[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 218 Received in Senate (RDS)]


109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 218


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 14, 2005

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Recognizing the centennial of sustained immigration from the 
Philippines to the United States and acknowledging the contributions of 
 our Filipino-American community to our country over the last century.

Whereas the peoples of the Philippine archipelago have a long and proud history, 
        and today, as the Republic of the Philippines, embrace democracy, occupy 
        a central strategic position in Asia and the Pacific, and nurture a rich 
        and diverse cultural heritage;
Whereas the United States and the Philippines have enjoyed a long and productive 
        relationship, including the period

of United States governance between 1898 and 1946, and the period post-
independence starting in 1946, during which the Philippines has taken its 
place among the community of nations and has been one of our country's most 
loyal and reliable allies internationally;

Whereas the bonds between our two countries have been strengthened through 
        sustained immigration from the Philippines to the United States;
Whereas the 2000 census counted almost 2.4 million Americans of Filipino 
        ancestry living in all parts of our country, including the top two 
        States: California, with almost 1.1 million Filipino Americans, and 
        Hawaii, with some 275,000;
Whereas the contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States include 
        achievement in all segments of our society, including, to name a few, 
        labor, business, politics, medicine, media and the arts;
Whereas Filipino Americans have especially served with distinction in the Armed 
        Forces of the United States throughout the history of our long 
        relationship, from World Wars I and II through the Korean War, the 
        Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and today in Afghanistan and Iraq;
Whereas within the United States, Filipino Americans retained many of their 
        country's proud cultural traditions and contribute immeasurably to the 
        diverse tapestry of today's American experience;
Whereas Filipino Americans have also maintained close ties to their friends and 
        relatives in the Philippines and in doing so play an indispensable role 
        in maintaining the strength and vitality of the U.S.-Philippines 
        relationship;
Whereas both the Filipino experience in the United States and the resultant ties 
        between our two great countries began in earnest in 1906, when 15 
        Filipino contract laborers arrived in the then-Territory of Hawaii to 
        work on the islands' sugar plantations, the beginnings of an emigration 
        from the Philippines to Hawaii which, during the subsequent century, has 
        sometimes exceeded 60,000 a year, making Filipinos the largest immigrant 
        group from the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas 1906 also saw the first class of two hundred ``pensionados'' arrive from 
        the Philippines to obtain United States educations with the intent of 
        returning, although many later became United States citizens and helped 
        form the foundation of today's Filipino-American community;
Whereas the story of America's Filipino-American community is little known and 
        rarely told, yet is the quintessential immigrant story of early 
        struggle, pain, sacrifice, and broken dreams, leading eventually to 
        success in overcoming ethnic, social, economic, political, and legal 
        barriers to win a well-deserved place in American society;
Whereas our Filipino-American community will recognize a century of achievement 
        in the United States in 2006 through a series of nationwide celebrations 
        and memorials honoring the centennial of sustained immigration from the 
        Philippines; and
Whereas this centennial is for all Americans of whatever ethnic origin to 
        celebrate both with and in order to understand and appreciate our 
        Filipino-American community, but also as a remembrance of the struggles 
        and triumphs of all of our predecessors and in honor of our common 
        national experience: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) recognizes the centennial of sustained immigration from 
        the Philippines to the United States;
            (2) acknowledges the achievements and contributions of 
        Filipino Americans over the past century; and
            (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe this 
        milestone with appropriate celebratory and educational 
        programs, ceremonies and other activities.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 13, 2005.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.