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"Madam Speaker, I rise today to issue this recognition of ‘timeless Zoroastrian legacy’ to all Zoroastrians for their extraordinary contributions to history and civilization, in pioneering the first universal human rights, world democracy, abolishment of slavery and freedom of religion. The Zoroastrian legacy has greatly influenced the American founding fathers, the American Constitution and the design of the Statue of Liberty. Please join me in recognizing the remarkable contributions of the Zoroastrian community in the United States and throughout the world,” Member of Congress Lou Correa was quoted in the US Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 117th Congress, First Session, August 22, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This recognition that had been circulating on WhatsApp earned greater credibility when it was sent as an email attachment to Parsiana by jurist Fali Nariman who had received it from Daulat Kotval of New York. When Parsiana approached Rooky Fitter, president of the Zoroastrian Association of California to determine how this recognition was earned, she mentioned that "Sam Billimoria spearheaded this project.” As acknowledged in their newsletter, "Billimoria, a long-time member of ZAC worked tirelessly with the office of Correa to obtain this citation… Sam presented documented evidence of the impact of Cyrus the Great on human rights and freedom of religion along with quotations from the Bible and other sources to bolster his claim.”
In his emails and phone call with Parsiana, Billimoria conveyed, "This recognition is stunning and surreal even to our own community members. I was extensively grilled by the sub-committees and staff on some issues. In other words, it has withstood the highest scrutiny in the land.” He further added, "This is not the first time I have done this” having worked on a similar recognition nearly 28 years ago for the California Zoroastrian Center. Liaising with then member of Congress Edward Royce, Billimoria was included on the Indian Advisory Committee formed by Royce in 1993.
Billimoria’s reasons for embarking on a "more specific and expansive” journey this time were "to make everyone, especially our younger generation, aware of the real roots of democracy. Cyrus the Great pioneered the democratic practice of ruling ‘by consent of the governed’... The Achemenian emperors are collectively mentioned 73 times in the Bible: Cyrus — 23, Darius — 25, Xerxes — 14 and Artaxerxes — 11. No other gentiles are mentioned in the Old Testament. Cyropaedia (The Education of Cyrus) written by Greek author Xenophon, a student of Socrates, served as a leadership manual to American founding fathers…”
Since the ZAC center falls under Democrat Correa’s jurisdiction, Billimoria ensured that the ZAC president and secretary were kept informed of his submissions for they could have been summoned to Correa’s office for verification. Appreciating that the Congressman’s office did not disturb them, Billimoria noted, "In the end the office was amazed and extremely thankful for the ‘overwhelming evidence presented.’”
Elected to the US House of Representatives in 2016, from California’s 46th District, during his term Correa has "introduced legislation to protect the legal rights of immigrants, care for veterans and fight against the wasteful spending of taxpayer money,” according to his website correa.house.gov. He has been devoting his political career to highlight that "by investing in education, healthcare and our fading infrastructure…everyone can get a shot at the American Dream” just as he could rise to the middle class thanks to his parents’ determination to give him a good education. During his childhood, his mother cleaned hotel rooms in the vicinity of Disneyland, and his father held a manufacturing job at a paper mill.