McClellan, Spanberger, and Salazar Introduce Bill to Recognize National African Diaspora Month

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), and Maria Salazar (R-FL-27) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to designate September as National African Diaspora Heritage Month.

Virginia and Florida are home to two of the largest African diaspora communities in the country – and approximately 2.1 million sub-Saharan African immigrants live in the United States. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would recognize the extraordinary history, importance, and contributions of the African diaspora in Virginia, Florida, and across the United States.

“The African diaspora community has deep ties to the Commonwealth of Virginia, from the first Angolans who arrived on our shores in 1619 to now being one of the fastest growing immigrant populations in the United States,” said Congresswoman McClellan (VA-04). “While in the Virginia State Senate, I led the charge to make Virginia the first state in the nation to designate September as African Diaspora Month. Now in Congress, I am proud to co-lead this effort at the federal level with Congresswomen Spanberger and Salazar. The more than 115,000 African diaspora immigrants in Virginia – and over 2.1 million nationwide – should be celebrated for their incredible contributions to our local communities and our nation.”

“I am proud to once again lead the effort to designate September as African Diaspora Heritage Month, recognizing the vital role the African diaspora community has played in shaping our nation’s rich history and culture,” said Spanberger. “African immigrants have been essential to Virginia’s continued growth and prosperity, and I’m proud to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora in our Commonwealth and in the United States. I encourage my colleagues to express their support for this community by voting to officially recognize African Diaspora Heritage Month.”

“The African diaspora in the United States and Latin America make up an essential part of our rich cultural tapestry and it is important that the United States recognize these achievements,” said Salazar. “I am honored to reintroduce legislation with my colleague, Congresswoman Spanberger, that will recognize the month of September as African Diaspora Heritage Month.”

Spanberger, McClellan, Salazar’s legislation is the companion bill to legislation led in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). This resolution is supported by the Virginia African Diaspora Community.

In 2022, then-Senator McClellan introduced SB 491 to designate September as African Diaspora Month in Virginia. The bill also established the Virginia African Diaspora Advisory Board to advise the Governor on ways to improve economic and cultural links between the Commonwealth and African nations, with a focus on commerce and trade, agriculture, art, education, and government. Delegate Michelle Maldonado introduced the companion legislation.

Read the full bill text here.