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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

The 2012 House Resolution recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, introduced by CAPAC Chair Congresswoman Judy Chu.

H.Res 621

112th CONGRESS

Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the Nation's history.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 17, 2012


Ms. CHU (for herself, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. BASS of California, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. HAHN, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. HONDA, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. FILNER, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. SABLAN, Ms. HANABUSA, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. CLARKE of Michigan, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California, Mr. STARK, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. MCNERNEY, and Ms. WOOLSEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
 


RESOLUTION


Recognizing the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in May as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the Nation's history.

Whereas the United States joins together each May to pay tribute to the contributions of generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the Nation's history;

Whereas the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States is inextricably tied to the story of the Nation;

Whereas the Asian American and Pacific Islander community is an inherently diverse population, comprised of over 45 distinct ethnicities and over 100 language dialects;

Whereas the United States Census Bureau found that the Asian American population grew faster than any other racial or ethnic group over the last decade, surging nearly 46 percent between 2000 and 2010, a growth rate 4 times faster than the total United States population;

Whereas the 2010 Census estimated that there are now 17,300,000 United States residents who identify as Asian, and 1,200,000 United States residents who identify themselves as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, making up nearly 6 percent of the total United States population;

Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month due to the following two historical events, first, May 7, 1843, when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States, and second, May 10, 1869, when, with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants, the first transcontinental railroad was completed;

Whereas the year 2012 marks several important historic milestones for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, including 20 years since the formal establishment of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, 30 years since the unpunished murder of Vincent Chin, 70 years since the signing of Executive Order 9066 which authorized the Japanese American internment, 100 years since the planting of the first cherry blossoms from Japan, 130 years since the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and 150 years since the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 that promoted the construction of the transcontinental railroad;

Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code, officially designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, and requests the President to issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities;

Whereas the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, a bicameral caucus of Members of Congress advocating on behalf of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, is composed of a record high 41 Members this year, including Senate President Pro Tempore Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii, the highest ranking Asian American in United States history;

Whereas today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are serving in State legislatures across the Nation, in States as diverse as Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Washington;

Whereas the number of Asian American and Pacific Islander Article III judges has doubled over the past 3 years, reflecting a commitment to diversity in the Federal judiciary that has resulted in the confirmations of high caliber Asian American and Pacific Islander judicial nominees;

Whereas there still remains much to be done to ensure that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have access to resources, a voice in the United States Government, and continue to advance in the Nation's political landscape; and

Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month provides the people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, history, and address the challenges faced by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be it
 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

  • recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the significant contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the Nation's history; and
  • recognizes that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of the United States and strengthen the Nation.