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SCR162 • 2025

COMMEMORATING THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY SCOTTISH AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES BY RECOGNIZING APRIL 6, 2026, AS "TARTAN DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

COMMEMORATING THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY SCOTTISH AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES BY RECOGNIZING APRIL 6, 2026, AS "TARTAN DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Wilson
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Passed 3/26/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The resolution does not specify any particular fields or achievements by Scottish Americans, but acknowledges their contributions broadly.

Tartan Day in Delaware

This resolution makes April 6, 2026, Tartan Day in Delaware to honor Scottish Americans and their contributions.

What This Bill Does

  • Recognizes April 6, 2026, as 'Tartan Day' in the State of Delaware.
  • Honors the role of Scottish-Americans in founding the nation.
  • Acknowledges achievements by Scottish-Americans in various fields.
  • Celebrates the influence of Scotland's Declaration of Arbroath on American independence.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People with Scottish ancestry living in Delaware
  • Organizations that celebrate Scottish heritage

Terms To Know

Tartan Day
A day to honor the achievements and contributions of Scottish Americans.
Declaration of Arbroath
An important document from Scotland that inspired the American Declaration of Independence.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution does not require any financial funding or new laws.
  • It is a symbolic recognition and has no legal requirements for celebration.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-26 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced in Senate

  2. 2026-03-26 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. 2026-03-26 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed In House by Voice Vote

Official Summary Text

COMMEMORATING THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY SCOTTISH AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES BY RECOGNIZING APRIL 6, 2026, AS "TARTAN DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.
This resolution recognizes April 6, 2026, as "Tartan Day" in the State of Delaware and commemorates the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish-Americans to the United States.

When the United States was first formed and the thirteen states selected their first governors, nine were of Scottish ancestry. All the members of the first American cabinet had Scottish ancestry. Delaware's first governor, John McKinly, was born in Northern Ireland of Scottish descent. Americans of Scottish descent have played a vibrant, influential role in the development of this country. However, not until 1997 was this influence recognized by a single-year U.S. Senate.

Resolution that appeared in the Congressional Record of April 7, 1997. In 1998 National Tartan Day was officially recognized on a permanent basis when the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 155 recognizing April 6th as National Tartan Day. This was followed by companion bill House Resolution 41, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 9, 2005. President George W. Bush signed a Presidential Proclamation on April 4, 2008 making April 6 National Tartan Day. In April of 2008, then Governor Minner issued a statement celebrating the accomplishments of Scots-Irish Americans in the First State as part of a Scots/Scots-Irish Heritage Month.

April 6 commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland's sovereignty over English territorial claims, and which was a significant influence on the American Declaration of Independence.

Canada has been celebrating "National Tartan Day" since 1993. The idea and motivation for creating a similar American holiday was provided by the Scottish Coalition, a group of national Scottish-American cultural organizations.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Wilson & Rep. Postles

Sens. Hansen, Hocker, Huxtable, Lawson, Mantzavinos, Pettyjohn, Sokola; Reps. Bolden, Bush, Carson, Dukes, Hilovsky, Morrison

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 162

COMMEMORATING THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY SCOTTISH AMERICANS TO THE UNITED STATES BY RECOGNIZING APRIL 6, 2026, AS "TARTAN DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, April 6 has a special significance for all Americans, and especially those Americans of Scottish descent, because the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, dated on April 6, 1320, provided inspiration for the American Declaration of Independence; and

WHEREAS, this Resolution honors the major role that Scottish-Americans played in the founding of this Nation, such as the fact that several of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, the Governors of the original 13 States were of Scottish ancestry, including the First State’s own Governor John McKinly, and Scottish Americans successfully helped shape the Nation in its formative years and guide it through its most troubled times; and

WHEREAS, this Resolution recognizes the monumental achievements and invaluable contributions made by Scottish-Americans that have led to America’s preeminence in the fields of science, technology, medicine, government, politics, economics, architecture, literature, media, and visual and performing arts; and

WHEREAS, this Resolution commends the many organizations throughout the United States that honor Scottish heritage, tradition, adult beverages and culture, representing the hundreds of thousands of Americans of Scottish descent, residing in every State, who have already made the observance of Tartan Day on April 6 a success; and

WHEREAS, these numerous individuals, clans, societies, clubs, and fraternal organizations do not let the great contributions of the Scottish people go unnoticed.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that April 6, 2026, be recognized as “Tartan Day” in the State of Delaware, thereby commemorating the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish-Americans to the United States and the First State.

SYNOPSIS

This resolution recognizes April 6, 2026, as "Tartan Day" in the State of Delaware and commemorates the outstanding achievements and contributions made by Scottish-Americans to the United States.

When the United States was first formed and the thirteen states selected their first governors, nine were of Scottish ancestry. All the members of the first American cabinet had Scottish ancestry. Delaware's first governor, John McKinly, was born in Northern Ireland of Scottish descent. Americans of Scottish descent have played a vibrant, influential role in the development of this country. However, not until 1997 was this influence recognized by a single-year U.S. Senate.

Resolution that appeared in the Congressional Record of April 7, 1997. In 1998 National Tartan Day was officially recognized on a permanent basis when the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 155 recognizing April 6th as National Tartan Day. This was followed by companion bill House Resolution 41, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 9, 2005. President George W. Bush signed a Presidential Proclamation on April 4, 2008 making April 6 National Tartan Day. In April of 2008, then Governor Minner issued a statement celebrating the accomplishments of Scots-Irish Americans in the First State as part of a Scots/Scots-Irish Heritage Month.

April 6 commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland's sovereignty over English territorial claims, and which was a significant influence on the American Declaration of Independence.

Canada has been celebrating "National Tartan Day" since 1993. The idea and motivation for creating a similar American holiday was provided by the Scottish Coalition, a group of national Scottish-American cultural organizations.

Author: Senator Wilson