The House unanimously passed H.J.Res.40, the Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009, on Tuesday.

The bill designates Friday, November 26, 2009, as Native American Heritage Day. It encourages the federal government, state governments and other interested groups to develop activities that will honor Native Americans.

“I am profoundly grateful for the generations of dedicated tribal leaders who fought, despite many severe challenges, to maintain, strengthen and rebuild a way of life that was almost taken from us," Ernie Stevens Jr., the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association, said. "The House passage of this resolution will bring attention to those actions that nearly wiped out our Native communities as a whole.”

A companion version has not been introduced in the Senate.