A bipartisan group of fifteen lawmakers, led by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, has introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives to designate January as Tamil Language and Heritage Month. The announcement coincided with Pongal, a major harvest festival celebrated by Tamil communities worldwide.
The resolution seeks to honor the Tamil-American community, which now numbers over 350,000 in the United States, and recognize their contributions to the nation. Congressman Krishnamoorthi, a Tamil-American himself, expressed pride in introducing the resolution.
“For the 360,000 Tamil Americans living in the U.S. today, January is a uniquely special time thanks to the festival of Pongal. I was proud to introduce my bipartisan resolution to designate January in honor of the Tamil language and heritage,” he said.
For the 360,000 Tamil Americans living in the U.S. today, January is a uniquely special time thanks to the festival of Pongal. I was proud to introduce my bipartisan resolution to designate January in honor of the Tamil language and heritage. pic.twitter.com/dcftcRqrGC
— Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) January 14, 2025
The resolution has garnered support from five other Indian-American lawmakers—Ro Khanna, Ami Bera, Shri Thanedar, Pramila Jayapal, and Suhas Subramanyam—as well as Congress members Nicole Malliotakis, Ilhan Omar, Yvette Clarke, Sara Jacobs, Deborah Ross, Danny Davis, Dina Titus, Don Davis, and Summer Lee.
Tamil, one of the world’s oldest surviving languages, boasts over 80 million speakers globally and a rich literary and cultural history spanning thousands of years. The resolution has received strong backing from Tamil-American organizations, which see it as a step toward preserving and celebrating Tamil traditions.
Organizations such as the US Tamil Action Group and People for Equality and Relief in Lanka echoed Krishnamoorthi’s sentiments. “Tamil-Americans cherish our rich and ancient language, traditions, and culture and know that we have much to contribute to America’s own unique and vibrant patchwork of traditions,” the US Tamil Action Group said in a statement.
