn Fein's Marylou McDonald and US Ambassador Claire Cronin (May 23, 2022) - House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after the Congressional delegation concluded its time in the United Kingdom: “Our Congressional delegation came to the United Kingdom to reaffirm our bond with one of our oldest allies. Since Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation, we have been in lockstep with the UK in our support for the Ukrainian people. We met with Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer, as well as other members of Parliament, to discuss how we will continue to use any tool at our disposal to stop this war. We underscored our commitment to the Good Friday Agreement in bilateral meetings with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Trade Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan. “We conveyed to our UK allies that negotiations with the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol must c...